The Just Communities Blog
News and Updates from Our Team
Community Energy: Planning, Development, and Delivery
District Energy is the local production and distribution of thermal energy used for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. This guide is an important read for municipal officials, planners, and neighborhood champions interested in building a district energy system in their community.
Neighborhood Climate Action Planning Handbook
Developed by Portland State University, this handbook details climate action strategies to help neighborhoods reduce carbon footprint and fossil fuel dependency. While primarily focused on planning for Southeast Portland, this tool is certainly applicable to any neighborhood planner or advocate that is looking to bring the community together to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change.
The Value of Green Infrastructure Guide
This guide from the Center for Neighborhood Technology informs decision-makers and planners about the multiple benefits green infrastructure delivers to communities and guides communities in valuing the benefits of potential green infrastructure investments.
2015 Pittsburgh 2030 District Project Report
The Pittsburgh 2030 District Progress Report summarizes the Pittsburgh 2030 District’s 2015 progress toward attaining the bold sustainable building performance goals pursued by its participants.
Millvale Ecodistrict PIVOT 2.0 Plan
The Borough of Millvale, Pennsylvania's PIVOT 2.0 Plan harnesses an ecodistrict planning model that builds community resiliency by mobilizing and connecting food, water and energy networks to achieve neighborhood goals.
Capitol Hill Ecodistrict 2015 Annual Report
The Capitol Hill Ecodistrict is a neighborhood-based sustainability initiative serving the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, the most densely populated urban village in the Pacific Northwest. The Capitol Hill Ecodistrict 2015 Annual Report details significant achievements by the district, including formal recognition by Seattle's City Council and progress made toward eight performance indicators, such as energy and transportation.
Augustenborg, Sweden
In 1998, the Augustenborg district in Malmö, Sweden, initiated a renovation process through an urban renewal program at the community and household scales. They focused at the household level to improve energy efficiency, create green roofs, and improve access to recycling facilities.
Mobile Grocery Store Units
Mobile grocery units are gaining momentum as a way of combatting food deserts. The USDA defines food deserts as “a census tract with a substantial share of residents who live in a low income area that have low access to a grocery store or healthy affordable retail outlet.” Their mobility allows for outreach to multiple neighborhoods at a time.
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