Sustainable Quality Community Growth

solar energy

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:53:05 GMT

I would like Lenexa to consider passing ordinances (or whatever they are called) to allow solar panels on rooftops. These ordinances would override any community covenants that might prohibit them. These ordinances would include guidelines as to where they can be installed and other details such as appearance, dimensions, maximum number of panels, etc.

I also think composting and rain barrels should be encouraged.

Sustainability and the Games

Anonymous — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:13:11 GMT

The word sustainability can mean many things to many people. For the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), sustainability means managing the social, economic and environmental impacts and opportunities of our Games to produce lasting benefits — locally and globally. By taking responsibility for reducing negative impacts and generating benefits for the natural environment, people and target communities, Aboriginal people, and the economy, we are walking our talk and focusing on raising awareness and promoting sustainable living choices.

http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/OrganizingCommittee/MediaCentre/FeatureStories/2008/03/28/79104_0803281005-146

Architecture

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:00:18 GMT

The city should adopt development parameters which ensure the property value increases

renewable energy

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:22:59 GMT

I believe Lenexa should encourage the use of solar or wind energy in some new residential developments. These are not cheap forms of energy at this moment and I imagine some sort of tax abatement or other incentive may be required to get developers on board.

A specific idea I have is to encourage developers to install a partial solar power system in new houses. This system would be designed to provide regular power to only a relatively small portion of the house (10-20 percent). This keeps the cost down, would not be aesthetically overwhelming and should help allay people's fears about the unknown. The rest of the energy would be supplied by conventional means. The solar system would also be designed such that the solar power can redirected to power essential systems (furnace, refrigerator, emergency lights, etc.) on a temporary basis in the event of a power outage. Wouldn’t it be great to not worry about running a loud, smelly, polluting portable generator or, worse yet running to Home Depot to purchase one during the next ice storm? I firmly believe that this “environmentally conscious” house with a built-in backup power system would appeal to many people and would sell very well even without tax incentives. I don’t see them getting built in the first place without them, however.

Steve Miller