A campaign to inform members of Downtown communities about resources that that can provide help with everything from tree planting to reducing the use of water has won honors to go with a recent boost that’s expected to come in the form of $15,000 worth of professional services dedicated to the effort.
The honors came to the Sustainability Committee of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) on June 17. The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Planning Association, a non-profit professional group, bestowed its Planning Excellence Award for Grassroots Initiative during ceremonies at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
That award followed a $15,000 grant from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Sustainable Design Assessment Team. The grant will bring $15,000 worth of “professional resources to our neighborhood to better inform our community-based group as we develop long-term sustainability goals for Downtown,” according to Ashley Zarella, chairperson of DLANC’s Sustainability Committee.
Sustainability is a term used to describe efforts to make greater use of resources and reduce some of the effects that modern society has on the environment. Recycling cans and bottles is one example of sustainability, and others range from constructing buildings in ways that require less energy for heating or cooling to reducing water use through devices such as toilets with relatively small tanks.
DLANC’s Sustainability Committee has been developing a community “toolkit” as part of its efforts to increase awareness of existing resources, attract more participation, and improve public understanding about sustainability.
Among the projects that the Sustainability Committee plans to pursue with the help of the recent grant are:
• A rooftop edible garden and composting program, and a tree planting pilot project, with both intended to “address urban beautification and living solutions to a dense urban environment.”
• An attempt to “identify affordable solutions for the workplace, home, and shared public space so all members of the community may benefit from more environmentally friendly options.” The program aims to “highlight existing cost-saving rebate and assistance programs, increase awareness and encourage participation.”
• A bid to “engage Downtown stakeholders, including those not traditionally included, to get the community’s feedback and best understand how we can help meet our long term goals for a sustainable urban neighborhood.”
Visit downtownsustainability.com on the Internet for more information. The website is available in English only.
