This book would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of each of the chapter authors. For some authors, writing a chapter was beyond their "9-5" job, and this book re?ects their commitment to sustainability at the local level for their communities. To every chapter author and their staff, friends, and families, thank you. This dynamic and paradigm-changing volume on the topic of sustainable development is focused on communities such as cities, schools, and colleges where the future of our families and children are most at risk. We must act today as each of the chapters represents in their presentations. This book marks a new era: the Third Industrial Revolution. The new age of the Third Industrial Revolution has been labeled by some as the "green era" or "green economy," but it had already started around the world, especially in Europe and Japan, for over a decade - since the end of the 20th c- tury. More signi?cantly, the book highlights people and communities who have a shared concern and vision along with the will and determination to enact programs and polices that make sustainable development real - not just political rhetoric or "branding" or even the current "buzz word" for obtaining funds and grants. The book presents "The Sequel to an Inconvenient Truth" - actual examples of how c- munities can and have changed in order to mitigate climate change. Again, thanks to everyone and their colleagues.
Written as a professional reference book and a case textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of disciplines, Sustainable Communities contains detailed case studies of communities in U.S.A., Europe, and Asia that have become sustainable. In most cases, these communities are either off the central power grid or will be by 2010, and are examples of what regions, cities, towns, and communities-such as colleges, businesses and shopping malls-can do to become sustainable.
The book provides a vast amount of materials and data including design, and the legal, economic, and technologic aspects of how environments become sustainable. It provides the general public with a multi-disciplinary perspective and understanding of sustainable development from actual cases, along with some well-established resources and tools.
With the international variety of detailed cases and specific analysis of practical sustainability approaches,
Sustainable Communities
provides guidance and inspiration for everyone from students and academics to policy makers and economists.
About the Author:
Woodrow W. Clark II, MA3, Ph.D is a Qualitative Economist and co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the UN Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change. He is the founder of Clark Strategic Partners, a consulting firm in Los Angeles that focuses on renewable energy and technologies along with a team of experts in public policy, accounting, economics, law, and construction. Dr. Clark was also a Visiting Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of California, Los Angeles and Riverside.
From the reviews:
"This book allows readers to review progress in many communities in the US, Europe, Japan, and China. ? The volume contains references at the end of most of the 16 chapters ? . Many communities will want to add this book to their libraries. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels of readership." (L. E. Erickson, Choice, Vol. 47 (10), June, 2010)
