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. 

A Biophillic City

biophilia |bʌɪə(ʊ)ˈfɪlɪə|

noun [mass noun]

(according to a theory of the biologist E. O. Wilson) an innate and genetically determined affinity of human beings with the natural world. 

Many philosophers and psychologists alike, study the relationship between man and nature. Is it essential, how does a connection with nature benefit an individual? 

Speculations have been made that an urban oasis, such as a nature conservancy area, garden space, park, or waterfront, can reduce mental turbulence and have a calming impact on people. 

Studies have developed to prove a positive correlation between both physical and mental health when people live in close proximity to green spaces. To bolster this fact, a Swedish study discovered that people who spend more time in parks are less likely to report stress related illnesses, and show a greater physical well being. This finding supports the idea that many urban planners, such as Jane Jacobs, have been infamous for stating: the design of our cities is a keystone component in citizen health. 

Western societies and known for being rich in western diseases, some of these conditions are diabetes, heart disease, obesity, amongst others. Several of these unfortunate convictions can be caused from peoples' lifestyle choices. 

The theory that open spaces and inviting, lively streets, scattered with green, get people out of their homes and into their streets may be one that physicians should look into. Urban design, clean, air, and overall, walkable cities are quintessential for laying the ground frame for a healthy people.

A biophillic city is one that is alive, one that moves with the people.Trees decorate the streets, people utilize them, native animal and bird species have usable, and healthy in the area. Human waste is mitigated, people recognize the importance of material cycles, and that no resource is infinite. A general sense of stewardship is felt in a biophillic community, people feel responsible for maintaining these places, in part because they adore them, and they cherish their connections with the natural world. 

The integration of sustainable practices and designs that fuse with plant and animal life, are responses to a general admiration that people feel towards their communities and cities. A love of place is essential for people to enhance their cities, and lift them up to a shared state of biophilia. 

An excellent example of a place where people feel great pride in the preservation of nature in their cities is Singapore. People have developed pathways that run through forests, and have implemented living, green walls in several of their sky scrapers. A hospital is decorated with life, the abundances of plants attracts butterflies, birds, and even people who aren't patients. This city can serve as a case study for those who question the idea that healthy people come from healthy cities. Aside from the mitigation of toxins in the air through the added flora, people are more inclined to utilize their sidewalks, parks, and water front. The integration of plants in this human environment have also inspired teachers and children of the area to explore just how nature operates, and how humans can benefit from these critical natural responses. 

Inhabitants of Singapore are proud of the health and vibrancy of their city. 

Pictured above: man made trees that collect water, as well as solar energy, provide people with a light show at night, and are intertwined with living plants. 

This park, Garden by the Sea, has now become an iconic destination to tourists and locals alike. Its beauty and embodiment of the relationship between people and nature has made an impact on urban designers world wide. 

This is one example of the many gardens that litter the city. Others include a "Flower Dome," an indoor garden near the Garden by the Sea, which is pictured below. 

In a city where magnificent design meets ecological sensibility, it is hard not to be taken back by its beauty and grandeur. 

What can we do in here America, to liven our cities, and promote better human health?

Culture of Convenience: Mobility

Issues regarding mobility vary between each person and their needs.

For many people in the western United States, finding the means to pay for your vehicle is the greatest transportation concern.

When pressed with the challenge of finding a solution to an issue facing transportation that impacts me personally, I came to the realization that convenience may be the root of my problem.

It sounds counter intuitive, right?

Each day, I drive nearly everywhere; to school, to the grocery store, to my job, to the ski slopes, or to my friends houses.

I'm the product of a culture of convenience. What informs many of my decisions is how many minutes I can save in travel time, and how I can reach my destinations in the easiest way possible.

Owning a car is great, it allows you to have access to virtually anywhere that is drivable. Unfortunately, it also burdens your wallet, and plays a large role in sacrificing both the health of your immediate environment and global climate. It too plays a role in eradicating the opportunity for public spaces to be utilized in other ways, and most importantly, distracts people from utilizing a more sustainable means of transportation.

Creating a world that will ensure prosperity for future generations begins with sustainability. Mounting evidence supports the fact that human activity is impacting global climate, due to an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. A great contributor to this spike in atmospheric carbon is due to our beloved cars and our perceived reliance on them. I say that our reliance of them is perceived, because many of us don't see alternative ways in which we can reach places.

