The Columbian - December 18, 2007
Washington View:
Planned communities strike right balance
By Don Brunell
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debate over global warming is turning some long-held "truths" upside down.
For example, suburban sprawl may be a good thing after all.
Conventional wisdom says densely populated cities are more energy
efficient and better for the environment, while suburban development eats up
precious open space and creates miles of polluting traffic snarls. But
recent studies show that cities use disproportionately high amounts of
energy and add to global warming, while suburbs do not.
This information comes from authors Joel Kotkin and Ali Modarres, who
reviewed studies of cities around the world, including Beijing, Rome,
London, Tokyo and Los Angeles.
The authors say the culprit is hardscape — miles of impervious pavement,
sidewalks, buildings and glass that reflect heat back into the atmosphere.
In addition, these "urban heat islands" increase the need for air
conditioning, which adds to energy consumption in cities. Ironically, air
conditioning systems themselves generate heat, necessitating even more air
conditioning. While street trees may provide a little relief for urban
pedestrians, they can do nothing to cool a sea of tall buildings.
A 2006 article in the magazine New Scientists noted that cities can be up
to 11 degrees warmer at night, and a study of Athens featured in the journal
Climatic Change suggests that the ecological footprint of the urban heat
island can be up to twice the size of the city's political borders. These
findings have been confirmed by recent studies out of Australia and Greece,
as well as studies of U.S. cities, that document the temperature difference
between highly concentrated central cities and their surrounding areas.
In contrast, lower-density suburbs integrated into the environment create
less heat; in fact, it can take only a double-paned window to reduce energy
consumption in a two-story house, and shade trees reduce temperatures even
further in these smaller buildings.
We've all experienced this first-hand. Walking on a sweltering city
sidewalk on a summer day can bring you close to heat stroke. Drive just a
few miles outside the city, and the air is noticeably cooler.
Ah, but what about the pollution from all those drivers commuting to city
jobs? The answer is to put the jobs closer to these communities.
'New Urbanism'
That's the principle behind planned communities like DuPont, north of
Olympia.
DuPont began in 1906 as a company town owned by the DuPont Company. After
the DuPont plant closed in 1976, Weyerhaeuser Company bought the surrounding
3,200 acres and ultimately embarked on an experiment in "New Urbanism" by
creating a planned community called Northwest Landing.
Today, Northwest Landing is part of the city of DuPont. Anchored by major
employers like Intel and State Farm Insurance, the community features
historic Craftsman architecture in its homes and businesses, tree-lined
streets and large parks. In 1995, it was named "Best Master Planned
Community of the Year" and in 1997, Weyerhaeuser and designer Calthorpe
Associates were honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for
promoting "smart growth principles" such as pedestrian-centered communities
with trails, businesses and public transit in close proximity to homes.
Planned communities are now common as developers, elected officials and
residents embrace the principle that putting jobs and services close to
homes and parks is better for the environment and produces a better quality
of life.
As Washington — and the Puget Sound region, in particular — continues to
struggle with the issues of growth and traffic, it is helpful to remember
that the answer is not a choice between cities and suburbs but a careful
balance of both cities and suburbs. Well-planned cities with roof-top
gardens, open space and energy-saving technology can help limit heat
pollution. Well-planned suburban communities with nearby employers,
services, and open space can make responsible use of outlying areas while
preserving special places and agricultural land.
Don Brunell is president of the Association of Washington Business,
Washington state's chamber of commerce. Visit www.awb.org.
