DOCSLIB.ORG

The Urban Governance of Climate Change: A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Urban Governance of Climate Change: A THE URBAN GOVERNANCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE: A COMPARATIVE SOCIO-INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF TRANSFORMATIVE URBAN RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN DURBAN (SOUTH AFRICA) AND PORTLAND (OR, USA) by Alexander C.E. Aylett A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Geography) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) December 2011 © Alexander C.E. Aylett, 2011 ii Abstract This dissertation investigates the socio-political dynamics of urban attempts to address climate change in a systemic, rather than project-based or piecemeal, fashion. It focuses on the actions of both municipal and civil-society actors, as well as their interactions through formal and informal processes of participation and collaboration. It contributes to the larger re-theorization of the urban scale as a potentially powerful locus for action on climate change that has arisen as international climate negotiations have faltered (Betsill 2001, Bulkeley Betsill 2003, 2005, Burch 2009, Bulkeley et al. 2003, Kousky & Schneider 2003). Focusing on two exceptional cities at the forefront of urban climate policy, this dissertation looks more closely at the difficult work involved in relocalizing meaningful climate action to the urban scale. Based on comparative qualitative research conducted in Durban (KZN, South Africa) and Portland (OR, USA) this dissertation investigates how cities can make a transition from a limited project-based approach to more integrated and transformative responses to climate change. As I will show, systemic responses to climate change require, above all, a transition from climate government to climate governance (Bridge & Perreault 2009, Gonzalez and Healey 2006, Hajer 2003 Brownill & Carpenter 2009; Bulkeley 2010; Bulkely et al. 2011). Far-reaching transformations of urban systems lie beyond what any one actor can impose or direct. Effective climate responses therefore depend on the diffusion of policy making, management, and implementation along networks that draw together government actors traditionally isolated by bureaucratic silos, as well as private companies, civil-society groups, and citizens. Contributing to a clearer understanding of networks of urban climate governance, this dissertation focuses on two key facets of the creation of networks of urban climate governance. First it examines the institutional dynamics that take place within municipal bureaucracies, as policy leaders build support for integrated and ambitious climate policies. This contributes to the broad literature on organizational behaviour and change (Weber 1922, Veblen 1914, Merton 1940, March and Olsen 1989, Schoenberger 1997, Latour 1987, Haraway 1991). Second, contributing to the literature on public participation and governance (Arnstein 1969, Taylor & Fransman 2004, Holmes & Scoones 2000, Abrahamsen 2000, McGee et al. 2003 , Habermas 1987 , Foucault 1979, Silver et al. 2010 , de Souza 2006 ) it analyses the role of civil-society actors in shaping and even leading ambitious urban responses to climate change. iii Preface Portions of Chapter 4 have been published in: • Aylett, A. (2011) "Bureaucracies and Low Carbon Transitions." In Cities and Low Carbon Transitions eds. Harriet Bulkeley & Simon Marvin. (Routledge) Portions of Chapter 7 have been in: • Aylett, A. (2010) “Participatory Planning, Justice and Climate Change in Durban, South Africa.” Environment and Planning A. 42(1) 99 – 115 • Aylett, A. (2010) “Conflict, Collaboration, and Climate Change: Participatory Democracy and Urban Environmental Struggles in Durban, South Africa.” International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 34(3) 478–9 Research for this dissertation was conducted with ethics approuval from the UBC Research Human Ethics Board, Certificate Number H07-03185. iv Table of Contents Abstract...................................................................................................................................ii Preface....................................................................................................................................iii Table of Contents...................................................................................................................iv List of Tables...........................................................................................................................x List of Figures........................................................................................................................xi Acknowledgements...............................................................................................................xii Dedication.............................................................................................................................xiii 1. Introduction: New Perspectives on Urban Climate Change Policy......................................1 1.1 Introduction: Climate Change Today, Where We Stand....................................1 1.2 Urban Climate Change Governance: a Research Agenda..................................3 1.2.1 (Don't) Blame Us!...............................................................................9 1.3 Integrated Urban Responses to Climate Change: Governance vs. Government................................................................................................12 1.4 Global Approaches to Climate Change: the Initial Global Scientific Framing and Subsequent Integrated