That being said, when you are living in a more dense urban environment, it is likely that these public transportation options are more commonly used and accessible to people. However, in smaller towns, such as the one I was raised in, riding the public bus is stigmatized to be inconvenient and unsafe.

City buses and trains aren't usually utilized by those who own a car, why would it be when convenience dictates our actions?

The transportation issue that I want to discuss in further depth belongs to those of privilege. By privilege, I mean people who have the means to drive a car at their own convenience, and don't experience it as an immense financial burden. To put it clearly, the issue is the perceived dependence of automobiles and peoples' overarching attitude towards public transportation.

As an individual in this position of privilege, I have always been told by my mother that public transportation isn't safe for girls to travel alone. It has been silently, and not so silently, stigmatized to serve "bad people," and "poor people." I've overheard my Mom warning her friends of dangers of drug dealers on the city buses, and that they shouldn't allow their kids to ride them. Having known nothing other than the backseat of my Mom's car, until I got my own license and car, I retained a bias of public transportation that I didn't even know I had.

Although we have city buses in most cities and towns, utilization of these means are often viewed as unattractive and inconvenient compared to travel by car. Unfortunately, my perception growing up is common to many teenagers of privilege in the United States. When there isn't

The culture of convenience dictates our lifestyles, degrades the health of the air we breathe, and even sacrifices physical fitness for luxury. It also influences the mobility of people without much money, if there isn't a demand for public transportation then the city won't feel incentivized to invest in it. This can disadvantage members of the community, and can perpetuate a culture that doesn't readily accept and embrace public transportation.

Ways that we can break this stigma, that some people hold regarding public transportation, would be to help the youth see city buses, public trolleys, or light rails as accessible and useful. We could teach the current generation of children in our public education system to understand the sustainable benefits of these modalities. Similar lessons of teaching children that idling cars can be harmful to health has rallied political will to implement idling laws. When children hold tight to an idea that they see as beneficial for themselves and the environment, they usually accept its importance because it intuitively makes sense to them.

As for adults, we could require companies to incentivize public transportation benefits to all of their employees. I know that the company my Dad works for does this, and results in many of their employees utilizing TRAX. We could also implement more routes of high speed commuter rails to enhance the connectivity of these lines, making them more attractive and accessible to a wider array of people. Of course, drastic and expensive expansions of these routes would need to be backed by public will. This would begin with a new generation that cherishes the culture of sustainability more than the culture of convenience. Hence, educating the policy makers of tomorrow about the benefits of electric trolley lines, high speed commuter rails, and city buses.

We can also make a future with less automobile dependence by implementing a cap and trade model of policy for single occupant vehicles. That way, people would be hyper contentious of their automobile trips, and would inclined to limit their trips in order to save money.

Ultimately, in a culture of convenience, we need to make sustainable lifestyles more glamorous and attainable for people from all walks of life. We could also use the "Theory of Fun" to help people feel more inclined to take public transit. The money generated from the cap and trade model could be used to reward the people who track the distance that they go on public transit, or the frequency of their uses. This would mimmic the Volkswagon speed calculator that tickets people who speed, and reward those that drive the speed limit.

The Theory of Fun could also be used to introduce the idea of active transportation, namely biking, to the people who usually drive everywhere the need to go. We could have priority lanes for bikers, with their own stoplights that could be seamlessly implemented into vehicular traffic. Contributing to the culture of sustainability, this would normalize biking from place to place, and would inspire more people to pedal to their destinations. Not only would this be sustainable, but it would be efficient and convenient.

We've got to get people out of their cars.


If these practices and policies were combined, I feel confident that they would play key roles in blending the culture of convenience and the culture of sustainability.


***Click below for more public transportation benefits!

Street Films Changing Widening American Percepts

Street Films have done it for me, they really have. And what I mean by saying this is that my previous perception of what a street is, and what defines its greatness has done a 180 degree flip since I've seen my first Street Film.

Growing up in the United States, with parents that don't enjoy traveling outside of the country, I've never truly experienced anything other than American intersections. Now that I've peered into many European intersections through the lens of Street Films, I now know what we are missing here, and why so many people feel the need to make their travel destinations in other countries.

