The key to human survival and healthy fulfillment is strengthening economic, intellectual and social growth in ways that maintain healthy, resilient eco-systems. Since all these variables change, smart eco-cities can survive and thrive only by designing, measuring, connecting and managing built environments interactively - in ways that value the unique and charming qualities of their diverse natural environments, their communities and creative people.

Ecologic Institute was invited to participate in the seminar "Smart Eco-City Development Progress: Connecting People in Unique, Innovative and Regenerative Communities" organized by the US-China-Green Energy Council (UCGEC) on the 7th March 2012. The seminar compared the work and discoveries of cutting edge developers of eco-city systems. It was moderated by Dr. James Caldwell, Director and Chair of UCGEC’s Green Building and Eco-cities Task Force and took place on the premises of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto, California. Speakers were:

• Gordon Feller, Director of Cisco Systems Urban Innovations,
• Eric Lundquist, Managing Director at Heller Manus Architects and
• Dr. Ed Cazalet, UCGEC Director and President and CEO of TeMix, Inc.

For further information visit the website of the US-China-Green Energy Council.

Keywords: smart eco-cities, sustainable cities, sustainable building, green building, green cities

Participant: Tanja Srebotnjak (Ecologic Institute, San Mateo)
Organiser: US-China-Green Energy Council (UCGEC)
Date: 7 March 2012