Sustainable Nation

DOUGLAS FARR (FAIA, LEED AP, CNU-A) is an architect, urbanist, author, and passionate advocate for sustainable design thinking. Doug heads Farr Associates, a Chicago-based firm that plans and designs lovable, aspirational buildings and places. A native Detroiter, Doug Co-Chaired the development of LEED-ND and has served on the boards of urban sustainability organizations including the Congress for New Urbanism, Bioregional, EcoDistricts, and Elevate Energy. In 2017, Planetizen readers named him one of "the 100 most influential urbanists of all time."

"... truly far-reaching." (RIBA Journal, July 2018)

• Foreword xiJanette Sadik-KhanPreface xiiiAcknowledgments xviiiPART ONE: Our Default World1: Where We Are 5Civilization Timeline 5Global threats 6National threats 8Global Barriers 10National Barriers 12Global Progress 14National Progress 162: Case Studies: The Future Ahead of Schedule 24PART TWO: Our Preferred Future3: Where We Want to Go 68A World Advancing Together 69India 74China 75Nigeria 76United States 77PART THREE: Theory of Change4: Igniting Community 82Making “More Perfect” Communities 83Are We Here Yet? 845: Time 92An Urgent Pivot that Falls on Our Watch 93Mature Changelines 100Emergent Changelines 1026: Acceleration Strategies 116How We Can Attain Our Preferred Future in Four Generations 117How We Perceive Change 118How Markets Influence Change 124Campaigns 125Communities and Networks of Practice 128Pilgrimage Sites 135Professional Ethics and Liability 136PART FOUR: The Practice of Change Why Patterns? 1467: Collective Effervescence 148Build strong relationships between people and place through hope and hard work 150Mary Nelson, PhDUse participatory art to connect to your neighbor’s humanity 152Kareeshma AliEvery neighborhood needs an anchor house, magnetized to attract assets and demonstrate possibility 154Isis FergusonTransform every public space into a welcoming place 156Fred KentIncrease “expressive surface area” in cities and make a place for creative ecology to flourish! 158Steven RaspaCelebrate life with immersive community events guided by the principles of Burning Man 160Steve RaspaCreate a unique and visible food culture in every neighborhood 162Janine de la Salle, MA, MCIP, RPPUse seasonal landscaping to connect humans with nature, and with each other 168Steve Nygren8: Self-Governing Neighborhoods 172Truly great neighborhoods dream, make aspirational plans, and implement them over time 174Alicia Daniels UhligMaintain the health of your neighborhood by holding annual planning checkups 176Jessica MillmanPlan land use changes via a design charrette process that includes robust input and at least three feedback loops 178Bill LennertzConduct an annual “tactical intervention” that re-envisions how underutilized space can promote prosperity 180Mike LydonMake large on-the-ground changes fast through clear vision, demonstration,and measurement 184Janette Sadik-Khan, Seth SolomonowFill the gap in neighbourhood governance by creating an innovative business improvement district that includes residences 187Jamie Simone, AICP, LEED-APBuild immunity to gentrification 189Antwi Akom, Tessa Cruz, Aekta ShahTreat light poles as valuable public assets able to support advanced data in the future 191Nancy Clanton, P.E.Let district governance unfold over time 192Daniel Slone9: A Theater of Life 196People need an identifiable spatial unit to belong to 198Emily Talen, PhDMaximize contact between communities of interest by designing third places 202Aly AndrewsProvide microunit housing in a “two-hour neighborhood,” with a nearby grocery, park, and indoor third place 204Patrick KennedyTurn strangers into neighbors by diversifying dwelling types in each building 206Stefanos Polyzoides, Vinayak BharneMix building types within every block 208Daniel ParolekEach building should have one architectural style 210Steve Nygren10: Vibrant Density 212The “sweet spot” in a sustainable urban fabric is four to eight stories 214Jason F. McLennanBuildings should comprise a visible base, a middle no more than seven stories tall, and a top 216Steve MouzonMake housing more afordable and profitable by reducing and separating parking 218John G. Ellis, AIA, RIBA, Mohammad MominUrban parking should be considered temporary and designed to be redevelopment-ready 222Douglas FarrBuild higher-density housing consistent with the average market potential: 100% in downtowns; 80% in in-towns; and 46% in outskirts 224Todd Zimmerman, Laurie Volk, Christopher Volk-ZimmermanMeet the demand for walkable