Ecopolis

Ecopolis
Author: Paul F. Downton
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 610
Release: 2008-11-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 140208496X

From 2008, for the first time in human history, half of the world’s population now live in cities. Yet despite a wealth of literature on green architecture and planning, there is to date no single book which draws together theory from the full range of disciplines - from architecture, planning and ecology - which we must come to grips with if we are to design future cities which are genuinely sustainable. Paul Downton’s Ecopolis takes a major step along this path. It highlights the urgent need to understand the role of cities as both agents of change and means of survival, at a time when climate change has finally grabbed world attention, and it provides a framework for designing cities that integrates knowledge - both academic and practical - from a range of relevant disciplines. Identifying key theorists, practitioners, places and philosophies, the book provides a solid theoretical context which introduces the concept of urban fractals, and goes on to present a series of design and planning tools for achieving Sustainable Human Ecological Development (SHED). Combining knowledge from diverse fields to present a synthesis of urban ecology, the book will provide a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners in architecture, construction, planning, geography and the traditional life sciences.

Planning for Sustainability

Planning for Sustainability
Author: Stephen M. Wheeler
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 418
Release: 2013-07-18
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1136482016

How can human communities sustain a long-term existence on a small planet? This challenge grows ever more urgent as the threat of global warming increases. Planning for Sustainability presents a wide-ranging, intellectually well-grounded and accessible introduction to the concept of planning for more sustainable and livable communities. The text explores topics such as how more compact and walkable cities and towns might be created, how local ecosystems can be restored, how social inequalities might be reduced, how greenhouse gas emissions might be lowered, and how more sustainable forms of economic development can be brought about. The second edition has been extensively revised and updated throughout, including an improved structure with chapters now organized under three sections: the nature of sustainable planning, issues central to sustainable planning, and scales of sustainable planning. New material includes greater discussion of climate change, urban food systems, the relationships between public health and the urban environment, and international development. Building on past schools of planning theory, Planning for Sustainability lays out a sustainability planning framework that pays special attention to the rapidly evolving institutions and power structures of a globalizing world. By considering in turn each scale of planning—international, national, regional, municipal, neighborhood, and site and building—the book illustrates how sustainability initiatives at different levels can interrelate. Only by weaving together planning initiatives and institutions at different scales, and by integrating efforts across disciplines, can we move towards long-term human and ecological well-being.

Upsetting the Offset

Upsetting the Offset
Author: Steffen Böhm
Publisher: Fastprint Publishing
Total Pages: 363
Release: 2009
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781906948061

Upsetting the Offset engages critically with the political economy of carbon markets. It presents a range of case studies and critiques from around the world, showing how the scam of carbon markets affects the lives of communities. But the book doesn't stop there. It also presents a number of alternatives to carbon markets which enable communities to live in real low-carbon futures.

California Riparian Systems

California Riparian Systems
Author: Richard E. Warner
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 1076
Release: 1984-01-01
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9780520050358

This volume presents 135 of the papers presented at the 1981 California Riparian Systems Conference. The papers address all aspects of riparian systems: habitat, wildlife, land management, land use policy planning, conservation and water resource management.

Green Versus Gold

Green Versus Gold
Author: Carolyn Merchant
Publisher:
Total Pages: 520
Release: 1998-06
Genre: History
ISBN:

While the state of California remains one of the most striking and varied landscapes in the world, it has experienced monumental changes since European settlers first set foot there. The past two centuries have witnessed an ongoing struggle between environment and economy, nature and humanity that has left an indelible mark on the region. Green Versus Gold provides a compelling look at California's environmental history from its Native American past to conflicts and movements of recent decades. Acclaimed environmental historian Carolyn Merchant has brought together a vast storehouse of primary sources and interpretive essays to create a comprehensive picture of the history of ecological and human interactions in one of the nation's most diverse and resource-rich states. For each chapter, Merchant has selected original documents that give readers an eyewitness account of specific environments and periods, along with essays from leading historians, geographers, scientists, and other experts that provide context and analysis for the documents. In addition, she presents a list of further readings of both primary and secondary sources. Among other topics, chapters examine: California's natural environment and Native American lands the Spanish and Russian frontiers environmental impacts of the gold rush the transformation of forests and rangelands agriculture and irrigation cities and urban issues the rise of environmental science and contemporary environmental movement. Merchant's informed and well-chosen selections present a unique view of decades of environmental change and controversy. Historians, educators, environmentalists, writers, students, scientists, policy makers, and others will find the book an enlightening and important contribution to the debate over our nation's environmental history.