Approaches.......................................21 1.4.1 Global Scientific Approaches to Climate Change.............................22 1.4.2 Reframing Climate Change: Integrating the Socio-Political and Economic Dimensions of Global Climate Change..................24 1.5 Cities and Climate Change: Scientific, Integrated, and Deeply Democratic Critiques.....................................................................................................26 1.5.1 Local Scientific Approaches to Urban Climate Policy......................28 1.5.2 Local Integrated Approaches to Urban Climate Policy.....................29 1.5.3 Urban Political Ecological Approaches to Urban Climate Policy.....32 1.5.3.1 UPE Core Concepts...........................................................33 1.6 Urban Climate Change: a Typology of Theory and Practice...........................38 1.7 Dissertation Road Map....................................................................................43 2. Methodology and Study Sites.................................................................................................48 2.1 Introduction: the Case for Selecting Durban and Portland..............................48 2.2 Methodology....................................................................................................52 2.2.1 Interview Methodology: Profile of Respondents..............................54 2.2.2 Interview Methodology, Follow-up, and Triangulation...................56 v 2.3 Durban: Introduction........................................................................................57 2.3.1 Durban: Emissions Profile and Early Climate Policies and Projects..........................................................................................63 2.3.2 Key Adaptive and Mitigative Measures............................................65 2.3.3 Institutional History of Climate Change Policies and Programs in Durban............................................................................................67 2.4 Portland: Introduction......................................................................................74 2.4.1 Portland: Emissions Profile and Early Climate Policies and Projects...........................................................................................78 2.4.2 Institutional History and Context of Portland's Engagement with CC...................................................................................................83 2.5 Conclusions: Making Climate Policy Their Own............................................87 3. A Cultural Approach to Understanding Organisational Change........................................90 3.1 Introduction......................................................................................................90 3.2 Weber and the Modern Bureaucracy................................................................94 3.2.1 Weber's Nightmare: the Cultural Costs of Bureaucratization...........96 3.3 Veblen and Merton: beyond Rationality to Trained Incapacity and Organizational Culture...............................................................................98 3.3.1 Merton: Instrumentalizing Trained Incapacity and the Creation of Organizational Culture..................................................................100 3.4 Steering Change (i): the Logic of Appropriateness and Path Dependency....103 3.4.1 Path Dependency and Lock in.........................................................105 3.5 Steering Change (ii): Elite Dominance and Self-preservation vs. Innovation.................................................................................................108 3.6 Empowering Change: Strategic Interventions and Decentralizing Empowered Creativity..............................................................................111 3.6.1 Strategic Interventions (i): Bridging...............................................112 3.6.2 Strategic Interventions (ii): Translation...........................................113 3.6.3 Organizational Reform: Situated Knowledge and
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 50 Years of Oregon Senior and Disability Policy and Advocacy: an Historical Chronology 1969-2019
    50 Years of Oregon Senior and Disability Policy and Advocacy: An Historical Chronology 1969-2019 By Dr. James (Jim) Davis Oregon State Council for Retired Citizens United Seniors of Oregon December 2020 0 Table of Contents Introduction Page 3 Yearly Chronology of Senior and Disability Policy and Advocacy 5 1969 5 1970 5 1971 6 1972 7 1973 8 1974 10 1975 11 1976 12 1977 13 1978 15 1979 17 1980 19 1981 22 1982 26 1983 28 1984 30 1985 32 1986 35 1987 36 1988 38 1989 41 1990 45 1991 47 1992 50 1993 53 1994 54 1995 55 1996 58 1997 60 1998 62 1999 65 2000 67 2001 68 2002 75 2003 76 2004 79 2005 80 2006 84 2007 85 2008 89 1 2009 91 2010 93 2011 95 2012 98 2013 99 2014 102 2015 105 2016 107 2017 109 2018 114 2019 118 Conclusion 124 2 50 Years of Oregon Senior and Disability Policy and Advocacy: An Historical Chronology 1969-2019 Introduction It is my pleasure to release the second edition of the 50 Years of Oregon Senior and Disability Policy and Advocacy: An Historical Chronology 1969-2019, a labor of love project that chronicles year-by-year the major highlights and activities in Oregon’s senior and disability policy development and advocacy since 1969, from an advocacy perspective. In particular, it highlights the development and maintenance of our nationally-renown community-based long term services and supports system, as well as the very strong grassroots, coalition-based advocacy efforts in the senior and disability communities in Oregon.