As a newer nation, many of our streets and cities have been designed to primarily accommodate vehicles, and are engineered in a template, cookie cutter matter. They are all the same in appearance, and their purpose is the same, which is to move cars.

When I watch the video clips of trams, bikeways, and pedestrian paths all coexisting together in European cities, without vehicle dominance, I feel like I've been missing something my entire life. These streets have an entirely different feel to them, and serve multiple functions in an efficient, beautiful way. People seem happy, and relaxed.

According to the films I've seen regarding pedestrian space built into sidewalks in cities worldwide, businesses and restaurants thrive in these scenarios. Mixed use buildings, ones that have housing, and provide ground level commercial activities are shown to be great economic prospects for communities.

The idea of "urban acupuncture,"or adding elements that can enhance the usefulness, and beauty of an area is mainly thought of as a physical implementation. An example would be a bike lane, an electric trolley line, a new park, or transforming an old building into a newly restored asset to a community. However, there are other contexts in which "urban acupuncture" may be implemented. An example of this could be Bogota's "Ciclovia's," or days without cars. This event spreads the idea of utilizing roads for pedestrian purposes, and helps to glamorize active transportation.

As I was watching this video of Bogota, I learned that this city shuts down 70 miles of vehicular traffic every Sunday from 7am until 2pm. It creates a pedestrian haven, one that inspires people to bike, recreate, relax, and to simply spend time in; and is called a Ciclovia The city employs people to teach free fitness classes to help people exercise and have fun at the same time. It also employs people to secure the safety of people who are biking through the city. Great food vendors and musical performances fill the streets with life, creating a communal sense of living.

For many people in Utah, Sundays are a day of rest, one that consists of spending time with family, and maybe taking walks around their neighborhoods. . . What if we could extend this idea of a neighborhood walk into the city?

By implementing a day of the week to shut down portions of downtown Salt Lake City to vehicles (it doesn't have to be Sunday), it could introduce the idea of pedestrian streets to people in this city, and encourage greater use of active, sustainable transportation.


When we break free of the North American idea of what a city looks like and feels like, we can choose to create and better our public spaces by implementing infrastructure and design that supports healthy, beautiful, efficient cities.

Where the ocean meets the sea. .

ecotone |ˈēkətōnˈekəˌtōn|

nounEcology

a region of transition between two biological communities. 

This is one of my favorite pieces of iPhone-ography, I took it form my flight from Atlanta to San Jose, the Capital of Costa Rica. 

Not only does it capture the stunning grandeur of these cumulous clouds, but it gives us a glimpse of what a physical ecotone looks like from a birds-eye perspective. 

As an arid deserts turns into an oasis along the banks of a winding river, and a city's limits are defined by a body of water, or when two tectonic plates merge and form an epic mountain range, an ecotone is born. 

These spaces of transition can be thought of as harsh lines of radical differentiation and as areas that are completely unique unto only themselves. 

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This summer I was fortunate to have been able to summit Kilimanjaro. This hike took our group eight days, and led us through five different climate zones,.

The first day of the trek is spent ascending through the rainforest, which consists of more vines, flowers, monkeys, and ancient trees than I've ever seen before in my life.

The entire mountain, aside from its arid peak, is full of plant species that are endemic to the region; in the first climate zones these unique species are flowers. As you continue up the mountain there are more endemic flower species, but these are considered "everlasting"flowers. The vegetation between the areas where these different flowers are found abundantly is a great example of a distinctive ecotone.

The margin between each distinctive zone is gradual, but simultaneously individual. As we passed through the rainforest, and moved into the heath and mooreland areas, the air became exponentially drier. But as we made the transition, it didn't feel dramatic. It wasn't until we passed through this ecotone and came out on the other side that the differences between the climate zones seemed as intense as they were.

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Ecotones may be thought of in the way that Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines them, or in the ways that they are exemplified in the physical world, but they may also be looked at in a more creative, emotional sense. 

We can also transform the physical percept of a what an ecotone is into a breakdown of the transitory moments in our lives. What I mean by this is that we can begin to view the chapters of our lives, or spaces between the activities in our daily routines as ecotones. 

