Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities

News

July 2011

Small Press Bookwatch reviews Sustainometrics
The following is a review of the new volume Sustainometrics by W. Cecil Steward and Sharon S. Baum Kuska. See next entry (May 2011) for more information on the book, and, in the column to the right, how to order it.

The wildness of excess cannot continue forever. "Sustainometrics: Measuring Sustainability" is a book that analyzes the ideas behind sustainability, stating that many human activities in our world cannot continue forever and these abuses can threaten survival for many. Not just an environmental debate, W. Cecil Steward & Sharon B. Kuska discusses there are many angles to sustainability, and along with the environmental, there are cultural, technological, economic, and political issues that must addressed in our future. "Sustainometrics" is a wide reaching understanding of society and how long the status quo can be maintained without something being done, highly recommended for community and college social issues, economics, and environmental collections.

May 2011

Sustainometrics: Measuring Sustainability
A new book on measuring sustainability by Joslyn Institute Founder and President and CEO, W. Cecil Steward, and Joslyn Institute Vice-President, Sharon S. Baum Kuska, has just been published.

Sustainability has become part of our collective world view in recent years. As such, a new map is needed to navigate the dynamics of change in the making of cities, buildings, and products.

Sustainometrics represents a way to describe the interconnectedness of five domains of human activity—environmental, socio-cultural, technological, economics, and public policy—and their interplay with regard to achieving the goals of sustainability. Taken together, the Five Domains of sustainometrics can guide holistic solutions, balancing human needs with the depletion of natural resources.

In Sustainometrics: Measuring Sustainability, authors Steward and Kuska present a method to define progress toward sustainability goals in the form of a new assessment tool called EcoSTEP℠. EcoSTEP℠ can be applied at any scale of design, planning, or sustainability problem-solving. This method has been effectively used in pre-design programming, neighborhood and regional assessments, post-occupancy evaluations of industrial buildings, and comparative analysis of similar buildings.

Altogether, the process will result in better, conservation-based decisions and the avoidance of many unintended consequences suffered through past trials and errors of judgment about the livable conditions we all desire.

“Sustainometrics offers us an optimistic view that our individual choices matter greatly and we can make a difference,” said Phil Enquist, Partner in Charge of Urban Design & Planning at Skidmore Owens and Merrill.

Nicholas You, chair of the Steering Committee for the UN-Habitat World Urban Campaign, said, “There is a definite need for this book. It fills a current gap by tying together concepts, tools, and approaches.”

The new book can be purchased from Design Intelligence Bookstore: http://www.di.net/store/sustainometrics. For review copies, author interviews, and speaking engagement inquiries, contact Jane Gaboury, Greenway Communications, jgaboury@greenway.us, (678) 879-0929.

April 2011

Steward to be featured speaker at ASEAN Dialogues
W. Cecil Steward will be the featured speaker at the ASEAN Dialogues conference in Jakarta April 10 and 11, 2011. Steward, along with Dr. Sharon Kuska, will give a presentation with a focus on the global imperatives for planning for and measuring sustainability. ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an organization formed in 1967 To accelerate the economic growth, social progress, cultural development, peace, stability, and conservation and sustainable development of the natural resources in the region.

Steward and Kuska will talk about six global, contextual conditions that every city, regardless of its stage of development must confront, if sustainability and steady progress toward becoming a sustainable city is the goal, Steward maintains. Embracing these challenges will require new tools and new attitudes:

•   The genesis and importance of the Five Domains of Sustainable Development

•   Resilient Cities and the distinction from Sustainable Cities (This will be exceedingly important in the ASEAN region in light of the potential for earthquakes, tsunamis, and sea-rise.)

•   Sustainometrics: Tools, applications, and benefits (an overview of Steward and Kuska's forthcoming book, Sustainometrics: Measuring Sustainability

•   The new World Urban Campaign. Steward will provide program and networking information on the plans for the WUC over the coming three years, especially focusing on UN Habitat mission for the WUC, the 100 Cities Program, and benefits in participation.

