Bryce Canyon City

This small community has the potential to thrive off of its tourist attractions and its close proximity to many of Utah's natural wonders. In order for this community, which is already growing, to do so in a way that provides equitable housing for its many seasonal residents, and to mitigate its environmental degradation, it is vital that the community operates out of a place of stewardship.

It is equally as important to interview the town's inhabitants, to better understand what they already know about the community, to preserve its unique history and to meet their needs for ability to thrive.

To better understand the community, here are some questions to ask them that may help:

What aspect of your towns history is most important to protect?
-Structures built by the pioneers
-Anasazi pueblos
-Cottonwood wash
-All of the above:
Please add additional comments: ________________________

Do you want greater public transportation in your community?
Yes/No
Please add additional comments: ________________________

Are there any developments that have been made in your town that have hurt the local community?
Yes/No
If yes, please explain:_________________________________

Would to prefer to see more walkable corridors and bike lanes? 
Yes/No
If yes, please share an additional preference/idea (optional):_________________________________

As your community grows, how do you want it to do so in regards to housing?
-greater single family residential
-diversified housing (mixture of single family, multi-family, affordable housing options)
-diversified housing in or above mixed use buildings (i.e. restaurant or store on ground level, residential above)

Do you value the transition to renewable energy sources in your community? For example, renewable solar or turbine power.
Yes/No
Please explain your answer:_________________________________

Are there city specific ordinances or issues in Bryce Canyon City that you wish would be changed or made better?
Please explain your answer:_________________________________


As the community develops into a larger tourist attracting town, it may encounter some problems that other towns with similar attributes have faces. These would include a greater pull on resources, such as food, water, and energy to fuel buildings.  It may also entail an unfair allocation of city resources to compensate for the tourist influx. In what way do you hope that the town can sustain healthy tourism? 

Here's a New Rubric & a New Rubrik's Cube

Building sustainable communities requires radical, pragmatic efforts. As opposed to the "copy and paste" mentality many developers have in regards to new projects, new planning modus operandi are supporting a more regional ecological sense to where new developments are placed. When we look at the new criteria adopted in manuals that are engineered for both planners and developers, such as the LEED v4 for Neighborhood Development, we can see a more regional painstaking that includes greater ecological requirements than those that came before it. These requirements tie into an understanding of ecosystem services, and the intrinsic value they possess for societal health.


As I take a closer look at some of the requisites to planning criteria that considers human health as interdependent to ecological health, I found slight nuances in design that, to my understanding, people have always utilized when constructing permanent structures. For instance, these requirements require solar orientation of the building to be considered, as well as an understanding of the area's geolocation- meaning its proximity to a floodplain, hill stability, and many other factors. Local food production has always been a key ingredient to the development of a human settlement, which has become increasingly distant from popular considerations of site design and implementation. New planning methodology that falls under the category of "new urbanism," or "green community design" takes into consideration a greater comprehensive view of how people not only live in a place, but how this place can add to the sustenance of the community. Local agricultural efforts are normal in places that have a history of farming practices, however, the implementation of a proximity requirement to urban food production and farmers markets is new in the urban planning world.


Think of sustainability as a Rubik's cube-you've got the cube, but you've got no idea how to solve it. You try different things, but you end up in a kerfuffle as you attempt different ways of solving it, but still you can't yield the solution. Then, you either get help from an expert, experience a revelation and figure it our yourself, or ask the internet for guidance; you find that its simple as long as you follow the correct algorithm. If you don't figure out the solution, you become frustrated, exhaust your efforts, and give up. We can look at our need to live more sustainably as a puzzle, and one that we've got plenty of answers and algorithms to solve, perhaps even more than a Rubik's cube. By following criteria that conserves resources, exploits natural capital, promotes the growth of local economies and agriculture, while implementing practical solutions to conserve species habitat, the puzzle will eventually be solved.

Unlike a Rubik's cube, there isn't one person that can solve the puzzle at a time, sustainable community design takes a great deal of effort stemming from the actions and voices of many individuals. 

Employing your rights in democratic society is a great privilege, one nobody should take lightly. You can create opportunities to be an active participant in your community and local government, and to combine your efforts with your fellow community members and city councilmen and women. While political discussion can seem sticky (like a Rubik's cube that you can't solve) you must remember that it is a critical piece in the puzzle that will help us master sustainability. Direction in the political arena arises from the peoples' need, and a healthy, habitable environment is something that every person most certainly cannot live without.  