    [Show full text]
  • Innovations in Voluntary Renewable Energy Procurement: Methods for Expanding Access and Lowering Cost for Communities, Governments, and Businesses
    Innovations in Voluntary Renewable Energy Procurement: Methods for Expanding Access and Lowering Cost for Communities, Governments, and Businesses NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. Jenny Heeter, Joyce McLaren National Renewable Energy Laboratory Notice This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof. Available for a processing fee to U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors, in paper, from: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information P.O. Box 62 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062 phone: 865.576.8401 fax: 865.576.5728 email: mailto:[email protected] Available for sale to the public, in paper, from: U.S. Department of Commerce National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 phone: 800.553.6847 fax: 703.605.6900 email: [email protected] online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/help/ordermethods.aspx Acknowledgments This work was funded by the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • CITY of LARKSPUR Staff Report May 21, 2014 Council Meeting DATE: May 16, 2014 TO: Honorable Mayor Morrison and Members Of
    CITY OF LARKSPUR Staff Report May 21, 2014 Council Meeting DATE: May 16, 2014 TO: Honorable Mayor Morrison and Members of the City Council FROM: Dan Schwarz, City Manager SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF POSITIONS ON LEGISLATION ACTION REQUESTED Authorize Vice-Mayor Chu to sign and send the attached letters. SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS It is the policy of the City Council only to take positions on legislation that affect Larkspur and its interests. Further, it is the general practice of the City Council to rely upon the Legislative Committee of the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers to take positions on legislation. From time-to-time, staff and Councilmembers identify legislation that is of significant enough concern for the City Council to consider taking positions. Two such bills are presented to the Council for positions of opposition. AB 2145 As a member of Marin Clean Energy, Larkspur has a vested interest in the success of this joint powers authority. The primary effect of this bill is to make it more difficult for new Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) entities to form and operate. The bill would also impose new requirements and burdens on existing CCAs – requirements that would increase the cost of operation relative to those of PG&E (on which such requirements would not be imposed). It is for this reason that Larkspur should oppose this bill. AB 2188 This bill would impose new costs on Larkspur by requiring expediting processing for all solar permits. Further, this bill would eliminate the current review process for solar installations, potentially increasing risks to public health and safety by allowing for less secure installation.
    [Show full text]
  • Residential Solar Photovoltaics: Comparison of Financing Benefits, Innovations, and Options
    Residential Solar Photovoltaics: Comparison of Financing Benefits, Innovations, and Options Bethany Speer NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. Technical Report NREL/TP-6A20-51644 October 2012 Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 Residential Solar Photovoltaics: Comparison of Financing Benefits, Innovations, and Options Bethany Speer Prepared under Task Nos. SM10.2442, SM12.3010 NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. National Renewable Energy Laboratory Technical Report 15013 Denver West Parkway NREL/TP-6A20-51644 Golden, Colorado 80401 October 2012 303-275-3000 • www.nrel.gov Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 NOTICE This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof. Available electronically at http://www.osti.gov/bridge Available for a processing fee to U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • City Power Play: 8 Practical Local Energy Policies to Boost the Economy
    ! City Power Play 8 Practical Local Energy Policies to Boost the Economy John Farrell September 2013 ! ! Executive Summary Executive Summary The economy has stalled and so has the war on climate change. But dozens of cities are creating Efficiency Means Local Energy Dollars jobs and cleaner energy using their own power. The city-financed energy savings Keeping Energy Dollars Local program in Babylon, NY, has resulted in • Chattanooga, TN, is adding over $1 billion to its energy improvements on 1,100 local economy in the next decade by properties with annual average savings implementing one of the most advanced smart of $1,300. That’s $28 million in energy grids and delivering the fastest internet service dollars saved over the next 20 years, in the country with its municipal utility. boosting the economy as well as the finances of individual homeowners! • Sonoma County, CA, has created nearly 800 local jobs retrofitting over 2,000 properties for energy savings with city-based financing. • Babylon, NY, has repurposed a solid waste fund to finance retrofits for 2% of the city’s homes, saving residents an average of $1,300 a year on their energy bills at minimal cost to the city. Eight Powerful, Practical Policies This report details eight practical energy policies cities can and have used to their economic advantage: 1. Municipal utilities 2. Community choice aggregation Sunshine Means Local Energy Dollars 3. Building energy codes 4. Building energy use disclosure The town of Lancaster, CA, created a 5. Local tax authority local power authority that uses bonds to 6. Solar mandates pre-purchase electricity from solar 7.
