There's a fascinating -- and very encouraging -- article in today's WaPo concerning Chicago's serious attempt to turn itself into a green city. The article documents gardens on the roofs of city buildings -- which keep them fifty degrees cooler in summer than regular roofs. Additionally, [o]n other downtown rooftops, tall corkscrew-shaped turbines will bridle the winds that race across the plains. A new roof on Chicago's vast convention center will channel 55 million gallons of rainwater a year into Lake Michigan instead of overburdened storm drains. The article notes that, Chicago has planted as many as 400,000 trees, according to city spokesmen. It employs more arborists than any city in the country. There are 2.5 million square feet of green roofs completed or under construction, boosted by expedited permitting and density bonuses for developers who embrace the concept. And, [o]n other fronts, the city provides 10,000 bike racks and announced a goal of quintupling bike lanes to 500 miles by 2015. The city spent $3.1 million on a bike station at Millennium Park that has 300 indoor bike spaces, along with lockers and showers.
The interesting thing, to me, anyway, is how multifaceted Chicago's approach is. In addition to the above steps, [e]arlier this year, the city issued $1 million in grants for solar thermal panels that generate hot water. Staffers focused on high-volume water users, including laundromats and health clubs. For the past year, the city has waived a service fee -- typically $5,000 to $50,000 -- for developers willing to install a green roof. The projects are assigned to reviewers empowered to expedite approval.
Michael Yannell intends to take advantage of initiatives for the "net zero energy use" house he is building in Ravenswood. If all goes well, the house will generate more energy than it needs. He expects a property tax break and a $5,000 grant for a rainwater collection system.
3 comments:
That's Mayor Daley's doing. Say what you want about his cronies, but this man loves his city and he wants it green and clean.
Wonderful!!! :) Now can someone come down to Houston and show our higher-ups how to do the same? Houston is a city that put in bike lanes only to come back a couple of months later, remove them to widen the street... And it's also a city that will spend millions on a little silver commuter train of death that only goes 7 miles between two INNER CITY POINTS! And they are trying to add more light rail that goes from the two big colleges in town...to the MALL!?!? Nope, nothing on actual freeways or commuter corridors that will actually lessen the need for cars...did I mention they also are cutting down bus routes? I was taking the park n ride to work when I was downtown living on the north side, but now work on the west side and there is no provision for that (not even a linking up point to transfer), so I am back in my car. :( I am going to look for rideshare programs.
My city is one big heat sink...and everyday more trees are razed for bogus strip centers that will stay empty (makes me SICK!). It used to be soooo green from above when flying in, now, those trees are dwindling.
Goddess bless!
Elspeth
Perhaps they can follow Toronto and
use the cold water from the lake to
provide airconditioning in the summer.Saves 60 MW hydro a year.
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