When we begin to push for new urbanist guidelines to shape how our municipalities function and evolve, we will be ensuring a greater future for our children, and for ourselves, and even for our pocket books. 

Changing the Paradigm

We're victims of several decades of irresponsible sprawl patterned development, meaning that we've pushed the boundaries of our cities and towns as far back as possible, guzzling up land without a second though. Placing structures, roads, and the general infrastructure needed to create new settlements without a comprehensive strategy that greatly considers ecological factors has proven to be problematic.

Of course, when it comes to creating a new building, ecological factors are evaluated prior to construction. For instance soil stability, fault lines, wind patterns, noise pollution, amongst many other factors are investigated. But, what about the regional impact of repeated, isolated evaluations?

City planners and civil engineers don't forfeit a vision of what they want the future to look like, their practices consider many potential implications of their development choices and aim to fulfill people's needs to both live and thrive. However, critical loss of functional ecosystem services due to these impacts of urban development can neglect to consider the regional environmental impact. A pattern that is routinely placed over areas, despite its relationship and impact on a broader provincial area, will lead to increased car traffic on arterial roads, greater pollution, increased health problems (exacerbated by car dependency and pollution), and more money coming from the tax payer's pocket, due to the cost of wide expansion. In tandem with land use and other implications of suburban sprawl, the over arching threat of human induced climate change needs to be considered when proposing new developments.

Suburbia may seem like a dream, but when you factor in its alluvial impact on the nearby region it, its cost can be deadly.  Due to a lack of consideration regarding wildlife habitat, species migration, and deforestation, amongst other things, negative ripples in the environment are nothing to take lightly.
Equal consideration needs to be given to both ecological characteristics of an area, as well as the amenities and infrastructure that humans are dependent one.





We need to "degreenify" the environmental movement, we need to make it normal and second nature in how our society functions. 













In an effort to repair some of the detriments of suburban sprawl, the greatest thing that needs to be constructed differently is transportation accessibility. The current layout of these common neighborhoods developments depend solely on cars for access and mobility. Generally there is a city bus system located near the neighborhood's boundary and freeway access, although it can alleviate congestion by decreasing the number of cars on the road, it doesn't do much by means of altering the development pattern. The implementation of light rail transit or a subway system that connect a satellite community to a more dense metropolitan center will reduce traffic, mitigate air pollution, and create greater commuter efficiency. These areas that connect suburban areas to transit will also help create miniature nodes of commercial activity, which will enhance the local economy by creating greater economic development and job opportunities in the area.

While the pattern of suburban growth doesn't fully encompass sustainability, new community guidelines and standards can help people embrace greener criteria for their homes and communities. Creating strict, and well known guidelines around community development in an environmentally friendly way will impact people to see that it isn't impossible to think and act with the Earth in mind.

While ecological sensibility in design of new structures and development plans may seem extravagant, useless, and a waste of time and energy, the longterm cost effectiveness, greater resiliency to environmental turbulence, and benefits to human will likely change peoples' minds. Adherence to Green Community standards will likely play a large role in our ability to adapt to climate change and reduce our impact on future generations.

Our Society Needs Doctors and Environmentalists

I transferred to the University of Utah to study exercise science, or therapeutic recreation. I've always led an active lifestyle, and have been fascinated by the human body. I hoped to become a specialist that could help inform people of ways to incorporate activity and the outdoors into their lives for greater health and happiness. The summer prior to my first semester at the University, I interned at a physical therapist's office in Park City. I enjoyed helping the patients, and geeking out when the PT's explained the science, or anatomy of what they were working with people on. It was an environment that was clean, new, and fostered an amazing view of Park City's Olympic Park.

I had first attended Utah State University to delve into an environmental science degree but became depressed after my first environmental science class. To understand the trickle down of human behavior in ecosystems worldwide, and to grapple with the scale to which these things occur was overwhelming to me. I decided that it would be best for me, and my happiness to delve into a field of human health as opposed to one that focused so much on environmental degradation.

During my internship I was excited to imagine myself in this kind of a work environment in the future; one that helped people heal, gain strength, and restore their bodies health. Yet, somewhere in my mind I couldn't shake this feeling of disconnect between human health and ecosystem health. People cannot thrive without a healthy planet.

This dichotomy of my two interests and passions have led me to the field of Urban Ecology. I wasn't satisfied focusing on just environmental science exercise or science because they are both areas I care deeply about. Urban Ecology focuses on improving people's ways of life through urban design, active transportation, and myriad of other details in the fabric of a city or community that can serve both the environment, but the people in the community as well.