    [Show full text]
  • Buying Green Power Today: Emerging Options for U.S
    BuYING GREEN PoWER TodAY: EMERGING OPTIONS FOR U.S. ELECTRICITY CoNSUMERS DECEMBER 2013 Top photo cover credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon BUYING GREEN POWER TODAY: EMERGING OPTIONS FOR U.S. ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS WORKING PAPER DECEmbER 2013 1875 Connecticut Avenue NW | Suite 405 | Washington, DC 20009 | Main: 202.682.6294 www.cleanskies.org | Twitter: cleanskiesfdn © American Clean Skies Foundation 2013 Abstract This paper is intended to clarify the emerging options available to individuals and businesses who want to use their purchasing power to support green electricity. Until recently, customers wishing to buy clean power were largely limited to either installing onsite systems or buying Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which are often used to “green” the “brown” (average grid mix, i.e., higher carbon) electricity actually delivered to an end-user. Today, however, new options are being introduced to expand the scope for direct use of and investment in renewable electricity. These options are the focus of this report. They include: third-party financing, community shared projects, consumer Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), renewable tariffs and innovative public capital investment vehicles. Creating a lower carbon electricity grid with a larger share of renewable power will require a multi- decade effort. This paper suggests that emerging consumer-driven purchase and investment schemes could become an important part of that effort. This is a working paper that will be updated as new developments merit. Author Geoff Bromaghim is ACSF’s Energy Policy Research Associate. His work supports the Foundation’s power sector initiatives and focuses primarily on renewables and natural gas market dynamics, electric utilities regulation, and clean energy integration.
    [Show full text]
  • 1993 Fall Advancesheet
    A newsletter published by Oregon Women Lawyers Volume 4, No.4 Fall1993 L::::s OREGON WOMEN 1LAWYJER§~ llllll Who He Are & Where He're Going ,~ OREGO,Nwomen By Mary Beth Allen lAW Y E R s'" hile the official genesis of Oregon them for breakfast and a discussion about form­ W Women Lawyers might be open to ing a statewide women's bar organization. Fol­ President Diana Craine debate, four of the group's founders agree on lowing that meeting, at which The Hon. Betty thesiteofits unofficial origins: KatherineO'Neil's Roberts and The Hon. Mercedes Deiz spoke, a President Elect/ Vice President living room. brainstorming Helie Rode " It was like a session was held Secretary salon," says in November at Susana A lba Nell Hoffman the state bar Treasurer Bonaparte of headquarters. Phylis Myles the experience The women de­ Historian Tru dy A llen ofmeetingwith cided that day to other women at form their own Board Members Colette Boehmer 0' eiJ's_hous_e..._ bar asso.ciation julie Levie Caron to discuss form­ to forward their jeanean West Craig ing Oregon' s goal of advanc­ Michele Longo Eder Susa n Eggum first statewid~ ing women and Susa n Evans Grabe women's bar minorities in the jennifer Harrington association. "A legal profession. Susa n Isaacs political, social, Oregon Kay Kinsley Trudy Allen (OWLS and Queen's Bench board member), janet Lee Knottnerus educational sa­ Women Lawyers Andrea Swanner Redding Regnell (Mary Leonard Society president), Kathryn Ricciardelli Kathryn Ri cciardelli lon. It was excit­ (outgoing OWLS president), Nancy Moriarty (Queen's Bench held its first Noreen Saltveit ingtobeinvolved president) and Loree Devery (Queen's Bench treasurer) proudly conference on Cristina Sanz with so many dy­ April1, 1989 in Shelley Smith show off their OWLS' shirts and mugs.
