With the country’s urbanization rate of 51 percent, it could be said that more and more Filipinos are definitely moving towards city centers. Together with this urban phenomenon, however, comes overpopulation and excessive consumption, resulting to pollution as well as depletion of resources. With human settlements planning, cities can turn these challenges into opportunities to become a sustainable city.
Just what is a sustainable city? The UN Sustainable City Program defined sustainable cities as those that are able to retain the supply of natural resources while achieving economic, physical and social progress, and remaining safe against environmental risks that could undermine development. In other words, a sustainable city is one that uses fewer resources, produces less waste and is more livable for human beings—with an underlying consideration toward environmental impact. These factors include but are not limited to water, air pollution, energy and waste.
For sustainable cities, the overarching word is efficiency. From building design to public transportation, from rainwater harvesting to waste management, and by making its cityscape efficient, the overall quality of life of residents increases.
Environment-Friendly Design
“By adopting environmentally sustainable designs, we can minimize the number of resources used in a building’s construction and operation, and limit the harm done to the environment by managing the pollution and waste it generates,” explained David Zaballero, a director at Arquitectonica.
Arquitectonica is an international architecture, landscape, interior design and urban planning design firm headquartered in Miami, with several projects in the Philippines. The firm focuses on ecologically sensitive yet commercially viable design, and is widely recognized for its ability to create unique forms of memorable imagery in close harmony with the environment.
Aside from minimizing a building’s negative impact, Zaballero said that careful environmental design promotes efficient energy and resource use through careful planning, site orientation, contextual response, material selection and choice of building systems. Such items may include:
Rainwater harvesting;
Greywater reuse;
Water-saving plumbing fixtures and smart meters;
Renewable energy systems (such as solar panels);
Use of non-synthetic, non-toxic construction materials ; and
Use of responsibly and locally obtained materials, which in turn, minimizes transportation of construction materials, minimizes resource impact and spurs local economic development.
Green Spaces
Green spaces, which are one of the key highlights of a sustainable city, nurture socialization and collaboration among residents, and serve as habitats for wildlife that contribute to cleaner air since plants absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In addition, green spaces can also serve as flood catchment areas. By collecting rain and allowing it to evaporate back into the earth, green spaces reduce flooding and recharge the city’s groundwater supply.
“Aside from the environmental benefits of green spaces, urban landscapes have a positive psychological impact on city dwellers, contributing to their mental health and wellness by way of reduced anxiety and depression,” said Zaballero.
Waste Management
Cities face many challenges in terms of cleanliness and waste management, including low recycling rates. How do sustainable cities address these challenges?
Recycling
“Recycling is about creating a closed cycle for all resources that we use like paper, glass, metals, plastic and even food. This system functions by separating waste at its source, such as households, in order to reuse, repair and recycle inorganic materials, which can then be repurposed into new materials such as bricks, artificial wood panels and Plasphalt (asphalt made out of plastics),” explained Zaballero.
Composting
Instead of going in the trash, excess food scraps and other organic materials that residents discard in sustainable cities will be quickly converted into fertilizer by an organic waste recycling processor, which will then be used in green spaces and green roofs.
With the goal of reducing the amount of natural resources consumed, as well as reusing as many times as possible any such materials that are taken from nature, waste produced by sustainable cities are kept to a minimum.
Sustainable Transportation
Since sustainable cities are compact, biking and walking are the popular modes of transportation. These cities have bicycle lanes, jogging and walking paths, bike-priority streets, secure bicycle parking, and bike-sharing. For commuters who need to go on long distance trips, the use of public transport is encouraged instead of driving. Transport systems like rapid bus transits, waterway transport and rail transit systems that are usually powered by alternative or renewable energy are available in sustainable cities.
“Human activity, specifically urbanization, is reshaping the environment at an increasing rate. However, by ensuring that our economy and society can continue to exist without destroying the natural environment on which we all depend, we can make cities more livable and sustainable not only for us but also for future generations,” said Zaballero.
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