Although I still feel overwhelmed by the scale of issues regarding sustainability in today's modern world,  I feel empowered by the idea that there are so many solutions to the problems we are facing today. When we combine our understanding of what aspects of our modern lives negatively impact human health there will be nothing to hold us back from working towards mechanisms of sustainable interest. When health care professionals and environmentalists collaborate, I am confident that our attitudes towards land conservation, water conservancy, automobile dependency, pollution mitigaiton, and our current pattern of suburban sprawl, will be seen in a new light. Perhaps these topics won't be as controversial as they have been, perhaps they will become a means of common ground for people.

After all, at the end of the day all we have is our health, each other, and the planet that sustains our lives.

Rather than grappling with the massive scale of environmental degradation that takes place each day, lets focus on the fact that future generations are worth fighting for, and that we've truly got power in our hands.

Hannovers Principles

How do we make sustainability more attainable, and both less conversational and less polarizing?

Differences in perspectives exist everywhere, and can often make coming to a middle ground seem impossible. Given the attention environmental protection policy in the United States has gotten recently, and the controversiality of a subject matter that sustains all of life, solutions this complex seem distant to many.

Environmental protection and regulation has again become a hot topic in the hearts and minds of people, especially in America, where people feel strongly on either side. The current administration is acting in a way that is dangerous and defiant to the scientific consensus regarding climate change, which should rightfully be considered a national threat to security.

As an individual who cares deeply about a healthy environment, and as a student who has declared a major in Urban Ecology because of my desire to protect both people and the planet, I often find it difficult to understand how people seemingly don't care about the Earth. Of course, I could take that to the extreme and state that they don't care about their children and grandchildren's wellbeing, but hey, this blog post is about meeting in the middle, right?

People who claim that they don't "believe" in global warming or climate change are those that aren't scientifically literate, because it is not something that you can argue anymore. Sure, you can ask questions of different studies, and how they came to their conclusions, but the dismissal of global warming, or climate change is naive, especially with such a strong scientific consensus.

To understand the extent to which the planet is suffering can be a mental and emotional burden, but for many it is physical as well.  By this I mean that people's physical well being is already suffering from environmental degradation. Our chances of having abundant clean air, clean water and simple means for survival in the future are being stomped on by today's industry, and as I mentioned, are already impacting some people today.

Our industrial societies and their mass production of waste, pollution, and greenhouse gases are a monster in and of themselves. But, these things can change if progressive policy and monetary incentives are used to mitigate human impact, and cool the atmosphere. The real monster in the race to save the climate (or the Race Against Extinction TM) is both human inaction and destruction.

With a truth that is self evident to every creed, every class, every religion, and every country, our planet is the only thing we've got.

Wouldn't it make sense to be guided in policy decisions, lifestyle choices, and cultural strong holdings to celebrate our connection to this planet?

This is where I see the difference, this is where I see hope that the many sides can and will meet in the middle. 

Our reliance on the Earth is something that can only be embraced, which guides me to believe that environmental protection and conservation will prevail in popular politics and lifestyle choices. Although it may be surprising that we don't already have strong bipartisan efforts to protect the planet, I have faith that we will shift our actions to consider ecological health in the future.

If we continue the trajectory we are currently on, we will still be forced to reevaluate our lifestyles by unforeseen changes in climate and toxicity of our vital resources, such as clean air, water, and food. Our societies will have to adjust and evolve to cope with these impacts, namely our waste streams, pollution discharges, and the destruction of keystone species' habitats.

Our urban systems and ways of life have two options: one being that we can prepare and plan for resiliency while mitigating current environmental infringement,  or two, we can wait until our lifestyles, such as we live today, can no longer be carried out. The second option will force us into shifts in systems that may be shocking and hard to adjust to. It may desert cities that are dependent on external water and food sources, which may cause serious conflict, no matter where the state or country's borders are. As we have witnessed already, places on each continent are already experiencing climate change impact, be it in a shorter ski season resulting in economic downfall for a community, or a drought putting food production and human lives at risk.  If you don't believe me, click here for a brief slideshow of evidence brought to you by Scientific America.

As we move forward, into an age of technological revolutions around every corner, we must ensure that people don't lose their connections to the planet. We must teach people the importance of ecological health, and how our lives can make a positive impact, rather than a negative one.

