Seven Rules for Sustainable Communities; Design Strategies for a Post Carbon World
New book by Patrick Condon outlines an approach that will help save the planet
With admirable clarity, Professor Patrick M. Condon of the University of British Columbia discusses transportation, housing equity, job distribution, economic development, and ecological systems issues and synthesizes his knowledge and research into a simple-to understand set of urban design rules that can, if followed, help save the planet.
Using the Vancouver Region as his case study, he compares and contrasts the problems and progress of this region with those of other North American urban areas. Of particular new importance is how city form affects the production of planet-warming greenhouse gases.
Patrick Condon explains this relationship in an accessible way, and goes on to show how conforming to seven simple rules for community design could literally do a world of good. Each chapter in the book explains one rule in depth, adding a wealth of research to support each claim.
Water-Centric Planning
“Of the seven rules, two of them are about water: Create a linked system of natural areas and parks, and lighter greener cheaper smarter infrastructure. This book is my attempt to ‘put it all together’ with ‘water at the heart of community design’,” states Patrick Condon.
Patrick Condon was a member of the original Water Sustainability Committee of the British Columbia Water & Waste Association. “From 2003 through 2010, the Water Sustainability Committee was the hub for a partnership network operating in the local government setting. Going forward, the Partnership for Water Sustainability of BC is now that hub,” statesTim Pringle, Partnership President.
The over-arching goal of the Partnership is to implement a fully integrated Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia.
About Patrick Condon
As James Taylor Chair, Patrick Condon pioneered multi-party sustainable community design workshops now generally known as charrettes, starting 
in 1995 with the seminal Sustainable Urban Landscapes Surrey Design Charrette.
Since that time Patrick Condon has worked to advance sustainable urban design in dozens of major charrettes, and scores of publications. He has lectured widely in both Canada and abroad, and is the author of several books, most recently Design Charrettes for Sustainable Communities.
Posted April 2010