living by permitting house-scale, multi-unit buildings 226Daniel ParolekGrant single-family homeowners the flexibility to add dwelling units on their lots 228Brent ToderianWelcome singles and small families by creating a market for coach houses 230Tim Kirkby, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NDBecome a developer, build incrementally, all small buildings 232R. John Anderson11: Mobility in Walkable Places 236Create a bikesharing network with depots located at key destinations approximately 1,000 feet apart 238Susan A. Shaheen, PhDRespect that the current carsharing market is dynamic and varies place by place 240Susan A. Shaheen, PhDDramatically reduce residential vehicle trips by up to 90% through land use and transportation design 242David Fields, AICPSave money and reduce nonresidential car trips by up to 32% by investing in demand management rather than parking supply 244David Fields, AICPStop inducing vehicular demand by eliminating Level of Service 246David Fields, AICP, Joshua Karlin-ResnickUrban highways should be considered temporary and only remain in use through a periodic justification of their existence 248Andrew Faulkner, Chris SensenigUrban highways that cannot justify their existence should be removed via the following strategies 250Andrew Faulkner, Chris Sensenig12: Neighborhood Economy 258Provide housing attainable by working singles and couples 260Douglas FarrGrow an economy of walk-to jobs by providing lower rent space for small-scale manufacturers 264Ilana PreussSupport neighborhood retail by scouting and cultivating entrepreneurial talent 268Daryl Rose DavisAll retail should be accessible on foot 270Robert J. GibbsAlways delight pedestrians with storefront design, day and night 274Robert J. GibbsMinimize landfills by encouraging zero waste through social norms and pricing 276Gail Vittori13: Urban Waters 280Treat every project as an opportunity to process rainwater and stormwater 282Thomas H. Price, P.E.Demand beauty when engineering rainwater and stormwater facilities 284Thomas H. Price, P.E.Design urban waters to delight the senses 288Herbert DreiseitlAllow private stormwater to be processed on nearby streets and lands through a local management structure 292Daniel SloneReduce freshwater demand by 36-75% by equipping neighborhoods to use nonpotable water 294John LeysProvide enough space to select low energy-consuming wastewater treatment technologies 298John LeysPursue the vision of clean waters for all by choosing wastewater technologies that clean more than they pollute 300Thomas E. Ennis, PE, LEED APDesign wastewater treatment plants to be resource recovery and power centers 302Debra ShoreRecapture the waste heat in wastewater and use it to offset heating demand 304Brent Shraiberg14: Stranded Carbon 310Design all buildings for the future by designing them to be net-zero energy ready 312Matthew Mcgrane, AIA, NCARB, LEED APOptimal glazing for buildings is a window-to-wall ratio of approximately 40% 314Sachin Anand, Sameer DivekarBuild larger buildings, preferably thin, don’t sweat orientation 316Sachin Anand, Sameer DivekarApproach every project as though PHIUS+, the building energy code of the future, were in effect today 318Katrin KlingenbergPlan systems only at effective scales 320Cole Roberts, PEReduce waste 3-27% by providing timely, relevant, and actionable data 322Clare Butterield15: The New Health, Safety, and Welfare 324Design the built environment to guarantee that the easy choice is the healthy choice 326Richard J. Jackson, MDImprove community health and reduce costs by investing in local, people centered wellness 328Larry MorrisseyFor pedestrian safety, use street design to limit vehicle speeds to no more than 20 mph 330Dan Burden, Samantha ThomasIncrease both property values and time spent outdoors by filling the gaps between walk-to parks 334Grant M. HromasIn legacy cities, ensure the future of every block through landscape reuse 336Maurice Cox, James Macmillen, Erin Kelly, Alexa Bush, Omar Davis, Dan RiedenTo improve public health, safety, and welfare in buildings, make at least one required ire stair open and inviting and start it in the lobby 340Scott BernsteinEnd the race to build the world’s tallest building 342Douglas FarrStay connected to the night sky through minimal adjustable street-level lighting 344Nancy Clanton, PERespect circadian rhythms for all species by eliminating blue outdoor light 346Nancy Clanton, PEMake public outdoor lighting beautiful from every angle 348Nancy Clanton, PEEpilogue 353Glossary 355Index 361