Factories in the Field

Factories in the Field
Author: Carey McWilliams
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 365
Release: 2000-04-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 0520925181

This book was the first broad exposé of the social and environmental damage inflicted by the growth of corporate agriculture in California. Factories in the Field—together with the work of Dorothea Lange, Paul Taylor, and John Steinbeck—dramatizes the misery of the dust bowl migrants hoping to find work in California agriculture. McWilliams starts with the scandals of the Spanish land grant purchases, and continues on to examine the experience of the various ethnic groups that have provided labor for California's agricultural industry—Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, Filipinos, Armenians—the strikes, and the efforts to organize labor unions

The Daughter's Walk

The Daughter's Walk
Author: Jane Kirkpatrick
Publisher: National Geographic Books
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2011-04-05
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1400074290

A mother's tragedy, a daughter's desire and the 7000 mile journey that changed their lives. In 1896 Norwegian American Helga Estby accepted a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City within seven months in an effort to earn $10,000. Bringing along her nineteen year-old daughter Clara, the two made their way on the 3500-mile trek by following the railroad tracks and motivated by the money they needed to save the family farm. After returning home to the Estby farm more than a year later, Clara chose to walk on alone by leaving the family and changing her name. Her decisions initiated a more than 20-year separation from the only life she had known. Historical fiction writer Jane Kirkpatrick picks up where the fact of the Estbys’ walk leaves off to explore Clara's continued journey. What motivated Clara to take such a risk in an era when many women struggled with the issues of rights and independence? And what personal revelations brought Clara to the end of her lonely road? The Daughter's Walk weaves personal history and fiction together to invite readers to consider their own journeys and family separations, to help determine what exile and forgiveness are truly about. “Kirkpatrick has done impeccable homework, and what she recreates and what she imagines are wonderfully seamless. Readers see the times, the motives, the relationships that produce a chain of decisions and actions, all rendered with understatement. Kirkpatrick is a master at using fiction to illuminate history’s truths. This beautiful and compelling work of historical fiction deserves the widest possible audience.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

Small is Profitable

Small is Profitable
Author: Amory B. Lovins
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 398
Release: 2020-11-27
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1134258747

Today's electricity industry - large power stations feeding a nationwide grid - will soon be a thing of the past. This book explains why and what will replace it - decentralized and distributed electrical resources which can be up to 10 times as economically valuable. The authors - all leading experts in the field - explain very clearly and thoroughly all the benefits, so the engineers will understand the economic advantages and the investors will understand the engineering efficiencies. Here's what industry experts are saying about Small is Profitable... 'A tour-de-force and a goldmine of good ideas. It is going to have a stunning impact on thinking about electricity.' Walter C. Patterson, Senior Research Fellow, Royal Institute of International Affairs, London. 'An amazing undertaking - incredibly ambitious yet magnificently researched and executed.' Dr. Shimon Awerbuch, Senior Advisor, International Energy Agency, Paris. 'Outstanding...You have thought of some [benefits] I never considered...A great resource for the innovation in energy services that will have to take place for us to have a sustainable future.' Dr. Carl Weinberg, Weinberg Associates, former Research Director, PG&E. 'This is a brilliant synthesis and overview with a lot of original analytics and insights and a very important overall theme. I think it is going to have a big impact.' Greg Kats, Principal, Capital E LLC, former Finance Director for Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. 'E. F. Schumacher would be proud of this rigorous extension of his thesis in Small is Beautiful. It shows how making systems the right size can make them work better and cost less. Here are critical lessons for the new century: technologies tailored to the needs of people, not the reverse, can improve the economy and the environment.' Dr. Daniel Kammen, Professor of Energy and Society and of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley. 'Small is Profitable creates an unconventional but impeccably reasoned foundation to correctly assign the costs and true benefits of distributed energy systems. It has become an indispensable tool for modelling distributed energy systems benefits for us.' Tom Dinwoodie, CEO and Chairman, PowerLight Corporation. 'A Unique and valuable contribution to the distributed energy industry...Small Is Profitable highlights the societal benefits of distributed resources, and will be a helpful guide to policymakers who wish to properly account for these benefits in the marketplace.' Nicholas Lenssen, Senior Director, Primen. 'This book will shift the electric industry from the hazards of overcentralization toward the new era where distributed generation will rule.' Steven J. Strong, President, Solar Design Associates, Inc. 'Readers will understand why distributed resources are poised to fundamentally alter the electric power system. Its comprehensive review of the benefits of distributed resources [is] an important part of my library.' Dr. Thomas E. Hoff, President, Clean Power Research. 'The most comprehensive treatise on distributed generation.... Great job and congratulations.' Howard Wenger, Principal, Pacific Energy Group '..[D]ensely packed with information and insights...goes a long way to demonstrate that the former paradigm of electric power supply no longer makes sense.' Prof. Richard Hirsh, University of Vermont, Leading historian of the electric power sector. 'Amory Lovins was already the world's most original and influential thinker on the future of energy services in general and electricity systems in particular. This remarkable book is a very worthy addition to an extraordinary legacy.' Ralph Cavanagh, Energy Co-Director, Natural Resources Defense Council. 'This is a book every utility professional should have on the bookshelf.' Dr Peter S. Fox-Penner, Principal and Chairman of the Board, the Brattle Group, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy.

Forest Hydrology

Forest Hydrology
Author: Devendra Amatya
Publisher: CABI
Total Pages: 309
Release: 2016-09-14
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1780646607

Forests cover approximately 26% of the world's land surface area and represent a distinct biotic community. They interact with water and soil in a variety of ways, providing canopy surfaces which trap precipitation and allow evaporation back into the atmosphere, thus regulating how much water reaches the forest floor as through fall, as well as pull water from the soil for transpiration. The discipline "forest hydrology" has been developed throughout the 20th century. During that time human intervention in natural landscapes has increased, and land use and management practices have intensified. The book will be useful for graduate students, professionals, land managers, practitioners, and researchers with a good understanding of the basic principles of hydrology and hydrologic processes.