The original Cambridge Futures project examined seven scenarios for the future development of Cambridge (UK) - from "no change" through to developing a new town nearby, building along transport corridors or concentrating new development in the city. In each scenario, the effects on the economy, social equity, environmental quality and transport were modelled.
BedZed is the innovative zero (fossil) energy development of galleried studio apartments and work spaces by the Peabody Trust at Beddington, Sutton (UK). BedZED uses only energy from renewable sources generated on site. It is the first large-scale ‘carbon neutral’ community - i.e. the first not to add to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Built on a former sewage works, BedZED shows how housing can be built without degrading the environment.
The Urban Transportation Showcase Program of Transport Canada (a federal government ministry) is a five-year program created to demonstrate, evaluate and promote effective strategies to reduce GHG emissions from urban transportation. Through this program, Transport Canada will work in partnership with provinces and municipalities, to establish a number of transportation "showcases" in selected cities, for demonstrating and evaluating a range of urban transportation strategies within a broad planning framework. This new information will lay a foundation for the adoption of effective, integrated GHG emission reduction strategies in urban centres across Canada by 2010.
The Blueprint Project of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) is a comprehensive regional planning process integrating land use, transportation, air quality, and other regional concerns. Its aim is to confront the challenges of growth in the region by asking where and how the region should grow, and how this will affect standards of living. The three-year process is focused on helping the public to understand their future and to make good choices about what they want their region to look like, and is doing this by using the PLACE3S software program, which integrates public participation, community development and design, and GIS mapping to help communities produce plans that retain dollars in the local economy, save energy, attract jobs and development, reduce pollution and traffic congestion and conserve open space.
