February 13, 2006—The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has released a report focusing on best practices for embedding sustainable principles in the planning and rebuilding efforts of the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“The New Orleans Principles: Celebrating the Rich History of New Orleans Through Commitment to a Sustainable Future” contains 10 principles and more than 50 detailed policy recommendations and actions to address problems that pre-dated the hurricanes, in order to create healthier and stronger communities, says the USGBC. Reports on Schools and Affordable Housing will be available soon.
The report represents the consensus position of more than 160 people who participated in charrettes on Gulf Cost Reconstruction held November 9-11, 2005, at the USGBC’s annual Greenbuild conference. One-fifth of the charrette participants were from the storm-ravaged coastal areas.
Conducted in partnership with the Enterprise Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Trust for Public Land, and others representing a broad range of expertise, the four charrettes covered topics including green communities, ecological restoration, affordable housing, and schools.
The Ten Principles, in short, are:
- Respect the rights of all citizens of New Orleans;
- Restore natural protections of the greater New Orleans region;
- Implement an inclusive planning process;
- Value diversity in New Orleans;
- Protect the city of New Orleans;
- Embrace smart redevelopment;
- Honor the past; build for the future;
- Provide for passive survivability;
- Foster locally owned, sustainable businesses; and
- Focus on the long term.
USGBC is now working with a number of other groups, such as AIA’s Committee on the Environment, and the Urban Land Institute, to help ensure this focus on sustainability becomes a cornerstone of the Gulf rebuilding efforts.
Copies of the full report are available for download from USGBC.
