NEIGHBORHOOD SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS GUIDEBOOK

A project in Minnesota, reported to be the first in the U.S. to involve residents in defining sustainability indicators for their neighborhoods, has resulted in a new booklet that can help other groups with social, environmental, and economic issues in their neighborhoods. For a copy of the guidebook, contact the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance at 800 / 657-3843.

CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS

http://iisd.ca/cgsdi/default.htm

The goal of the Consultative Group on Sustainable Development Indicators (CGSDI) is to help arrive at an internationally accepted sustainable development index (SDI). An interim goal is to help develop and adopt a small number of new indices ­ potential components of the ultimate index ­ to supplement indices like the GDP or GNP and other measures of progress. The work of the CGSDI includes promoting cooperation, better coordination, and strategizing among key individuals and institutions that work on developing and using sustainable development indicators. The CGSDI secretariat at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) supports discussion, networking and outreach activities. The CGSDI has recently been at work on developing aggregated indices of sustainability indicators and elaborating on the model of the dashboard of sustainability (see feature below).

DASHBOARD OF SUSTAINABILITY

http://iisd.ca/cgsdi/dashboard.htm

The Dashboard of Sustainability is an instrument panel designed to inform decision-makers, the media and the general public on the status of a nation's progress toward, or away from, sustainability. The concept grew out of the work of the Consultative Group on Sustainable Development Indicators. The heart of the dashboard is three displays, corresponding to three clusters of indicators that measure the status of the environment, the economy, and the social well-being of a nation. Each dial is comprised of three indicators: (1) a needle pointing to a value that reflects the current performance of that system; (2) a graph reflecting the change in that performance over time; and (3) a gauge showing the amount remaining of certain critical stocks. The overall state of the nation is reflected in a composite status indicator, labeled "Overall Sustainability," a color bar that bridges the three dials.

NATURAL CAPITALISM WEBSITE

http://www.naturalcapitalism.org

A companion website to the recently released book "Natural Capitalism: The Next Industrial Revolution." The site offers excerpts from each chapter and allows users to download the full chapters in PDF format. The site also features a section on "Beyond the Book" ­ enabling readers to discuss natural capitalism theory and practice, access additional material, and learn about the latest developments in this fast-moving field.

PROFILES ON SUSTAINABILITY: COUNTY LEADERS BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

http://www.naco.org/programs/comm_dev/center/resource/profiles.pdf

A compendium that highlights the most recent activities of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Sustainability Leadership Team, a committee of 38 county officials who serve as NACo's leaders on the sustainability agenda. The initiatives emphasize the role of county officials in promoting partnerships with citizens to create long-term plans that both protect the environment and encourage economic development.

GROWING TOGETHER: CITY/COUNTY SMART GROWTH PROFILES

http://www.naco.org/programs/comm_dev/center/resource/successes.pdf

Features six profiles of counties and cities that are taking significant steps to partner with their neighboring jurisdiction to resolve mutual land-use problems. Published by the National Association of Counties

MODEL ORDINANCES TO PROTECT LOCAL RESOURCES

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ordinance/

This website includes model ordinances to serve as a template for those charged with making decisions concerning growth and environmental protection. For each model ordinance listed, there are several real -life examples of ordinances used by local and state governments around the nation. The ordinances address matters that are often forgotten in many local codes, including aquatic buffers, erosion and sediment control, open space development, stormwater control operation and maintenance, illicit discharges, and post construction controls.

DOW JONES SUSTAINABILITY INDEX

http://indexes.dowjones.com/djsgi/

The new Dow Jones Sustainability Group World Index, launched by the Dow Jones Company and the Switzerland-based SAM Sustainability Group, ranks some 230 companies on sustainability issues.

SOLVING SPRAWL: SIERRA CLUB RATES THE STATES

http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/report99/

This report is designed to recognize and rank the programs adopted by state governments to manage growth, and to showcase and promote effective smart growth solutions. Sierra Club rated each state by measuring progress in four categories: open space protection, land use planning, transportation planning and community revitalization.

CENTER FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND LIVABILITY

http://goodneighbor.gsa.gov/goodnb/index.html

A new program of the General Services Administration intended to enhance the agency's contributions to the Clinton/Gore Livable Communities Agenda. The Center will coordinate and expand GSA's already extensive efforts to leverage its huge urban real estate holdings in support of downtown revitalization, smart growth, and cultural vibrancy.

