
Research
Research and publications
The GreenCityBlueLake Institute has had a long and influential history of research and publication, dating back to the founding of its preceding organization, EcoCity Cleveland, in 1992. Below are some of the documents that shaped the civic discussion about environmental and sustainability issues in Northeast Ohio.
Climate change
Carbon emissions inventory
- Inventory: Northeast Ohio greenhouse gas emissions
Transition plans
- Transition: Transportation
- Transition: Buildings
- Transition: Electricity generation
Toolkits for action
- Climate toolkit for local communities
- Campus climate neutrality toolkit
Lakefront design
Aerial tour of Northeast Ohio's lakefront
Best Practices for Urban Waterfronts
Burke Lakefront Airport: A report on its history, its current status and its future (2002)
Cleveland Lakefront Rail Bypass Study (2003)
Reclaiming our Lake Erie shore
Lakefront ecological restoration
Regional land use
Citizens' Bioregional Plan for Northeast Ohio
We created a vision of sustainable land use for Northeast Ohio. The plan includes
conceptual maps for compact cities and towns with urban development zones, a
regional greenbelt, farmland protection areas, and other features. (1998, out of print)
Church in the City
Moving to Corn Fields
Ohio Smart Growth Agenda
The Smart Growth Challenge in Ohio (2002)
Planning to stay: Proceedings of the Sustainable Communities Symposium 2000
(EcoCity Journal V7N5-12 Summer 2000)
What do We Like? Finding a common language of design (EcoCity Journal V7N12 2001)
Making better places: A citizens' guide to assessing existing neighborhoods and proposed developments in Northeast Ohio (2004)
Where are we now? (EcoCity Journal V6N9/10 October/November 1999)
Connecting to Nature in Northeast Ohio: A map of opportunities for open space conservation, river corridor protection, and trail linkages
SmartHome
SmartHome project page
SmartHome Exhibit Resource Guide
David Beach's award-winning article on the PNC SmartHome in Museum Magazine
Transportation
Bet on bikes: The business case and economic analysis in support of University Circle biking initiatives (with Case Weatherhead)
Car-Free in Cleveland
Car-Free in Cleveland is your complete guide to getting around Northeast Ohio by
bus, train, taxi, bicycle, car- and van-pools, and on foot. Whether you're visiting for
the day or you're a lifelong resident of the Northeast Ohio, this is the essential guide
for a healthy, car-free lifestyle. (1999, out of print)
Circle-Heights Bike Network map
Benefits of a Transportation Management Association for Greater University Circle (2007)
The transit waiting environment ideabook (2003)
Cleveland Bike Share: Potential and Possibility (2012 study with Case Weatherhead)
Watershed planning
A Decision-Support Model of Land Suitability Analysis for the Ohio Lake Erie Balanced
Growth Program (2007)
The State Role in Guiding Land Use Change in the Ohio Lake Erie Basin (2007)
Helping Doan Brook insert - Guide for helping urban streams (May 2000)
Northeast Ohio water quality plan
Northeast Ohio watershed map poster
Other resources
Environmental history of Greater Cleveland
Genuine Progress Indicator
We calculated the GPI for the State of Ohio, cities of Akron and Cleveland, and
17 Northeast Ohio counties for the years 1950-2005.
Conserving the Diversity of Nature in the Lake Erie Allegheny Ecoregion (2007)
Sustainable Cleveland 2019 Briefing Book (2009)
Water Ventures of Cleveland feasibility study
EcoCity Cleveland Journal (1993-2002)
Before the development of more extensive web based reporting, our journal was the flagship publication and one of the best sources of information about the key issues facing Northeast Ohio — from ecological ways to redevelop cities to smart ways to preserve the countryside. Find fully searchable archived issues of past Journal issues.
10 best ecological restoration >
Cities are healthier as a whole when nature is invited in.
Eco-friendly landscapes >
We look inside two local guides to native landscaping and their benefits.
The best bike trails >
Find out where are the most interesting bike rides in Northeast Ohio