    [Show full text]
  • House Concurrent Resolution 0213
    OREGON LAWS 2018 HCR 213 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 213 city through a period of tremendous social change, growth and revitalization; and Whereas as mayor, Vera Katz championed the Whereas Vera Katz was born on August 3, 1933, arts and education, fought discrimination and cele- in Dusseldorf, Germany, to Lazar and Raissa Pistrak; brated diversity; and and Whereas Vera Katz, a TriMet user herself, was Whereas the Pistrak family left Germany for a tireless advocate for public transportation in Port- France when Vera was just two months old, and in land, leading the way to many lasting improvements, 1940 they fled invading German armies for Spain on including the Portland Streetcar; and foot over the Pyrenees Mountains, a journey that Whereas Vera Katz’s legacy as mayor can be ultimately led them to New York City; and seen all over Portland’s urban landscape, from the Whereas Vera Katz attended Brooklyn College, Pearl District to South Waterfront to the Eastbank where she studied dance under the legendary Esplanade that was named in her honor; and Martha Graham and received a degree in sociology; Whereas Vera Katz was a fierce protector of the and city she dearly loved, and she personally manned Whereas Vera Katz and her husband, Mel Katz, Portland’s sandbag brigade when the Willamette River swelled above flood stage in 1996; and moved to Portland, Oregon, in the early 1960s, where Whereas after leaving City Hall in 2005, Vera they raised their young son, Jesse; and Katz remained very active in civic life, selflessly Whereas Vera Katz first became involved in volunteering in the community and working for politics as a volunteer in Robert F.
    [Show full text]
  • She Flies with Her Own Wings
    Courtesy of Paulus Norma TARA WATSON AND MELODY ROSE She Flies With Her Own Wings Women in the 1973 Oregon Legislative Session DURING THE 1973 OREGON legislative session, a bipartisan group of female legislators — almost half in their first session — worked with political activists and allies in the state capitol to pass eleven explicitly feminist bills into law. That such a small number of relatively inexperienced legislators was able to pass such a substantial portion of a feminist legislative agenda Tom McCall signs equal rights legislation. Witnesses are (left to right): Senate in just one session is unprecedented in the history of the Oregon legislature President Jason Boe, Speaker of the House Richard Eyman, Secretary of State Clay Myers, Representative Nancie Fadeley (Chair of the House Environment and and is due some historical analysis. It also makes for a great story. Natural Resources Committee), Representative Norma Paulus, and Representative Oregon’s female legislators were successful in the 17 session because Grace Peck. McCall’s note on the bottom reads, “Warm thanks, Norma, for that unique window of time produced a favorable political climate, sup- championing equal rights! Gov. Tom McCall Feb, 1973.” port of the male governor and male legislators, organizational strength of Oregon’s women’s organizations, and a sense of overall optimism within the Oregon women’s movement. Because of their experience, organizational competence, and ability to work together as a woman-identified group, ORAL HISTORY TRANSCRIPTS from Norma Paulus and Betty Roberts female legislators were able to utilize this brief period of ideal conditions — both members of the legislature during the 17 session — and Gretchen to pass feminist legislation rapidly into law.
    [Show full text]
  • Nificant Natural Area Sites and Interconnections
    .~­ ". \ i' .- / ,.• --- ./ \. \ ~ • I. • h j . .LC .' \. \ \ '.', ."'- /_ ,I • ~, I • ,{ \ I j .' ,,'" "..', r -, " (. ) ./ ..~, / / --)" ( , / '- L • r-( ."• \ " • ." L •~ rr ('., r I" ~••. / r ~ ). ," , \ . ) / ) •. ~ \ '-: '.' / -' ", ,'; ---' -, ", - ( '..\~ , " ' '. ,J \. ) .~ .\ / -" ,e.' ·r ","." ~ METROPOLITAN - e> )~ .' \ I" e :\(?-reel1space~, :- J • 'f /' r: /. ..../ .J \ • ~.' / l .. 'v' /". • '> I / I e-, ~ ./ ,I \ • .>" ) Master-Piait ) e• .,/ r ", / Ij .'-..... L e "'" '. \ e ( r e /. e e, , --- '~. e j -.', ,.­ ;' r .. •er, ) r / -'. ~ \' - ( . ~ . ., ~ ~' -\ A Cooperative Regio!lal$ystem ofNa.tural Areas, "Open Space, T~f!:..ils a~¢ Gree.nways / /', ' '.)' " forWilcJlife and p,!ople . ./( . ./ ,... ' .... / r • '. X- •.