Chicago: The Sustainable City?

1
Chicago The Sustainable City?

• Alena Smalligan
• Melissa Bradley
• Ryan Bruder

2
History

• Third largest city in the United States
• Rapid growth during industrialization at the turn
  of the twentieth century
• Negative environmental and health effects related
  to urbanization
• Advent of environmentalism shed light on
  environmental concerns

3
Urbanization

• Increasing in developed and developing countries
• Fifty percent of global population lives in urban
  areas today
• People are drawn to cities in search of jobs
• Lack of infrastructure and hasty construction of
  buildings

4
ArcGIS
5
Sustainability of Chicago

• Triple bottom line of social equity,
  environmental preservation and economic
  performance
• Goal of becoming Americas most environmentally
  friendly city
• Focus on green landscaping, land use and
  transportation

6
Green Landscaping
Landscapes and Open Spaces

• Expansion of parks, medians, wetlands, and
  boulevards
• Draw of investment to landscaped areas
• Restoration of shoreline for recreational
  purposes
• Need to further protect and landscape as well as
  create recreational areas
• Sustainable landscape techniques

7
Green Landscaping
Native Seed Gardens

• Need to focus on restoration only .07 of
  original landscape remains in Illinois
• Native Seeds have high viability
• Lack of seeds creates problem
• Economic benefits
• Need to find fitting communities for seed gardens

8
Green Landscaping
Chicago River

• Create an area for wildlife, recreation and
  transportation
• Riverfront trail, parks and public access
• Pollution
• Protecting species within and around the river
• Awareness and financial aid

9
Land Use
Building Management

• The Chicago Standard Design
• Reflective or vegetated roofs
• Best management policies and procedures
• Global building management system
• Indoor air quality

10
Land Use
Building and Regulation

• Remove barriers
• Green building permit process
• Education and outreach

11
Land Use
Municipal Buildings

• Chicago Center for Green Technology
• City Halls Roof Top Garden
• LEED libraries, police stations, schools and fire
  stations
• Education and outreach
• Evaluate cost and benefit

12
Land Use
Residential Buildings

• Bungalow initiative
• Chicago housing authority
• Green Building Standard
• Energy Conservation Code

13
Transportation
Bodies in Motion

• Population of 10 million
• Second largest public transportation system in
  the United States

14
Transportation
Chicago Transit Authority

• 1.6 million rides on 2,000 buses, 1,190 rapid
  transit cars, and a commuter rail
• Covers 2,500 route miles and has 12,200 stops
• Green Fleet awards

15
Transportation
Cars versus Buses

• Buses and trains are more environmentally
  friendly
• CTA vehicles have higher occupancy
• Cutting down routes during non-peak hours

16
Transportation
Traffic Jam

• Third highest average of time spent in traffic
  jams in the United States (over 56 hours a year)
• CTA is more efficient because it does not
  experience traffic jams

17
Transportation
Making Change

• Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles etc.
• Ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels
• Fuel cell-powered buses
• Zero-emission technology
• Recycling

18
Transportation
Maintaining Effective Transportation

• Blue Island Plan
• Lower Ticket Price
• Legislation
• Outside bus storage

19
Transportation
Future

• 2010
• Maximize hybrid and clean fueled vehicles
• Green fleet activities
• 2020
• Reduce vehicle emissions
• Maximize alternative vehicles in city fleet

20
Conclusion

• Changes toward a more sustainable city can lead
  to economic growth, social equity and
  environmental preservation
• Policy changes and proactive steps
• It is possible for Chicago to be a successful
  sustainable city