We can become more sensitive to the moments that connect the important aspects of our lives, and use this as a tool to gain a broader perspective of the ground we've covered and the lessons we've learned.

Mindfulness of the present as many people call it, could also be called, an awareness of life's many ecotones, or something similar to that.

Brining our attention to the many metamorphoses of our lives; be them in the seasons changing, relationships developing, or simply the morning turning into the evening, can give us the power to recognize the peace and perfection in these variations.

Why, oh why, aren't we following their footsteps?

Climate change isn't something you can "believe" in, as one of my professors at the University of Utah stated last semester in front of my class.
You can't agree with it, its not something that is disputable, especially when the entire GLOBAL community of climate scientists has come to a common consensus on the subject matter. . . That is, those that aren't being paid big money by Exxon Mobil.

Lets take a look back towards the first scientists to voice their concerns about environmental degradation... When did modern science begin to indicate that human activity may have a warming effect on the atmosphere?

Oh yeah, it was 1938, according to the American Institute of Physics).

Many countries have taken serious consideration of their ecological footprint on the planet, and have been making lofty efforts towards curbing their greenhouse gas emissions, amongst other things, to preserve their land and water for future generations.

Efforts made by the United Nations such as the Kyoto Protocol and Agenda 21, and other climate conventions have shed light on the many implications of anthropogenic climate change. Despite the many participating Nations, and more recent Paris Agreements regarding reducing CO2 and initiatives to promote clean, renewable energy sources, it seems that the United States is stuck in a stagnant internal debate regarding the validity of the subject matter.

Talk about frustration for those of us who are consumed in the fear that our children and our grandchildren will be born into an uninhabitable world.

As progressive cap and trade policies are implemented in many European nations, and specific goals are being set forth and publicized, I can't help but wonder why the U.S. isn't on board with these initiatives?!

Following China, the U.S. is leading in carbon emissions, which should make our efforts in the race away from extinction (not to be too dramatic. . ) that much more vital.


Lets take a closer look at what other countries are doing to ensure a healthier future for their citizens:

France has taken initiative in being a catalyst for international policy change, and was the stage for the Paris Climate Conference, which spurred international conversation about the subject matter. This conference is monumental in efforts to combat climate change in that it offers insight as to what a new paradigm of sustainable consumption and production looks like. This country has also set the bar high for curbing their own emissions, and is banning the distribution of plastic cutlery,  which of course spurred plastic producers into a hissy fit.

The European Union has enforced The Climate Change Programme, which requires all countries in the union to either comply with their goals, or to set their own compatible objectives. These largely aim to reduce CO2 emissions and to work towards greater energy efficiency. Despite these grand policy efforts, smaller community initiatives are making great headway in creating livable, green settlements that produce local food, beautiful spaces, while cleaning their air.

Morocco experienced the climatic wrath of human activity when the country suffered from a severe drought in 2015, that stemmed climate change and greatly impacted their agricultural yield, and making their economy take a dip. This unfortunate event spun the government into making hasty policy moves that aim to conserve water use and water infrastructure, transform energy sources to renewable ones, and preserve and manage their natural resources.

Japan's efforts towards mitigating climate change have ranged from goals in energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction by utilizing clean energy sources to donating nearly $20 billion dollars to underdeveloped countries to invest in clean energy.

These are but a few of the countries taking steps towards sustainable infrastructure and clean energy. As many people know, climate change is not a localized issue; and will require international efforts to mitigate and remedy its widespread aftermath.

Greater U.S. involvement in combating human climate change critical, especially when we consider the fact that we are one of the greatest contributors to global greenhouse gas levels.



Although we talk about climate change like some sort of impending doom that will only impact those near the seas, the United Nations estimated that approximately 22.5 million people have already had to flee their homes between 2001 and 2008 due to droughts, floods, and food shortages.

And yet, we don't have to see it here. We don't have to think about it, unless we choose to make that google search, or we just happen to see a little blurb about it on the news.

Click these links to learn more about:

Morroco's Sustainability Efforts

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The Economic Pillar of Urban Ecology

What does it cost to transition towards green infrastructure?

