2008 Woodie Awards
Eco-town proposal causes stir in U.K.
Lauren Newmyer
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: World
Prime Minister of the U.K. Gordon Brown has announced plans to develop 10 new environmentally friendly towns on 10 plots of land across Britain.
The goal is for these "eco-towns" to remain carbon neutral, which means that for all the energy taken form the national grid to power the town, an equal or greater amount of renewable power must be put back.
Housing Minister Caroline Flint hopes to cater the town to pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users.
"I would like to see eco-towns which follow the most ambitious European models where half the households do not rely on a car," said Flint to BBC News.
To realize this fantasy, the proposed towns include plans to have all major facilities including schools, hospitals, and most offices and shops within a 10 minute walking distance from all residents' homes. Speed limits entering the towns will not exceed 15 mph and construction plans outline only a limited amount of roads that permit car traffic. Homes will face south to capture solar heat and may or may not have the addition of Photovoltaic cells. At least half of the homes will be marketed at affordable prices.
"These developments will be exemplars for the rest of the world, not just the rest of the country," Flint said. "It's critical that we get it right - and I make no apology for setting the bar as high as possible. We have a unique opportunity to deliver a program which will genuinely revolutionize the way people live."
Meanwhile, environmentalists have drawn attention to the fact that carbon emissions seem to be the only environmental concern to which these towns will respond. They claim that the energy and waste produced as well as the destruction of previously undeveloped lands will cancel out the eco-friendly intent.
"There's been a history of something called 'greenwashing,' which is a play on brainwashing. It happens when corporations, or in this case the Prime Minister of Britain, want to do something good, but is also trying to make it play into their interests," said junior and Forevergreen member Kat Siladi. "Their interest is to build on this land and continue to increase capital. It seems like a better compromise would be to start developing more sustainability (features) in communities that already exist."
The goal is for these "eco-towns" to remain carbon neutral, which means that for all the energy taken form the national grid to power the town, an equal or greater amount of renewable power must be put back.
Housing Minister Caroline Flint hopes to cater the town to pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users.
"I would like to see eco-towns which follow the most ambitious European models where half the households do not rely on a car," said Flint to BBC News.
To realize this fantasy, the proposed towns include plans to have all major facilities including schools, hospitals, and most offices and shops within a 10 minute walking distance from all residents' homes. Speed limits entering the towns will not exceed 15 mph and construction plans outline only a limited amount of roads that permit car traffic. Homes will face south to capture solar heat and may or may not have the addition of Photovoltaic cells. At least half of the homes will be marketed at affordable prices.
"These developments will be exemplars for the rest of the world, not just the rest of the country," Flint said. "It's critical that we get it right - and I make no apology for setting the bar as high as possible. We have a unique opportunity to deliver a program which will genuinely revolutionize the way people live."
Meanwhile, environmentalists have drawn attention to the fact that carbon emissions seem to be the only environmental concern to which these towns will respond. They claim that the energy and waste produced as well as the destruction of previously undeveloped lands will cancel out the eco-friendly intent.
"There's been a history of something called 'greenwashing,' which is a play on brainwashing. It happens when corporations, or in this case the Prime Minister of Britain, want to do something good, but is also trying to make it play into their interests," said junior and Forevergreen member Kat Siladi. "Their interest is to build on this land and continue to increase capital. It seems like a better compromise would be to start developing more sustainability (features) in communities that already exist."
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