ENLIBRA PRINCIPLES

http://www.westgov.org/Enlibra/

As Western Governors have struggled with a range of environmental problems, it has become evident that there are common principles underlying the most promising approaches and successful solutions they have developed. These principles form the basis of a new shared doctrine for environmental management the governors call Enlibra. The doctrine speaks to greater participation and collaboration in decision making, focuses on outcomes rather than just programs, and recognizes the need for a variety of tools beyond regulation that will improve environmental and natural resource management. This website provides background information on Enlibra, links to resources, and as a place to share success stories.

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT MANUAL

http://www.livable.com/commempmanual.htm

Published by Partners for Livable Communities, the manual contains key elements and strategies to make communities stronger, safer and better places for residents to live and work. The manual is a tool that can be used as a guide to creating strong, sustainable and livable communities. It is intended to offer guideposts for concerned citizens of communities who see a need for communal action to solve problems of economic or social decline, class or ethnic fragmentation, or growth management.

STATE OF THE NATION'S ECOSYSTEMS

http://www.us-ecosystems.org

In 1995, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) began an effort to increase coordination among federal environmental monitoring programs with the goal of creating a single source for comprehensive, consistent, and reliable information about the overall state of U.S. ecosystems. The result of this effort is a prototype report from the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment that lays the foundation for what is intended to become a comprehensive, credible series of periodic reports on the state of America's ecosystems. This preliminary report covers croplands, forests, and coasts and oceans. The first full edition of the report is scheduled for release in 2001, and will be expanded to include urban and suburban, arid and rangeland, and freshwater ecosystems.

SUSTAINABILITY REVIEW

http://www.eeeee.net

Five E's Unlimited, a consulting firm that specializes in and promotes sustainable development, recently introduced a free online newsletter called "Sustainability Review". The purpose of the newsletter is to circulate the most current information on ideas, methodologies, tools, and success stories involving people, places, and organizations attempting sustainable development. The newsletter will also encourages reader feedback as well as the submission of articles or discussion points for publication consideration in future issues. To subscribe, access the Five E's website.

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS CHALLENGE

http://odin.bi.no/sbc/default.htm

How well prepared are today's students to meet the recruitment and career development requirements of 21st century corporations? The World Business Council for Sustainable Development offers the Sustainable Business Challenge (SBC) to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate that they have the quality of leadership and the business vision that the corporate world needs. The first step in achieving certification is to read the SBC Brief, a 200-page guide that outlines key issues and trends, policy topics, emerging themes and business concepts for the 21st century. The SBC Exam is Internet-based and contains multiple choice questions that refer to the contents of the SBC Brief. It is open to anyone wanting to demonstrate to future employers that he or she has a grasp of issues and problems and emerging business solutions and opportunities. Participants who pass the exam are awarded the SBC Certificate.

HOT TOPICS: "MANAGING GROWTH"

http://www.naco.org/pubs/cnews/99-2-1/hot_topics2.pdf

A special feature to the February 1, 1999 issue of "County News", published by the National Association of Counties. Includes a cover story on the costs and impacts of sprawl, profiles of model county growth management programs, an overview of growth management techniques, and frequently asked questions.

SUSTAINABLE SUBURBS STUDY: CREATING MORE FISCALLY, SOCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

http://www.gov.calgary.ab.ca/planning/pubs/sustain/sustain.htm

A report about Calgary's efforts to promote more sustainable design of its suburbs.

LIVABILITY DIRECTORY

http://www.livable.com/livability_directory1.htm

A guide to organizations that represent the diverse aspects of livability. Published by the Partners for Livable Places.

NATIONAL TOWN MEETING VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

http://www.sustainableusa.org/store

The Sustainable USA Network offers video highlights of the National Town Meeting for a Sustainable America held in Detroit on May 2-5, 1999. The following videos are available for purchase:

• CompleteShow -- The National Town Meeting for a Sustainable America (22.5 hours; $175)
• PlenaryPanel -- Healthy Communities, Healthy Economies (120 minutes; $25)
• AwardsCeremony -- National Awards for Sustainability (120 minutes; $25)
• PlenaryPanel -- Competitive Advantage and Sustainable Development (120 minutes; $25)
• KeynoteAddress -- Vice President Albert Gore, Jr. (90 minutes; $15)
• Voicesof America Youth Roundtable -- New Ideas and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century - How Young People Drive the Process (140 minutes; $25)
• NationalRoundtable -- Towards a Sustainable America (180 minutes; $28)

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT USDA

http://www.usda.gov/agency/oce/sdsf2/sdhome.htm

Learn more about sustainable development initiatives and projects at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The site features guiding principles for sustainable development policy, the USDA Policy Statement on Sustainable Development, and information about USDA's Council on Sustainable Development.

