Sustainable Communities as a Function to Combat Air Pollution

Air pollution is having drastic effects on climate change. The current air pollutants designated by the EPA are particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxides, and lead, also known as POCSNL. Each of these pollutants contributes in some manner to climate change. In addition carbon dioxide is the most well known of the climate change pollutants, however air pollution manipulates atmospheric temperatures and light adsorption, as well as causes smog and acid rain.

There has been much debate over the proper options for mitigation of the effects of air pollution and climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) believes that “technologies that exist in operation or pilot stage today” will be sufficient to tackle the current trajectory of air pollution over the next hundred years. In contrast, a current review in Science believes that acertation to be false, and feels that revolutionary technological changes need to be attained to combat these problems. Regardless of which view is correct, it may be far more pertinent to view sustainable practices as a greater cure for these ailments.

Besides not requiring a vast array of technological breakthroughs there is a great deal of mitigation for air pollution and by default climate change, than can be brought about by buying into the concept of sustainable communities. 80% of today’s global carbon dioxide output is due to fossil fuel consumption; in the United States that figure is 98% (EIA 2002). Fossil fuels are consumed in a plethora of everyday activities, but most greatly in energy use and transportation. Sustainable communities, which are more efficient at using energy and reduce the need for petroleum-based transportation, will greatly reduce the flux of carbon dioxide to the Earth’s atmosphere. Sustainable communities will aid this problem by decreasing the need for energy through having smaller homes, being placed on a grid pattern as opposed to the “dead worm”, using more efficient heating and cooling methods, utilizing alternate energy sources where possible, and reducing water consumption through concepts such as rain water harvesting and grey water use. In addition the planting of urban street trees will have a positive impact on net carbon flow by assimilating carbon dioxide and exuding oxygen.


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In thinking about the previous paragraph and the ways in which sustainable communities can help aleviate air pollution, I was reminded of a neighborhood, from my hometown of Tucson, called Rita Ranch. This neighborhood is an excellent example of how a community should not be set up. The neighborhood had a distinct "dead worm" pattern to the streets, so ridiculously convoluted that from entering the community to making it to one of my friend's homes there could take up to 20 minutes. Now keep in mind there are no services in the community except on the outside edges, and with the design, the majority of the homes are located in the center. The fuel cost of living in this moderately priced suburb of Tucson would quickly equal the housing price difference of living. In addition to the horrid street set up, the neighborhood also boasts only "cookie-cutter" houses, with poor insulation and a roof structure which inhibits rainwater harvesting. The one saving grace of this community is a fairly large park in the center, but with a neighborhood teeming with sidewalks, there are no street trees. Future planners could take good note not to copy this design, based solely for fitting the most homes in the cheapest, quickest manner.