Developing Sustainable Planned Communities

Publication Date: 2007
Publisher:  Urban Land Institute

Authors:
Richard Franko, Jo Allen Gause, Jim Heid, Jr., Steven Kellenberg, Jeff Kingsbury, Edward T. McMahon, Judi G. Schweitzer, and Daniel K. Slone

Demand for green buildings is rapidly growing as companies seek office space that reduces energy costs and increases worker productivity, and consumers seek energy efficient, healthy indoor environments, both at work and at home.  

Packed with examples, and lavishly illustrated throughout, this practical guide provides down to earth, reality-based insights into designing and developing sustainable planned communities that are environmentally responsible, attractive to the market, and profitable.

Covering green practices in all settings--urban, suburban, and rural, each chapter was written by an industry expert that explains what you need to know to create a sustainable planned community. Topics include systems level solutions, integrated site planning and design, the costs and benefits, green building design, and how to maintain sustainability.

Ten case studies of innovative and successful projects describe how these practices have been put into action with photographs, site plans, the inside story of how the project was developed, the challenges faceted, and lessons learned, as well as project data on costs and sales.

Chapter 4 – The Costs and Benefits of Sustainable Development, by Steven Kellenberg, and Judi G. Schweitzer.