The non-profit organization EcoDistricts has launched EcoDistricts Protocol, a process-based framework and performance standard that empowers sustainable neighborhood- and district-scale urban development.
The Protocol is structured around three core areas:
- Three Imperatives: Social, economic, and environmental sustainability is at the center of neighborhood initiatives. These include Equity, Resilience, and Climate Protection.
- Six Priorities: Six rigorous goals, 49 objectives, and 94 indicators are used to scope and define a district’s sustainability agenda. These include: Place, Prosperity, Health + Wellness, Connectivity, Living Infrastructure, and Resource Restoration.
- Three Implementation Phases: A framework sets the conditions for sustained, scalable, outcomes that address the Protocol’s Imperatives and Priorities and meet the specific needs of the district over time. These phases include Formation, Roadmap, and Performance.
“The EcoDistricts Protocol represents an important tool to help city leaders think about sustainability in an integrated way and at a scale that is truly effective,” said Joel Mills, senior director, Communities by Design, The American Institute of Architects. “Using the EcoDistricts Protocol, cities can build momentum for scalable change that transforms urban sustainability and positions communities for success in the 21st century.”
Related Stories
| Nov 20, 2014
Revamped zoning is transforming several New Jersey downtowns
The zoning policy shift could produce the biggest transformation of North New Jersey’s downtowns since the arrival of malls pulled shoppers away from town centers in the 1960s and 1970s.
| Nov 20, 2014
ANSI approves 2015 Wood-Frame Construction Manual standard
The American Wood Council's 2015 “Wood-Frame Construction Manual for One- and Two-Family Dwellings” (WFCM ) has been approved as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
| Nov 17, 2014
AAMA releases new blast hazard mitigation specifications for vertical fenestration systems
This document provides a guide for manufacturers, architects/specifiers, contractors, and building owners for specifying types of systems and services to meet the requirements of blast hazard mitigation.
| Nov 17, 2014
National Roofing Contractors Assn. offers guide for LEED v4 provisions
National Roofing Contractors Association has released LEED v4: Roofing-related Provisions, a document that examines the roofing-related provisions of LEED v4.
| Nov 14, 2014
Army net-zero initiative moving past pilot stage
The U.S Army's ambitious net-zero initiative has had several successful pilot trials, and planners are prepared to expand the nine-part demonstration field to scores of other Army facilities.
| Nov 14, 2014
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson works to upgrade China’s building codes
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson is today focused on making new construction in China more energy efficient by working with leaders to upgrade building codes.
| Nov 14, 2014
California aims for 20% reduction in water consumption by 2020
California’s comprehensive new water use plan makes conservation a priority, reinforcing a 2009 plan to reduce statewide per capita water consumption by 20% by 2020.
| Nov 6, 2014
Demountable structural steel could up the ante on sustainability
Demountable structural steel assemblies would be a greener way to make use of steel in the construction industry than recycling.
K-12 Schools | Nov 6, 2014
New Sandy Hook school features could influence security standards
The design of the new Sandy Hook Elementary School on the site of the 2012 Newtown, Conn., school shooting features enhanced security measures—some subtle and others more prominent.
| Nov 6, 2014
OSHA seeking input on electrical standards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is reviewing electrical standards for the construction industry to make sure proper safeguards are in place as electrical wiring is being installed and maintained.
