The paper examines how various land use factors such as density, regional accessibility, mix and roadway connectivity affect travel behavior, including per capita vehicle travel, mode split and nonmotorized travel. The information is useful for evaluating the ability of smart growth, new urbanism and access management land use policies to achieve planning objectives such as consumer savings, energy conservation and emission reductions
The report looks at the potential for infrastructure financing mechanisms to contribute to smart growth. Each of the mechanisms has its advantages and disadvantages, success factors and barriers to success and may be applicable in specific circumstances. The report examines all of these issues in the context of specific case studies and draws some more general conclusions as to which mechanisms appear to have the most promise in Canada.
The Green Infrastructure Guide provides guidance on how local governments while using legal and policy strategies, encourage or require more sustainable infrastructure designs.
The guide refers readers to strategies, and highlights case studies of local governments that have already taken steps to incorporate a green infrastructure approach. The focus is on implementation mechanisms, issues and barriers, and on what lessons have been learned from experiences to date.
The Banking on Green report focuses on the economic impacts caused by polluted urban runoff, also known as “stormwater,” and the co-benefits of energy reduction, flood mitigation, and improved public health outcomes. The report provides case studies and examples which highlight instances of how green infrastructure can provide cost-effective adaptation solutions. Green Infrastructure (GI) can help increase energy efficiency with green roofs and reduce heating and cooling costs. Additionally, GI practices that capture, infiltrate, and reuse rainwater can reduce the energy needed to pump and treat drinking water and wastewater.
This report illustrates the continued progress by local governments to reduce carbon emissions through highlighting examples of the achievements and experiences of small, medium, and large communities in 2018. It includes:
Model City Infrastructure (MCI) is a new analysis tool developed to assist Kelowna staff, Council and the public as they consider the long-term infrastructure implications of land use decisions. MCI enables the evaluation of the long-term financial performance of various types of neighbourhoods by comparing how much the City spends on long-term infrastructure in different neighbourhoods with the tax revenue and utility fees collected from them.
The MCI analysis focused on lifecycle costs, as opposed to up front capital costs, often associated with assuming infrastructure after development. It demonstrated that more complete and compact areas of Kelowna performed better financially than the areas that are characterized by auto-depend built form and low density and dispersed land uses.
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