What steps can we take to finance transition strategies that make our cities hospitable, attractive, and resilient?

I'm not going to be answering these big questions today; however, I will be addressing the challenges, cost, and benefits of implementing eco-friendly design on my college campus. But nevertheless, these questions are vital to address to create the best future of safety and sustainability, in both an economic and environmental sense.

This week, in my Green Communities class, we were given the chance to redesign portions of the University of Utah's campus to create more enjoyable spaces that also serve a beneficial ecological purpose.

Our team talked about adding living, green walls, implementing cobblestone pathways and parking lots to remove impervious surfaces, adding the names of notable U alumni to popular walkways to create a "Walk of Fame," as well as creating a yearly event that mimics Salt Lake City's Downtown Garden Stroll.

But what does this cost, and whats the benefit?.... and how can funding be arranged?!

For a public, research one university, economic support for innovative ideas may come easier than for independent projects, or city experimentations.



Our first idea was to strip several areas of pavement and sidewalks to create spaces that foster natural absorption of water, while reducing pollutants from entering the water supply. This is possible due to the porous composition of these pavers, which filters the water while it returns to the soil.

Surprisingly, one of the greatest sources for water pollution is form storm water. As the water moves across roofs, sidewalks, lawns, roads, and gutters, it often collects fertilizers, harmful vehicle byproducts, animal feces, and other components the reek havoc in waterways.



Permeable pavers are also a beneficial way to allow trees roots to have access to the nutrients and water they need to develop mature roots, providing the tree with enough stability to reach its full growth potential. The spaces between the pavers can also foster an environment for smaller plants to grow, with little maintenance, which reduces the urban heat island effect.


Overall, the implementation of friendly, permeable pavers enhances the experience of the pedestrians who enjoy its beauty, while protecting the environment from hazards elements synthesized from our modern lifestyles.






If the University were to implement the addition of cobblestone/permeable pavers on some of the sidewalks, it would cost approximately $4-6 per square foot for materials, plus the cost of labor and potential maintenance.  Funding for this change could come from the SCIF grant if students collaborated on the project.

Permeable Pavers Cost Estimation

Ecological/Aesthetic Benefit of Permeable Pavers

A great addition that our group thought of was to create a "Walk of Fame" on these new sidewalks in popular areas on campus. These would say the name of a famous Ute, as well as a brief summary of their successes and societal impacts. One of my group members proposed the idea of asking the Alumni association to fund this projection, which seems somewhat promising. 

This would give students more pride in their school, and could provide them with inspiration they can draw upon in their lives. 

Another idea for an eco-enhancement on campus was the implementation of a "Living Wall" on the North side of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.  

This artistic expression of sustainability will provide an incentive for the museum's cafe to host outside seating, and will create overall enhance the pedestrian's attraction to the area. 

 The cost of a green wall project depends on the dimensions of the project. The structure, plants, and irrigation system cost approximately $160 per square meter, according to the Growing Green Guide.

Logistically, university planning code may have to be manipulated in order to allow a living wall to be attached to a building. But, as for funding, if student's rallied together to prove environmental and aesthetic benefits of such a wall, perhaps they could apply for SCIF funding to make it a 

reality. 

Our final idea was to encourage an annual springtime event that would encourage students to build their own green social space. This project would mimic the Downtown Garden Stroll that is already hosted by Salt Lake City. 

For those of you who aren't familiar with the garden stroll, it is an event that hosts an annual competition for citizens to compete for funding for their temporary garden exhibit. It requires that people fill their 8x20ft plot with seating, interactive games, and seasonal plants that will bloom during its exhibit time, which lasts for about a month an a half. 

This project would encourage student innovation and collaboration, and could potentially receive funding from the SCIF program. 

After listening to the presentations of my peers, it seems that there are millions of possibilities when it comes to creating more accessible places and social hubs, while catering to disabilities (something I didn't cover in this blog post) while having a beneficial impact on the environment. Although it is easier to receive funding on college campuses, this shouldn't discourage people from actively working towards a better, more beautiful tomorrow in the places they love.  

Check out this link to see some EPA recommended resources for exploring the cost-benefit of environmentally friendly infrastructure and design. 

https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/green-infrastructure-cost-benefit-resources#costanalysis