UpcomingCommissioners Receive Planning Excellence Award
The Chester County Board of Commissioners received the 2010 Planning Excellence Award for Public Outreach by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-PA). The awards committee said Chester County's efforts to involve residents and landowners in the planning process exemplified the "best and brightest in Pennsylvania for 2010." Read the press release.
View the poster illustrating how residents and landowners were invited to participate in the plan update.
Landscapes Related References
Brandywine Conservancy to work on greenway. The greenway is developed from the Chester County Linking Landscapes plan and follows the Struble trail established nearly 30 years ago by Robert Struble Sr., one of the founders of the Brandywine Valley Association in Pocopson.
Schuylkill River National & State Heritage Area Town & Tours Grant Program & Toolkit. The SRHA recently announced the Towns & Tours Grant Program to assist communities in the Schuylkill River Heritage Area to connect and promote existing community heritage resources; increase visitation and visitor spending; and enrich the tourist experience along the Heritage Area’s regional land and water trail network.
The Economic Value of Protected Open Space in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Commissioned by the GreenSpace Alliance and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the study quantifies the value of open space in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. The study -- the first of its kind for southeastern Pennsylvania -- examines the economic benefits associated with preserved open space in four key areas: property values, the environment, recreation and health, and jobs and revenue.
The Regional Green Plan identifies and prioritizes land for future open space preservation and/or acquisition in the five-county southeastern Pennsylvania area. It encourages partnerships among state, federal, local, and private conservation groups and others to protect critical open spaces in the region while sustaining beneficial economic growth.
School asks more students to walk. It is hoped that this will help encourage walking for students on a much bigger scale, maybe even countywide.
Planning Related References
PECO Celebrates Taking the LEED in Green Building Certification Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design marks important environmental milestone; certification to five of the company's existing buildings.
Philadelphia Eagles -The Green Team - Score Energy Independence Touchdown. The Eagles announced a ground-breaking environmental initiative: Lincoln Financial Field will be powered with on-site renewable energy by September 2011.
What a Green House should look like, chosen by USA Today as "This Week's Green House," shows that "sustainable" houses can be built in traditional styles.
100k House Wins LEED for Homes Project of the Year. An 1,150 Square foot LEED Platinum home was built for just under $100 per square foot. So far this home has exceeded expectations in energy use and occupant comfort.
Green Thanksgiving ideas from Planet Green.
Links
- Sustainable Industries
- PA DEP Advantage Grant
- National Geographic Green Guide for Everyday Living
- iConserve PA
- DCNR Green Principles
- C4P
- ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability
- Green Space Alliance
- Fuel Economy
- WCU Sustainability
- Schuylkill River National & State Heritage Area
