The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) uses law, science, and the support of more than 400,000 members nationwide to protect the planet's natural resources and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. Through a range of projects, NRDC is extensively involved in promoting smart-growth practices in cities and towns across the country and fighting the negative impacts of urban/suburban sprawl. NRDC's multidisciplinary approach to smart growth includes advocacy for federal, state, and local policies, work with citizens and the private sector, and research.
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SOLVING SPRAWL: Models of Smart Growth in Communities Across America
Solving Sprawl details alternatives that beat back sprawl, save landscapes and make communities better places to lives using the example of 35 detailed case studies. By F. Kaid Benfield, Jutka Terris and Nancy Vorsanger; foreword by Parris Glendening. November 2001. Available from Island Press.
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Moving Cooler
Moving Cooler marks the first-ever comprehensive analysis of transportation efficiency and its relationship to greenhouse gas reduction and consumer savings. Produced by a diverse coalition lead by NRDC, Moving Cooler helps make the case for smart growth strategies by demonstrating their contribution to GHG emissions reduction. Published by the Urban Land Institute (discount for ULI members). June 2009. Ordering information at: http://www.movingcooler.info/home
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Green Community
This companion book to the National Building Museum’s Green Community exhibit features essays by planning, development, agricultural policy, and public health experts from around the world. Chapter by Kaid Benfield, NRDC. 2009. Ordering information at: http://www.nbmshop.org
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Communities Tackle Global Warming: A Guide to California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375)
Produced by NRDC and the California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, this report offers a comprehensive guide to California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act, or SB 375, the nation’s first legislation to link transportation and land use planning with global warming. June 2009. Available online at: http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/sb375/default.asp
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Checklist for Cars: Today's 'To Do' List to Put America on the Road to Clean Transportation
A three-part checklist of smart transportation policies for a clean energy future. April 2009. Available online at: http://www.nrdc.org/energy/files/checklist.pdf
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Building the Wheels of the Clean Energy Economy: Public Transportation for the 21st Century
This 2-page fact sheet explains how developing a modern, efficient public transportation infrastructure can create millions of jobs, reduce our reliance on foreign oil, combat global warming and serve as the foundation of the clean energy economy. October 2008. Available online at: http://www.nrdc.org/energy/wheels-facts.asp
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If You Build It, They Will Come: Americans Want Smart Growth Alternatives to Conventional Transportation
The benefits of smart growth in a concise 2-page fact sheet. March 2007. Available online at: http://www.nrdc.org/smartGrowth/smartgrowth-facts.asp
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Rooftops to Rivers: Green Strategies for Controlling Stormwater and Combined Sewer Overflows
A policy guide for decision makers looking to implement green stormwater strategies to stop water pollution at its source. The report includes nine case studies of cities that have successfully used green infrastructure techniques to reduce runoff and combined sewer overflow pollution to create a healthier urban environment. May 2006. Available online at: http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp
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The Runaway American Dream: The Case for Smart Growth in America
An accessible overview of the sprawl crisis and smart growth solutions. By Kaid Benfield. October 2005. Available online at: http://docs.nrdc.org/cities/files/cit_08110501a.pdf . This piece was published as a chapter in Smart Growth in a Changing World, ed. Jonathan Barnett. 2007. Available from University of Chicago Press. Ordering information at: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/
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Existing Endorsement and Rating Systems for Smart Development
A review of fourteen land use evaluation systems at the local, regional, and state level that pre-date LEED for Neighborhood Development. Presented to the LEED-ND core committee during the development of the LEED-ND pilot rating system. Spring 2004. Available online at: http://docs.nrdc.org/cities/files/cit_06080901a.pdf
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Location Efficiency as the Missing Piece of The Energy Puzzle:
How Smart Growth Can Unlock Trillion Dollar Consumer Cost Savings
This report reviews recent research on location efficiency to project scenarios for reductions in energy use, global warming pollutants, and consumer costs. The results show energy savings of a comparable magnitude after ten years to other major building energy efficiency policies. Policy options for expanding smart growth and realizing its potential are briefly discussed. Mary Jean Bürer, David B. Goldstein, John Holtclaw. August 2004. Available online at: http://docs.nrdc.org/air/files/air_06031001a.pdf
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Environmental Characteristics of Smart Growth Neighborhoods: Case Studies in Nashville and Sacramento
These studies, published in October 2000 and February 2003 in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, show that the environmental benefits of smart growth are real and measurable. Available online at: http://www.nrdc.org/cities/smartGrowth/char/charinx.asp
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Development and Dollars: An Introduction to Fiscal Impact Analysis in Land Use Planning
This guide provides citizens, planners, local officials and others concerned with sprawling development and growth issues with tools they need to examine the likely impacts of development proposals on local taxes and municipal budgets. 2000. Available online at: http://www.nrdc.org/cities/smartGrowth/dd/ddinx.asp
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On Earth Magazine
NRDC's independent quarterly publication, free with NRDC membership. Current and archived issues available online at http://www.onearth.org.
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Another Cost of Sprawl: The Effects of Land Use on Wastewater Utility Costs.
This study adds to the growing body of literature demonstrating that low-density sprawl development is costly, inefficient, and inequitable. In analyzing wastewater collection systems in the Chicago and Cleveland areas, this study found that operation and maintenance costs increase significantly as the density of development decreases. By Michael L. Siegel. June 1998. Available online at: http://www.nrdc.org/cities/smartgrowth/cost/costinx.asp
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Stormwater Strategies: Community Responses to Runoff Pollution.
This report compiles 100 case studies from across the U.S. demonstrating effective strategies employed by communities to control urban runoff pollution. By Peter Lehner, George P. Aponte Clark, Diane M. Cameron and Andrew G. Frank. May 1999.
Available online at: http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/stoinx.asp
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Once There Were Greenfields: How Urban Sprawl is Undermining America's Environment, Economy and Social Fabric.
The story of one of America's most challenging social problems: sprawl development. It is a meticulously researched and documented text about lost landscapes, traffic congestion, air and water pollution, endangered public health, and a potential energy crisis. By Kaid Benfield, Don Chen, and Matt Raimi. March 1999. Ordering information at: http://www.nrdc.org/publications/printonly.asp
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Unless otherwise indicated, publications are available from NRDC's Publications Department. Send a check or money order to:
NRDC Publications Department
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
See web site (www.nrdc.org/publications/order.asp) for shipping rates and applicable sales taxes.
For a full list of NRDC reports, including those available online only, go to www.nrdc.org/publications/reports.asp. Or click on "publications" from NRDC's homepage at www.nrdc.org.
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