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Sustainability Plan / Economy and Economic Development / Definitions

Brownfield. Abandoned or underutilized property in both industrial and residential areas, which has not been redeveloped due to concerns about the perceived cost of environmental clean-up.

Community-based planning. Planning that includes a consideration of the social and environmental effects of placement, architecture and infrastructure. Some of its aspects are: home-based and micro-business development, transit-friendly development densities, improved housing opportunities, and mixed-use projects.

Industrial Ecology. A business-management analytical framework, based on the dynamics of natural ecosystems, which considers the complete interaction of production, services, resource and energy use through the complete recycling of by-products, elimination of waste, and reduction of use of toxins or products harmful to local ecosystems and communities. Industrial ecology requires complex and continuous interaction among all components of the industrial system.

ISO 14000. Voluntary international standards devised by the International Standards Organization (Geneva, Switzerland) that establish environmental management system methodologies and review process.

Labeling and packaging guidelines. Regulations that allow consumers to have at least some information to assess the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions (such as recycled content information) or set standards for industry to reduce the impact of its packaging (such as consumer take-back options and reduced packaging mandates).

Life-cycle analysis. The measurement of waste, pollution, and environmental impacts of all phases of production, service, transportation, distribution, and disposal.

Magnet school. A specialty school which draws qualified students from districts throughout the City.

Sustainability resource centers. Community centers that provide information and training about things people and businesses can do to improve the sustainability of their neighborhoods, homes, and workplaces. Through the center, residents organize and coordinate projects to improve neighborhood sustainability, such as community gardens and building retrofits for energy and resource conservation. Examples include the Ecology Center in Berkeley and Cooperative Resource Service Providers in Los Angeles (part of the Los Angeles Eco-Village). The Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council Recycling Center is organizing such a center at its Frederick Street location in San Francisco.


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