PLANET NEIGHBORHOOD

http://www2.weta.org/productions/planet/about.html

Explore the recently redesigned companion website to the PBS series "Planet Neighborhood." The site features a variety of themes, from "Green Schools" to transportation and energy. You can also search the site's new database with lesson plans on everything from garbage to gardening. Learn more about the "Blueprint for a Green School" developed by the Center for Environmental Education.

2000 FUEL ECONOMY GUIDE

http://www.fueleconomy.gov

An EPA guide for consumers interested in comparing the fuel economy of model year 2000 vehicles. The site also provides annual greenhouse gas emissions for vehicles.

USDA COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE

Seeking to cut hunger in America in half by the year 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Food Security Initiative is creating and expanding grassroots partnerships that build local food systems and reduce hunger. USDA is joining with states, municipalities, nonprofit groups, and the private sector to strengthen local food systems by replicating best practices of existing efforts and by catalyzing new community commitments to fight hunger.

21st CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS

http://www.ed.gov/inits/construction/ctty-centers.html

Over the next ten years, thousands of schools will need to be built, and even more will need to be renovated in order to respond to rising enrollments and to repair aging buildings. New and renovated schools will need to last for many years and will leave a lasting legacy throughout the 21st century. It is crucial that parents, teachers, and a broad range of community members are actively involved in the planning and design of the new schools and renovation projects, so that schools of the 21st century are truly centers of community. This website from the U.S. Department of Education features design principles for planning schools as centers of community, examples of innovative community-school designs, and an extensive list of online resources, journal articles, books and other resources related to community involvement in school planning and design.

YOUR TOWN: DESIGNING ITS FUTURE ­ PRESERVING THE SPECIAL SPIRIT OF AMERICA'S RURAL COMMUNITIES

http://www.arts.endow.gov/partner/Your.html

To address the livability of communities in rural America, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) developed this program consisting of participatory workshops that address problems such as heavy out-migration and a loss of jobs, rapid growth from suburban sprawl, locating a new facility, or an influx of a retirement population. These problems affect the vitality of the community, its design and sense of place. The workshops focus on the process of design in creating and maintaining community spirit and integrity. The Rural Heritage Program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Department of Landscape Architecture at SUNY Syracuse run the workshops.

NRCS SIMPLE STREAM ASSESSMENT GUIDE

http://www.ncg.nrcs.usda.gov/tech_notes.html

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's new Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP) is designed for landowners and NRCS field personnel. It uses visual characteristics and a simple scoring system to identify problems and provide a general overall assessment. The guide incorporates educational material so users can gain a basic understanding of stream ecology and the importance of restoring stream/riparian systems. The SVAP is designed as a basic assessment guide for nonscientists. The guide is not intended to replace a biological survey or habitat inventory; its primary value is to help landowners understand the value of healthy streams and to serve as a tool for identifying problems the landowner can correct. It might also be useful for volunteer groups and watershed coalitions. Although usable as published, the protocol can be tailored to specific regions.

1998­99 RIVER AND WATERSHED CONSERVATION DIRECTORY

Developed through a cooperative agreement between The River Network and the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, the directory will serve as a valuable tool to aid existing and future river and watershed groups in the protection of one of our most valuable resources ­ rivers and their watersheds. An expansion and update to the 1996- 97 directory, it contains more than 3,000 names, addresses, and phone numbers of contacts for those interested in volunteering in or initiating river/watershed conservation work. For more information or to obtain a copy, contact The River Network, P.O. Box 8787, Portland OR 97207; 503 / 241-3506.

GREEN BUILDING GUIDELINES

http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/buildnyc

New York City is a leader among municipalities that are incorporating green building practices into the construction process. The results of their efforts thus far are in High Performance Building Guidelines. Besides covering the usual topics ­ site design, energy, indoor environment, materials and products, water ­ it examines post-construction issues of construction administration, commissioning and operations/maintenance. Each chapter contains a series of "Performance Goals" and strategies for reaching the goals. It includes NYC's green guidelines, and a high performance building workplan and sample.

