Written by the chair of the LEED-Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND)
initiative, Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature
is both an urgent call to action and a comprehensive introduction
to "sustainable urbanism"--the emerging and growing design reform
movement that combines the creation and enhancement of walkable and
diverse places with the need to build high-performance
infrastructure and buildings.

Providing a historic perspective on the standards and regulations
that got us to where we are today in terms of urban lifestyle and
attempts at reform, Douglas Farr makes a powerful case for
sustainable urbanism, showing where we went wrong, and where we
need to go. He then explains how to implement sustainable urbanism
through leadership and communication in cities, communities, and
neighborhoods. Essays written by Farr and others delve into such
issues as:

* Increasing sustainability through density.

* Integrating transportation and land use.

* Creating sustainable neighborhoods, including housing, car-free
areas, locally-owned stores, walkable neighborhoods, and universal
accessibility.

* The health and environmental benefits of linking humans to
nature, including walk-to open spaces, neighborhood stormwater
systems and waste treatment, and food production.

* High performance buildings and district energy systems.

Enriching the argument are in-depth case studies in sustainable
urbanism, from BedZED in London, England and Newington in Sydney,
Australia, to New Railroad Square in Santa Rosa, California and
Dongtan, Shanghai, China. An epilogue looks to the future of
sustainable urbanism over the next 200 years.

At once solidly researched and passionately argued, Sustainable
Urbanism is the ideal guidebook for urban designers, planners,
and architects who are eager to make a positive impact on our--and
our descendants'--buildings, cities, and lives.