\ / e ! -, "e- ( \ - '- '\ .J • r~gional go~ernmeht (As' ofJuly 1992) "- (. • Metro is the 'directly elected thatserves , .. ,/ Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington cOUlities andilie 24 Policy Advisory COn:'!m,ittee M,ember;s: • \'citiesThat make up the P~rtlana metropolita~;rea. " "'- Ri~hard Devlin, Metro councilor and chair •e- Metr~is ;~spon~ible f~r soli~:~aste management, op~ration/of Ruth~cFariana, Metro,co~n;ilor rmd vice-chair ,_ .i ,'-- M~tro us~ \, the Washington Park Zoo, transportation-and land Sandi Hansen/Metro councilor " "- ~" ' pl~nping, 1da~inerstad, commissi~ne~ urban growth boundary management, technical ." J Judie Clackamas County . ,. services to local go\\ernments and, 'through the Metropolitan Pauline Anderson, Multnomah County commissioner ) r·, ) : fxposition)Recre,ation Gommission,man~gementofthe
    [Show full text]
  • GREEN PROFESSIONALS: SHARE IT! the HOMEOWNER’S Clients Need to Know About Sustainable Construction
    WHAT’S NEW IN THE 7TH EDITION? Updated Products Sustainable NEW Our guide features a number of Appliances Efficient new products. Don’t miss new Learn what’s new in energy Windows “smart” devices that improve your efficient appliances, including Check out our side-by-side home’s energy efficiency, condensation clothes dryers comparison of energy efficient insulation to significantly improve your home’s R-value, that save homeowners a ton windows to make the best counter tops made from recycled materials, and more. on energy bills. (p. 48) choice for your home. (p. 40) The Homeowner’s HANDBOOK Remodeling? Building a new home? This comprehensive guide has you covered. Understanding the thousands of choices available 7th when constructing or improving a home is daunting. CONTENTS EDITION Add in efforts to use “green” products, and the task gets even more complex. That’s why we created this Exteriors 18 Handbook—to help you manage your project, by Roofing 22 separating the really important choices from the rest. Structure 26 Here’s the essential information you’ve been looking Insulation 30 for, in one handy annually updated guide. Air Quality 34 Windows 38 Heating & Cooling 42 Lighting 46 Appliances 48 Faucets & Fixtures 52 Finishes 56 Cabinets & Tops 60 Alternative Energy 64 Award-Winning Coverage of Sustainable Construction, Products and Lifestyles The Homeowner’s Handbook 2016 / www.greenbuildermedia.com of the go-to green guide for OUR 7TH EDITION homeowners celebrates solar innovation and new products, and brings you the in-depth information your GREEN PROFESSIONALS: SHARE IT! THE HOMEOWNER’S clients need to know about sustainable construction.
    [Show full text]
  • San Francisco, California
    Challenges and Successes on the Path toward a Solar-Powered Community Solar in Action San Francisco, California Includes case studies on: • Using a Web-based Solar Map to Provide Solar Information to the Public • Targeting Commercial Property Owners through the Mayor’s Solar Founders’ Circle • Facilitating Residential Solar Group Purchases October 2011 • Addressing Multi-Tenant Barriers to Going Solar San Francisco’s Starting Point San Francisco was designated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on June 20, 2007, as a Solar America City. San Francisco was making relatively significant progress San Francisco promotes solar in the community through high-profile installations on city-owned promoting and enabling solar prior to receiving assistance buildings such as the Moscone Convention Center, through the Solar America Cities partnership. At the time the city’s first large-scale solar installation and the largest municipal system (675 kW) in the United of the designation, San Francisco benefited from: States when completed in 2004. Photo from The City of San Francisco, NREL/PIX 18417 • 2001 voter-approved $100 million bond initiative to pay for solar systems, energy efficiency improvements, and wind turbines for Cover photos from iStock/8809122, View of San Francisco public facilities • 2002 Electricity Resource Plan with ambitious goals, including 50 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity by 2012 with 31 MW provided by solar • Priority permitting for solar installations instituted in 2004, with updated streamlined procedures adopted in 2007 • 2004 Climate Action Plan goal to reduce overall greenhouse gas About the U.S. Department emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by the year 2012 of Energy’s Solar America • San Francisco Solar Task Force established in 2007 to develop policy Communities program: recommendations to accelerate the number of solar installations on The U.S.
    [Show full text]