Here is an interesting item from the American Society of Landscape Architects’ blog about a Main Street community 40 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, PA: To Create Sustainable Community, Town Returns to 1895 Olmsted Plan. The item refers to an Associated Press story which I believe can be seen at pittsburghlive.com.
Tom Delaplane spotted this item in USA Today, and passed it on to Carol Mackey, who asked me to post it here.
Bob Wasson
The town of Vandergrift’s goal – according to the commentator — is to “create an energy independent, ecologically low-impact, economically viable town,” all of which sound like good ideas, but when he goes on to describe Vandergrift’s approach to sustainability as “to renovate buildings with sustainable materials, from carpet textiles to solar roof panels,” he oversimplifies.
If you haven’t thought much about how Logan might become a more sustainable community…and even if you have thought about it…I urge you to look at the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s discussion on sustainability: http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/sustainability/. In particular look at the items under the heading Tips for Main Street.
I plan to show several building owners options for installing solar panels.With current government help it has about a 5 year payback.