Energy: patterns, planning and architecture

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STOP URBAN SPRAWL. Either through designating land use (see above) or establishing legal limits to the size of our cities. Greenbelt peripheries should be provided around our urban areas.

STOP MAN'S ASSAULT UPON NATURE. We must redirect all new urban development to the already blighted areas of the inner city while establishing central city open spaces, parks, good schools and quiet. Roads and parking should be eliminated wherever possible and only service vehicles allowed into these new areas. High-rises, which have very poor energy performance records, should be kept to an absolute minimum. Building heights, in general, should be limited to three- and four-story walk-ups . . . thus eliminating elevators and simultaneously permitting the sun to reach street level for plant growth and the general health of the population.

INTRODUCE ENERGY AND URBAN IMPACT STUDIES FOR ALL NEW BUILDINGS. That is, if a building-even a one- or two-story, solar-heated structure—is placed so that its usage requires long-distance travel in privately owned vehicles by the public, it would not receive a construction permit.

ENCOURAGE MIXED ZONING. Travel (which directly consumes large quantities of energy), pollution and crime can all be reduced by mixed zoning which places a housing unit within walking distance of every anticipated new business or light industry employee. Light industries and businesses can also be encouraged to move into existing bedroom communities. If such production facilities are made attractive and non-polluting and are provided with little or no parking, their installation would service the immediate neighborhood rather than the city at large.

DIRECT NEW GROWTH TO NATURAL SITES OF BEAUTY. New villages and towns must be prohibited from agricultural land, they must be completely planned and their size must be limited. They can either have mixed employment or be dependent upon a major industry. Land surrounding new towns should be maintained for agriculture and recreation. The villages should be essentially designed for pedestrian traffic and leased cars can be provided for unusually long trips out of town.

IMMEDIATELY BEGIN BICYCLE PATHS THROUGHOUT OUR MAJOR CITIES. Studies have shown that as many as 20% of Americans would enjoy bicycling to work if they were provided with safe trails that were separate from automobile movements . . . or with streets reserved for bikes only, except for the cars of people living on those streets.

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