With an issue as complex and multifaceted as sustainability, it is imperative that we begin by at least educating our society, especially our kids, in a way that will create communities of ecological sensibility and understanding. We need to incentivize solar energy, water conservation, and purchasing local grown foods to help streamline people towards what a sustainable livelihood means.

The Paris Climate Agreement was a feat for environmentalists around the globe, but it is only a small step towards a brighter future. It is fantastic that nations around the globe recognize the threat of climate change, and are actively working towards building societies that offset their carbon footprint, and promote the application of sustainable practices, but is just the beginning of a sustainable revolution. In consideration of the United States threat to pull from this agreement, we don't have time to waste. We must act within our local and state governments to push for ecological responsibility, your voice is needed, and mine too; we can't be passive and trusting that things will sort themselves out in good time, its time to act. The threats are too great to take lightly, and these changes must be pushed for at a hyperlocal level.

We are all responsible for helping to create a culture of sustainability.  

This is not a subject matter that  can divide us any longer, especially when it may be the only true thing that connects us; not only to each other, but to everything else we've ever known. 

May we not give up the good fight.

 May we all dig deeper, may our knuckles turn white and our eyes burn bright with the undying love we have for our Earth. 

Hear Us Roar

When you become wrapped up in trying to understanding global climate change due to human impact it can be overwhelming and disheartening.

I remember in fifth grade my teacher told us that scientists suspected human impact could cause a warming of the Earth's atmosphere. She explained that the scientists didn't know for sure yet, and that many were working hard to study the relationships between human industry, ecosystem health, and global temperatures.

This was my first introduction to what is now one of my deepest fears. As a college student who now understands the unequivocal fact that human activity and industry impacts the Earth in many, many ways, it is extremely frustrating to see the easy dismissal some people have of the subject matter.

When I was younger I wasn't scientifically literate, but I did have common sense. When the younger version of me tried to picture how big the world was, I couldn't quite fathom its scale, I knew it was beyond my comprehension. However, I could imagine just how many people were living and breathing....and driving cars.

Coupled with my fifth grade teacher's explanation of the "global warming hypothesis" and how gases from cars and factories trap heat in our atmosphere, and knowing just how many people drive cars and rely of factories for energy and material things, I immediately fathomed the merit that these scientists had.

It is as frustrating as ever now, to have been wrapping my mind around this phenomenon for most of my life and to see very little by means of progress regarding mitigation of CO2, the transition to cleaner energy, or planning for resilience.

By saying this I am not discrediting the multitude of efforts made around the globe to do these things, but I do mean to harshly criticize the efforts set forth in the United States.

We need voices to speak for environmental justice, not doing so should be considered a threat to our National security.

After spending time reading the current state of affairs regarding the radical depletion of federal funding for the Environmental Protective Agency one can be utterly ticked off (this is a technical term).

Rather than feeling discouraged and apathetic, it is imperative that we proactively harness this anger and frustration in our own communities, state and local governments, and perhaps most importantly, in our conversations.

We know that people power is the greatest strength a nation has, we know that the only way to create changes is to work together, and we know that the time is now.

There is no time to waste, we cannot, cannot, I repeat CANNOT be silent. If we fall into thinking that things will take care of themselves in the future, we may be sacrificing the health of people yet to be born, and even our own health down the road. We must be agents of change, and perhaps our greatest weapon is our voices both individually and collectively.

As the climate science consensus shows, we don't have time to waste.

Perhaps we need to understand what inspires us to speak in order to

We can ride off the wake of the inspirational energy we feel from people that have created positive changes in their communities, in their governments, and in their own lives. Drawing from the success of others to help us fight for more victories regarding both environmental and social justice, as they are inextricably liked, will help us pave way for a sustainable future.

It is easy to feel like your voice is too small, and that the noise around you drowns you out (por ejemplo, the Trump Administration), but none the less we still have immense power.


After all, the idea of a sustainable future has to be met with a generation that embodies the culture of stewardship. Shifting cultural values as a society can take a millennia, but seeing that we live in unprecedented times where information and technology are rapidly altering our ways of life already, this is reason enough to have a bit of faith or hope that humanity will recognize the importance of valuing the Earth. Many see the Earth as a means of something abundant to exploit and develop, which seems to be the dominant cultural value (at least here in America). When we fail to respect the ecosystem services provided to communities across the world, we won't actively work to protect and conserve them.