September 2010
Steward, JISC named to World Urban Campaign Standing Committee
W. Cecil Steward and the Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities were elected to an 11-member Standing Committee to assist in guiding the World Urban Campaign for Sustainable Cities, an initiative of the United Nations Habitat agency, in a meeting of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is comprised of approximately 70 business, academic, and NGO partners with the UN Habitat to bring global attention and opportunities to cities around the world for enhancing the quality of urban dweller lives and to assist the cities with progress toward conditions of sustainability.

May 12, 2010

EcoStores Nebraska Resource Conservation Workshops

Learn how your home or business can be part of the new Green Economy! EcoStores Nebraska, in cooperation with Metropolitan Community College, is offering three cutting-edge workshops on making our buildings more economical AND ecological.

Deconstruction and Construction Waste Reduction
When: Friday, May 21st from 9 am-Noon
Where: MCC's “Connector Building”, Room 249 (27th and Q Sts.)
This workshop informs and inspires property owners, landlords, builders and citizens in general on strategies to recycle and re-use materials where possible and to deconstruct rather than demolish buildings.

Retrofitting Buildings for Efficiency
When: Friday, May 21st from 1-4 pm
Where: MCC's “Connector Building”, Room 249 (27th and Q Sts.)
This workshop Informs and inspires homeowners, business owners and citizens in general to retrofit buildings for greater energy and resource efficiency.

Auditing Buildings for Energy Efficiency
When: Saturday, May 22nd from 9 am-Noon
Where: MCC's “Connector Building”, Room 249 (27th and Q Sts.)
This workshop begins training for neighborhood-based energy auditors to identify resource conservation measures that provide the greatest economic and environmental benefits.

Registration is $20 for each workshop or $49 for all three workshops. Seating is limited. Register and pay by credit card by calling Metropolitan Community College’s Central Registration Center at 402-457-5231.

October 22 , 2009

Workshop Series to Teach Energy, Resource Conservation Across State

LINCOLN— With cold weather coming early, it is important for property owners to be aware of energy-saving strategies. According to W. Cecil Steward, president of the Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities, “Small changes to building practices and extra attention to detail can add up to significant savings to the builder, the homeowner and the environment.”

On November 13 and 20, EcoStores Nebraska presents these strategies through three resource conservation workshops. Homeowners, developers, realtors, construction contractors, design and planning professionals, and business owners are encouraged to attend.

The first workshop, “Deconstruction and Construction Waste Reduction,” will provide strategies to recycle and re-use materials where possible and deconstruct rather than demolish buildings. This workshop will be held on Friday, November 13, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The second workshop, “Retrofitting Buildings for Efficiency,” will present strategies to retrofit buildings for greater energy and resource efficiency. Held on Friday, November 13, this workshop will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

And the third workshop, “Auditing Buildings for Energy Efficiency,” begins to train a pool of neighborhood-based energy auditors. These auditors will help building owners identify resource conservation measures that provide the greatest economic and environmental benefits. This workshop will be held on Friday, November 20, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

After these November workshops in Lincoln, EcoStores Nebraska will expand its training for resource efficiency to Omaha, Grand Island, North Platte and surrounding communities.

The Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities, primary sponsor of the workshops, is receiving funding from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to bring these energy efficiency workshops to home and business owners in Nebraska.

Workshop partners include the City of Lincoln, Lincoln Electric System, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and WasteCap Nebraska.

A $10.00 registration fee is required for each workshop. All workshops will be held at the Lancaster County Cooperative Extension, 444 Cherrycreek Road. Since seating is limited, interested parties should reserve seats by calling EcoStores Nebraska at 477-3606 or by mailing the payment and registration form to EcoStores Nebraska, 530 W. “P” Street, Lincoln, NE 68528. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.ecostoresne.org. More information and updates on the Resource Conservation Workshops can be found at www.ecostoresne.org and www.facebook.com/EcoStoresNebraska.