Chicago: The Sustainable

City?

Alena SmalliganMelissa Bradley

Ryan Bruder

History

•Third largest city in the United States

•Rapid growth during industrialization at the turn of the twentieth century

•Negative environmental and health effects related to urbanization

•Advent of environmentalism shed light on environmental concerns

Urbanization

•Increasing in developed and developing countries

•Fifty percent of global population lives in urban areas today

•People are drawn to cities in search of jobs

•Lack of infrastructure and hasty construction of buildings

ArcGIS

Sustainability of Chicago•Triple bottom line of social equity, environmental preservation and economic performance

•Goal of becoming America’s most environmentally friendly city

•Focus on green landscaping, land use and transportation

Green LandscapingLandscapes and Open Spaces

•Expansion of parks, medians, wetlands, and boulevards

•Draw of investment to landscaped areas

•Restoration of shoreline for recreational purposes

•Need to further protect and landscape as well as create recreational areas

•Sustainable landscape techniques

Green LandscapingNative Seed Gardens

•Need to focus on restoration: only .07% of original landscape remains in Illinois

•Native Seeds have high viability

•Lack of seeds creates problem

•Economic benefits

•Need to find fitting communities for seed gardens

Green LandscapingChicago River

•Create an area for wildlife, recreation and transportation

•Riverfront trail, parks and public access

•Pollution

•Protecting species within and around the river

•Awareness and financial aid

Land UseBuilding Management

•The Chicago Standard Design

•Reflective or vegetated roofs

•Best management policies and procedures

•Global building management system

•Indoor air quality

Land UseBuilding and Regulation

•Remove barriers

•Green building permit process

•Education and outreach

Land UseMunicipal Buildings

•Chicago Center for Green Technology

•City Hall’s Roof Top Garden

•LEED libraries, police stations, schools and fire stations

•Education and outreach

•Evaluate cost and benefit

Land UseResidential Buildings

•Bungalow initiative

•Chicago housing authority

•Green Building Standard

•Energy Conservation Code

TransportationBodies in Motion

•Population of 10 million

•Second largest public transportation system in the United States

TransportationChicago Transit Authority

•1.6 million rides on 2,000 buses, 1,190 rapid transit cars, and a commuter rail

•Covers 2,500 route miles and has 12,200 stops

•“Green Fleet” awards

TransportationCars versus Buses

•Buses and trains are more environmentally friendly

•CTA vehicles have higher occupancy

•Cutting down routes during non-peak hours

TransportationTraffic Jam

•Third highest average of time spent in traffic jams in the United States (over 56 hours a year)

•CTA is more efficient because it does not experience traffic jams

TransportationMaking Change

•Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles etc.

•Ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels

•Fuel cell-powered buses

•Zero-emission technology

•Recycling

TransportationMaintaining Effective Transportation

•Blue Island Plan

•Lower Ticket Price

•Legislation

•Outside bus storage

TransportationFuture

•2010

•Maximize hybrid and clean fueled vehicles

•Green fleet activities

•2020

•Reduce vehicle emissions

•Maximize alternative vehicles in city fleet

Conclusion

•Changes toward a more sustainable city can lead to economic growth, social equity and environmental preservation

•Policy changes and proactive steps

•It is possible for Chicago to be a successful sustainable city