Creating sustainable communities

By Miles Attenborough, Claire Bonham-Carter, Steve Kellenberg and Phil Wood

Sustainable development is not a new concept. In 1789 Thomas Jefferson said: “I say the Earth belongs to each generation. No generation can contract debts greater than may be paid during the course of its own existence.”

Since this statement was made, the global community has failed to live within the Earth’s limits and is now facing the challenges brought about by our growing population, demand for natural resources, environmental damage and the need to improve economic conditions to provide many of the world population’s basic needs. These are challenges that threaten civilization and require action at a global, national and local scale.

Climate change is probably the greatest long term threat facing humanity. The recent Stern Report into the economics of climate change concluded that the cost of keeping CO2 emissions below 550ppm will be around 1% of global GDP. However, if emissions are allowed to continue under a ‘business as usual’ scenario, the cost of living with the resulting climate change will be far higher, with an average loss in global GDP of 5-10%.

The Stern Report has paved the way for much stronger and more urgent policy on climate change. AECOM is working with the UK Government to develop a positive response to the issue of climate change. This work includes a framework for creating low and zero carbon communities, reducing travel demand, promoting the use of renewable energy, and an integrated approach to the supply and treatment of energy, water and waste.

The development of sustainable communities is not solely driven by climate change. It is also a matter of creating places which are economically, socially and aesthetically viable. Creating such communities requires a broad range of skills.

What is a sustainable community?

Sustainable communities can best be described as places where people from all backgrounds might consciously choose to live and which avoid unsustainable impacts on our natural environment. They need to offer equality of opportunity, including: employment, decent and affordable homes, access to schools and higher education, health, retail, and recreational facilities.

Urban form, high-quality building design and well-planned landscapes play an important role in enhancing lives. Well-designed schools can provide a stimulating environment in which to learn while a well-designed workplace can help attract and retain staff. Safety and security are key concerns that can be addressed through urban form and thoughtful design.

Transportation of people and goods is a growing source of carbon emissions. Providing mixed-use development with high-quality amenities can reduce the need to travel. The integration of new development with well-planned public transport infrastructure, cycle ways and pedestrian routes can all help to reduce reliance on the car.

These communities need to be able to withstand the impacts of climate change. Warmer temperatures will tend to drive up demand for air-conditioning which in turn will produce more carbon emissions. Integrating open space and vegetation into major new development can help reduce heat islands, while passive design of buildings can reduce cooling demands and improve comfort.

Changing weather patterns could result either in increased rainfall and possible flooding or drier summers leading to drought. Sustainable urban drainage systems can be used to attenuate stormwater flows while also providing ecological features. Water consumption and supply will need to be better managed through demand reduction measures in buildings and through the on-site treatment and recirculation of rain and wastewater. At a regional level, greater investment may be required in water infrastructure to balance availability with demand. Spatial strategies and masterplans will need to consider the greater stresses that climate change will place on biodiversity and steps will have to be taken to protect existing habitats and provide for new ones.

Buildings will have to be designed to minimize energy demand, and remaining demands will have to be met from renewable and low-carbon energy sources. Consequently, developments will have to be located to make best use of existing sources of waste heat, and individual buildings will have to be oriented to optimize solar energy potential. Decentralized energy generation from combined heat and power (CHP) and stand-alone renewables will become increasingly important. Recycling and treatment of domestic waste and sewerage will have to be better integrated, with non-recyclable components being used to generate heat and power.

Population growth, changing demographic patterns and fluctuating economic fortunes require both the creation of new communities and the regeneration and revitalization of existing ones. Each present their own challenges but both require an integrated and inclusive development process.

The integrated planning process

Historically, planning for new communities or large developments has been a linear process that starts with land acquisition, market analysis, engineering constraints, conceptual planning, engineering verification and then detailed drawings and construction.

The problem with this approach is that individual systems such as water, energy and transport are treated as standalone elements, and important cultural and social dimensions tend to be overlooked. But there is another way: sustainable planning.

The process starts with a fundamental understanding of the natural ecology of a site – its topography, geology, hydrology, soils, climate, habitat and wildlife. By documenting each individually and then building a composite inventory of environmental and ecological factors, certain patterns begin to emerge, suggesting that some areas are more suitable for urbanization than others.

Socio-cultural considerations

But no site can be said to have been truly understood without investigation of its cultural values – the customs, traditions and behaviors that bind together a community of people and allow it to thrive into future generations. The historic buildings, landscapes, gathering places and socio-cultural drivers that have taken a community through multiple generations need to be inventoried, interpreted and extended into the new or regenerated community.

The planning team must also understand the project’s market context, so that consumer preferences and potential ‘green premiums’ can be identified. These help to offset potential incremental costs of higher performance technologies.

The integrated design approach ensures that development components work together rather than against each other, delivering higher performance for minimal extra cost. For instance, a well-planned, multi-modal transport design reduces the need for roads, which reduces stormwater runoff and roadway cost, using less land which allows more revenue-producing development. A whole-system design and costing approach for a new community is more effective than a design based on single components.

Establishing life-cycle costs

On complex projects, a cost/benefit analysis helps narrow the array of sustainability choices into those that can achieve the best value for money. Identifying costs can be as simple as calculating ‘first costs’ (those incurred as capital costs in the initial construction of the project). But a more sophisticated approach can be used to identify ‘life-cycle costs’ (which also include environmental and economic costs and savings throughout the life of the product). In every case, it pays to understand these life-cycle costs in relation to the environmental and social benefit they bring. Several AECOM companies are pioneering methodologies that measure costs and benefits using software programs that enable clients to make smart decisions on sustainable investments.

Finally, any sustainable planning process includes an education component. Contractors may need education about sustainable construction techniques and materials, as well as environmental regulations. Residents, workers and other users may need to learn how best to look after the finished development.

In summary, a sustainable planning and design process is a holistic, integrated process that is network-oriented rather than linear. It starts with both land and culture, is informed by market opportunity and uses a cost/benefit methodology to ensure a sound, long-term economic investment.

How we can help

As a global company, we have a clear perspective on international attitudes to sustainable development, and how those attitudes are affecting implementation. The vast proportion of indicators, whether from government, industry or media sources, confirm that sustainable development is no longer simply the latest trend.

In the U.S., sustainable construction has surpassed the 3% market penetration typically identified as a transition point from a trend to a cultural pattern. According to the Green Building Smart Market Report, the U.S. non-residential construction market will be worth approximately $204.5 billion by 2010.

Across AECOM, many of the skills are in place to respond to client, regulatory and market challenges. Our comprehensive line of sustainable development services ranges from conducting cradle-to-grave life cycle assessments, to implementing sustainable management systems, from community master planning to site investigation, remediation and rehabilitation.

Any organization looking to improve its sustainability efforts and performance is faced by a bewildering number of voluntary codes, principles and guidelines. Our broad engagement with all the issues gives us a bird’s eye view of the interrelationship of these regulatory aspects, enabling us to provide our clients with well-researched advice.

We must engage all stakeholders, consider every aspect of the project in an integrated way, and start early in the development process. Ultimately, we will continue to challenge conventional thinking, integrate smart and reliable technology, provide the best experienced and qualified people to meet our clients’ needs and leverage our strengths: global presence, strong client relationships and diverse in-house expertise.

Every project we undertake should be designed to reduce the negative environmental and social impacts and to gain competitive advantage for our clients.