Sustainable or “green” communities are being built across the globe, and one goal is to conserve urban biodiversity. Decisions made by policymakers/planners, developers, and homeowners interact in unique ways, affecting the functionality of any community. For example, with one stroke of a pen, policymakers/planners can encourage or discourage green designs or management practices. Once it has been decided to create a green community, developers must consider the potential impacts of the three phases of development: design, construction, and post-construction. Often the design phase is addressed but the construction and post-construction phases are left out. In addition, the decisions made by homeowners will influence whether a community functions as originally intended. Reaching these diverse audiences is difficult but necessary to create resource efficient communities.
In this webinar, Dr. Mark Hostetler will present some efforts through the University of Florida’s Program for Resource Efficient Communities (PREC – http://www.buildgreen.ufl.edu). PREC has been actively partnering with several developers and cities to create “model” resource-efficient communities. Working with master planned Florida communities, PREC has encountered both successes and failures. Dr. Hostetler will explore and exchange ideas about how one can partner with and engage developers and contractors, policymakers and planners, and homeowners.
Speaker:
Dr. Mark Hostetler
Professor, Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation
University of Florida
