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Green Neighborhood Scorecard
Green Neighborhood Scorecard One of the action items put forth for consideration at the November 14th meeting was to develop a scorecard to assess neighborhoods’ current environmental health. Perhaps because it doesn’t on first blush appear to have immediate or significant paybacks, it did not receive many votes. Admittedly, a survey might be better thought of as a process and less as a project with tangible beneficial results, which admirably our group obviously is anxious to achieve. Nevertheless, I want to take this opportunity to suggest that all of the project committees jointly develop a Green Neighborhood Scorecard.
I make this suggestion for several reasons, but an explanation of what is envisioned is in order. To begin, think back to our first meeting and the considerable responses to the question: What qualifies as a “green” neighborhood? The list was lengthy, impressive and, one would be safe to say, most likely indicative of each responders’ personal views or opinions of areas in need of attention in their own neighborhoods. By asking the question, Daniel was able to elicit what was most on our minds and develop a pool of concerns for further consideration. A Green Neighborhood Scorecard Card (GNS) serves much the same aims.
A scorecard also serves as an assessment tool, and thanks to the narrowing of ideas achieved at our second meeting, a GNS can focus and provide a snapshot of key areas of most concern to our group, i.e., the broad seven environmental topics listed at the last meeting: Recycling/Waste, Buildings & Construction/Renovation, Energy, Local Food/Permaculture, Urban Tree Planting, Storm Water and Transportation.
A GNS also should serve to promote the aims of the numbers one and four top vote getters, namely “Education and Networking Linkages” and “Neighborhood Association Environmental Liaison.” Indeed, a well designed GNS should serve as an easy-to-use tool any dedicated neighborhood leader could use to call attention to these environmental concerns. It would be a combination how-to manual and environmental studies primer. In other words, it would explain what to look for and why, and instruct the users how to record observations that will serve as their neighborhood’s environmental report card.
Therein is perhaps the single most important reason to use a GNS: unless we establish the benchmarks by which we can measure our efforts – like a student who never quite knows where he stands – we are apt to become discouraged if we are unsure of affecting a positive impact. Also, a well publicized GNS (both the fact it is being done and more importantly, any results) will have the added advantage of putting the community at large on notice that we expect everyone to work towards making improvements. Setting such an expectation alone could have far reaching benefits, and of course, that is what we are all about.
I make this suggestion for several reasons, but an explanation of what is envisioned is in order. To begin, think back to our first meeting and the considerable responses to the question: What qualifies as a “green” neighborhood? The list was lengthy, impressive and, one would be safe to say, most likely indicative of each responders’ personal views or opinions of areas in need of attention in their own neighborhoods. By asking the question, Daniel was able to elicit what was most on our minds and develop a pool of concerns for further consideration. A Green Neighborhood Scorecard Card (GNS) serves much the same aims.
A scorecard also serves as an assessment tool, and thanks to the narrowing of ideas achieved at our second meeting, a GNS can focus and provide a snapshot of key areas of most concern to our group, i.e., the broad seven environmental topics listed at the last meeting: Recycling/Waste, Buildings & Construction/Renovation, Energy, Local Food/Permaculture, Urban Tree Planting, Storm Water and Transportation.
A GNS also should serve to promote the aims of the numbers one and four top vote getters, namely “Education and Networking Linkages” and “Neighborhood Association Environmental Liaison.” Indeed, a well designed GNS should serve as an easy-to-use tool any dedicated neighborhood leader could use to call attention to these environmental concerns. It would be a combination how-to manual and environmental studies primer. In other words, it would explain what to look for and why, and instruct the users how to record observations that will serve as their neighborhood’s environmental report card.
Therein is perhaps the single most important reason to use a GNS: unless we establish the benchmarks by which we can measure our efforts – like a student who never quite knows where he stands – we are apt to become discouraged if we are unsure of affecting a positive impact. Also, a well publicized GNS (both the fact it is being done and more importantly, any results) will have the added advantage of putting the community at large on notice that we expect everyone to work towards making improvements. Setting such an expectation alone could have far reaching benefits, and of course, that is what we are all about.
SierraClubOma |
Latest page update: made by SierraClubOma
, Feb 6 2008, 2:45 PM EST
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Keyword tags:
Assessment
environmental primer
how-to manual
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | |
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| meangreen | Green Scorecard for Earth Day | 1 | Jan 28 2008, 11:46 AM EST by katjakc | |
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Thread started: Jan 26 2008, 10:01 AM EST
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I know that this does not fall under the category of neighborhoods, but thought it would be fitting to bring up the idea of a green scorecard for Earth Day participants. For example; the Arbor Day Farm/Org. practices NO sustainable agricultural -yet they are one of the nation's most revered conservation organizations. All of their produce is grown with the use of toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
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Keyword tags:
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| livegreen | Brainstorming Green Neighborhood Scorecard | 12 | Jan 24 2008, 4:28 PM EST by aszatko | |
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Thread started: Dec 12 2007, 10:31 PM EST
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Energy: I am currently working on a way to get a good idea of energy consumption quickly and easily with secondary data. Once I determine if this is accurate, I will happily share my results.
Food: Does the neighborhood have a community garden? Where is the nearest garden? How many homes have gardens in their yards (obviously this can only be determined from a windshield or sidewalk survey so private property rights are not violated) Waste/Recycling: Windshield survey on trash/recycling pickup day. Look at number and amount of trash in trash cans (small, half-full, full). Number of recycling bins and how full they are. Then take this number divided by the number of households in the neighborhood. The trick about metrics is determining what the cutoffs are. Stormwater: concrete to greenspace ratio (is there an easy way to calculate this?) any visible rain barrels? any visible rain gardens? These are some initial thoughts. Please continue to add, edit and brainstorm a simple Green Neighborhood Scorecard. |
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