When an individual becomes aware of the intrinsic value of wetlands, per say, and understands the significance of its functionality to a human society, many feel inclined to share their knowledge in hopes of protecting these places.

Using your voice as a means to guide the thought and action of others in a way that benefits humanity is never something you should hold back.

Sometimes it takes a great deal of time and effort to fine tune your voice to a specific audience, however, you'll never be confident in expressing your stance on ecological security if you never start speaking your piece.

For some of us that means casual dialogue with friends, or parents with differing views, or raising your hand during a class to bring up an environmental risk or hazard, while others prefer writing poems or even typing Facebook posts and comments.

No matter where you start, just remember that your voice can carry far. People who were once "nobodies" have created legacies and projects that will outlast their lifespan, and will inspire others to do the same.

Let yourself be inspired by these stories and their voices to use your own.

Together we will be heard, and together we can cultivate a culture of sustainability.

Survival----> Thrival: Communities of Diversity

Despite the many differences in customs and human behavior cross culturally, people ultimately share the need for a roof over their heads. 

From the Masaai tribes in Eastern Africa with their clay, straw huts, to the urbanites of the developed world with sky scrapers and apartment complexes; we can see commonality. People thrive in community, though benefits can vary from group to group, collaboration and communication between people opens the gates for people to trade, survive, play, and create together. 

In the past, dominant, hegemonic groups have had survivalist attitude when it comes to thriving communities. This attitudes typically means eradicating the competition, and doing all you can to support your own community. This can look like battling for resources, or sabotaging an undesirable counterpart.

In today's world, we are witnessing a greater mix of people, our interconnectedness is unprecedented. Our survival is no longer dependent on only one group, our survival is contingent on how we can coexist, and our abilities to trade, to collaborate, and to unite in trying times.

For many, the challenge to secure financial stability is insurmountable. For whatever reason, be it disability, addiction, seeking refuge in a new country, or drowning debt, millions of people suffer from hovering just around or below the "poverty line." These circumstances mean regularly questioning the availability of a roof over your head, or food in your stomach, amongst other things. 

Are these people deserving of their situations? Perhaps, but many are not. 

Do children deserve to have a roof over their head? Always.

Should my neighbor have food on their plate? Yes. 

As a member of a participatory society, it is vital that we ask ourselves how we can enhance our communities, as well as the lives of the individuals that make them, and the environment that surrounds us. 

Recent studies have shown that affordable housing projects have led to significant boosts in local economies, as well as large reduction in crimes rates...

Funny, huh? Perhaps if we give people the physical foundation they need, their lives can truly take off, as well as a society at large.

Now,

Lets take a closer look at three different affordable housing developments and their successes: 

Little Ajax Affordable Housing - 

What used to an abysmal, retired mining site has turned into an ecologically sound affordable housing development in Aspen, Colorado. With 14 housing units per acre, this project has created housing in a way that conserves energy, water, land, and material. This development is situated by public transit opportunities, and has integrated a path that connects to Aspen's trail network. Not only does this beautifully constructed undertaking fit the natural landscape, it is designed to both benefit from it while mitigating its impact on it. Through the use of native plants to conserve irrigated water, storm drain systems to reduce pollutants in run off, and buildings constructed to absorb the Sun's heat, while utilizing the radiation in photovoltaics on the roofs, this development has both people and the environment in mind. 

201 Turk and 111 Jones -

This high density affordable housing project in San Francisco speaks to the need of the community, and has alleviated crime in the area, while providing refugees and people of need with the opportunity to thrive. This housing development offers children a safe place to recreate, an inclusive community for the elderly, as well as enhanced opportunity for people with different backgrounds to successfully, and productively integrate in their city. Excellent management and the collaboration of many inspired designers and contractors made it possible for nearly 2,100 people to have greater lives of peace and subsistence. 

Bridgeton Revitalization -

After economic pitfalls, the Bridgeton, New Jersey had too many abandoned, rotting Victorian homes. As a district that values historic preservation, these structures didn't seem to be preserving much of anything, and seemed to be prompting criminal activity due its abandonment. This housing development aimed to mend this decrepit area of the town, and created new, affordable homes that mimicked some of the structural efficiencies of the older Victorian styled homes. This mimicry utilized the tall, A frame structures and covered porches to naturally cool the structure, and minimize energy costs. Other cost effective and ecologically sound implementations created homes that harnessed construction efficiency and natural capital, while reducing environmental impact and simultaneously preserving the history of this area.