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE CHARACTERIZATION REPORT ­ 1998 UPDATE

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw98.htm

This report, the latest in an ongoing series, describes the national waste stream based on data collected from 1960 through 1998. The historical perspective provided by the data is useful for establishing trends in types of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated and in the ways that MSW is managed.

OZONE MONITORING, MAPPING, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH HANDBOOK

http://www.epa.gov/airnow/empact/start.htm

People who live in communities with high ozone levels can use timely and accurate information to make informed decisions about how to protect their health from ozone exposure and when to take actions to reduce local ozone levels. This handbook provides step- by-step instructions about how to provide this information to your community. Published by EPA's EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking) Program.

NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF VOLUNTEER ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAMS

http://yosemite.epa.gov/water/volmon.nsf

This updated directory provides contact and basic program information for volunteer monitoring programs nationwide. These programs are involved in monitoring rivers, lakes, estuaries, beaches, wetlands, and ground water, as well as surrounding lands. It is intended to serve as a living document that will grow and change with the continued flourishing of the volunteer monitoring movement nationwide.

BROWNFIELDS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FACT SHEET

http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/html-doc/workforc.htm

EPA believes that workforce development and job training are the critical links between environmental cleanup and safe and sustainable community redevelopment. These efforts help to guarantee that brownfields cleanup and redevelopment have the trained workforce needed to revitalize contaminated properties, and that local community members have an opportunity to compete in the economic mainstream.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS

http://www.eolss.co.uk

A project that will summarize the "totality of human knowledge about sustainable development at the beginning of the new millennium." Supported by UNESCO, this global research project is designed to educate policy makers and individuals and set the research agenda on sustainable development in all disciplines that affect knowledge of the issue. The Encyclopedia will be published on a CD-ROM and will be divided into six topic areas: Global Sustainable Development, Water, Energy, Environment, Food and Agriculture, and Knowledge Foundations.

OPERATION FRESH START

http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/freshstart/

An initiative designed to help individuals and communities incorporate sustainable principles and technologies into their plans when they recover from a flood, earthquake, or other disaster. Operation Fresh Start offers a host of resources you can use to rebuild your community, business or home ­ not just the way it was before the disaster, but healthier, more energy efficient, less expensive, safer, and more livable ­ in short, more sustainable. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

SHELTERFORCE

http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/sf103.html

Sustainable development is the theme of the January/February 1999 issue of "Shelterforce". Features included successful neighborhood-based sustainable enterprises, sustainable development and community revitalization, and green building techniques for affordable housing.

CONSERVATION IN A WORLD OF 6 BILLION: A GRASSROOTS ACTION GUIDE

http://www.iwla.org/sep/6billrpt.html

This 22-page guide contains tools for discussing, investigating, and taking action in your community, and to help raise awareness of the Day of Six Billion. Published by the Izaak Walton League of America ­ Sustainability Education Project.

PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT: IMPLEMENTING THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE

http://www.islandpress.org/books/bookdata/protpubhe.html

When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. This idea, known as the "Precautionary Principle," is seen by environmentalists and public health experts as the key to protecting ecological and human health.

ENERGY PARTNERS

http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/energypartners/

Throughout the country, communities are working to increase energy efficiency in their buildings. These energy improvements help keep dollars in the local economy, improve the environment, and enhance the desirability of the buildings. Energy Partners is a national database of projects and sites that include residential communities, commercial building developments, local governments, state governments, utilities, housing authorities, financial institutions, and others, as well as solicitations and grants, research results, and partnerships with the Department of Energy's Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs.

RECYCLING AMERICA'S LAND: NATIONAL REPORT ON BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT

http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/brownfields/RecyclingAmericasLand.htm

A joint report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the EPA on the status of brownfield sites in 223 American cities. The second annual survey concluded that 180 cities estimated that more than 178,000 acres of brownfields sites exist, a figure representing the combined total land area of Atlanta, Seattle, and San Francisco. The report indicates that brownfields are a major problem for cities large and small and the lack of funds to cleanup these sites was the most frequently identified obstacle in recycling these lands.

LOW-IMPACT DEVELOPMENT FACT SHEET

http://www.dakotaswcd.org/lid_fs.htm

The Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Dakota County, Minnesota offers a one-page fact sheet that briefly summarizes environmental impacts of urban development and the components of low impact development. The SWCD's goal is to eliminate or minimize the impacts of urbanization on the natural water processes occurring within the local watershed.

CONSUMER GUIDE TO HOME ENERGY SAVINGS

http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/index.htm

Every time you buy a home appliance, turn up your heating system, or replace a burned-out light bulb, you're making a decision that affects the environment. Most of our biggest environmental problems are directly associated with energy production and use. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has examined thousands of major home appliances and heating and cooling systems on the market and picked out those that are the most efficient. The guide also includes tips on operating new and existing appliances to reduce energy use and improve performance.

CITIES AND COUNTIES RESOURCE GUIDE: MEETING TODAY'S ENERGY NEEDS WITHOUT SACRIFICING TOMORROW'S RESOURCES

http://www.eren.doe.gov/cities_counties/resource.html

Lists hundreds of information sources for topics related to sustainability, energy efficiency, energy planning, transportation, waste management, water management, alternative energy, and renewable energy. It is intended to help local government officials navigate the maze of information on the many topics related to sustainability.

KIDS & COMMERCIALISM

http://www.newdream.org/campaign/kids/

PROFILE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

http://es.epa.gov/oeca/sector/#localgovt

A new guide from EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance

Assurance that promotes a more holistic approach to environmental protection strategies for communities. Topics include: pollution prevention and compliance assistance, purchasing practices, construction/property management, solid waste management, wastewater management, water supply and water resources management, vehicle & equipment maintenance, local regulatory programs, and a summary of applicable federal statutes and regulations. The entire notebook may be downloaded in PDF format or as zipped WordPerfect files.

STATE, LOCAL POLICYMAKERS STRESS LIVABILITY ISSUES

http://www.e-architect.com/gov/livcomsurvey/home.htm

State and local government officials increasingly point to "livability" issues such as education, suburban sprawl, and traffic congestion as the most important political issues facing their constituents, according to a study released in September 1999 by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The study, which surveyed executives from state legislators, county and municipal governments, and other executive agencies and departments, identified the most serious issues currently facing the respondents' communities. Among those issues rated the most serious: traffic congestion, urban sprawl, quality of educational facilities, and housing development.

TOOLS FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION IN DEVELOPING AREAS

http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/acad2000/protection/

Part of EPA's Watershed Academy 2000, this module outlines a watershed protection approach that applies eight tools to protect or restore aquatic resources in an urbanized or developing watershed. It describes the nature and purpose of the tools, outlines some specific techniques for applying them, and highlights some key choices a watershed manager should consider when applying or adapting the tools within a given watershed. Developed by the Center for Watershed Protection.

STORMWATER STRATEGIES: COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO RUNOFF POLLUTION

http://www.nrdc.org/nrdcpro/storm/stoinx.html

This May 1999 report from the Natural Resources Defense Council documents some of the most effective strategies being employed by communities around the country to control urban runoff pollution, which is among the top sources of water contamination in the country today. The collection of 100 case studies compiled and evaluated here is intended to serve as a guide for local decision-makers, municipal officials, and environmental activists; it is also a resource for citizens concerned about the quality of their local environment.

AGENTS OF WATERSHED CHANGE

http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/acad2000/agents/

Part of EPA's Watershed Academy 2000, this training module provides an overview of natural and human-made change processes and the ways in which they affect the structure and function of watersheds. The module covers the role of change in the watershed, natural agents of change and their ecological effects, human-made agents of change and their ecological effects, and watershed processes most vulnerable to change.

COMMUNITIES, DEVELOPMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS CANADA

http://www.ubcpress.ubc.ca/author/_p.htm#1758_1672

A new book that describes how Canadian communities can achieve sustainable development. The book's twelve essays are organized into four sections: Vision, Connections, Action, and Assessing Progress. Topics include local sustainable development within the context of increasing globalization and sustainable development from the perspective of social evolution and urban systems. The book also features three community case studies, and four general discussions of sustainable development.

ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES HANDBOOK FOR HOTELS

http://www.habitatsuites.com/booklet.html

Describes programs implemented by the Habitat Suites Hotel to carry out its commitment to "encouraging, promoting, and supporting ecological consciousness." Topics include: Air Quality; Land Use; Energy Efficiency; Waste Management & Recycling; Resource Conservation; Water Quality & Conservation; Human Health; and Education.

STRAW BALE BUILDING: HOW TO PLAN, DESIGN, AND BUILD WITH STRAW

http://www.newsociety.com/new.html

This book leads the reader through the process of building a bale structure, focusing on practical issues such as: how to find and choose bales; developing sound building plans; and building code compliance. Includes over 100 professionally illustrated drawings, plus photos and building plans provide creative and practical ideas for novice and experienced builders alike.