Houston Sustainability Indicators 2012

Houston Sustainable Development Indicators:
A comprehensive development review for citizens, analysts and decision makers
Author:
Lester King, PhD, AICP, LEED
Sustainability Fellow
Shell Center for Sustainability
RICE UNIVERSITY
LIKE us on Facebook.com/hsi.project
(713) 703-8535 | LOK1@rice.edu | http://shellcenter.rice.edu

Houston Sustainable Development Indicators 2012
Page 2 of 49
Objectives
1. Prioritize those issues that
will most directly impact the
region's future growth and
development.
2. Consider indicator
interrelatedness and develop
a model that allows prediction
of future trends and that
specifies actions to be taken
3. Show how GIS methodologies
can be used to enhance the
tracking of the indicators and
the modeling efforts.
4. Education
Considerations Considerations

Page 3 of 49
Interdisciplinary – Consensus Building
Advisory Board – Rice University
John Anderson, PhD
Geologist
Research in Geosciences for 40 years
Jim Blackburn
Environmental Lawyer
Environmental Law for 30 years
Stephen Klineberg, PhD
Sociologist
Houston Area Survey for 29 Years
Lyn Ragsdale, PhD
Political Scientist
Political Science for 30 Years
Ron Soligo, PhD
Economist
Energy Economics for 48 years
Experts - City of Houston
Social Development Experts
Michael Emerson, PhD Rice University
Peter Brown Former City Council
Robert Bullard, PhD
Texas Southern
University
David Crossley Houston Tomorrow
Marlene Gafrick
City of Houston
Planning Director
Rocaille Roberts, PhD
Healthy Living
Matters
Diane Schenke
Greater East End
Management District
Laura Solitare, PhD
Texas Southern
University
Economic Development Experts
Theresa DeBose Centerpoint Energy
Gavin Dillingham, PhD Houston Advanced Research
George Granias METRO, Chief Executive
Carol Lewis, PhD Texas Southern University
Qisheng Pan, PhD Texas Southern University
Laura Spanjian Houston Sustainability Director
Fred Welch
Greater Houston Partnership,
VP
Environmental Development Experts
Phil Bedient, Ph.D. Rice University
Jun Chang
City of Houston Public Works
Deputy Director
Thomas Colbert University of Houston
Aston Hinds, Ph.D.
Port of Houston Environmental
Director
Jim Lester, Ph.D. Houston Advanced Research
Brandt Mannchen Sierra Club
Martin Melosi, Ph.D. University of Houston
Jeff Taebel
Houston Galveston Area
Council
Matt Tejada, Ph.D. Air Alliance Houston

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Research Plan

Page 5 of 49
Indicator Framework – BIG Ideas and Choices of Indicators
Social Development Economic Development Environmental Development

Page 6 of 49
Consensus Building
Targets Category
Assignments
Good Trend
Moderate Trend
Moderate Action Needed
Negative Trend
Major Action Needed
Policies and Programs

Page 7 of 49
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
THEME – Social Demography
Sub Theme – Population Growth
Indicator – Population Growth
Sub Theme – Education
Indicator – Education Attainment
Sub Theme – Community
Involvement
Indicator – Voter Participation
THEME – Poverty
Sub Theme – Inequality
Indicator – Income Inequality
Sub Theme – Poverty Level
Indicator – Poverty Rate
Sub Theme – Healthcare Delivery
Indicator – Health Coverage
THEME – Livability
Sub Theme – Cost of Living
Indicator – Affordability
Sub Theme – Quality of Life
Indicator: Accessibility of Public
Spaces
Sub Theme – Health & Nutrition
Indicator – Food Deserts

Page 8 of 49
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT - POLICY
Sub Theme – Population Growth: Indicator – Population Growth
 We need to encourage more population growth within the City through incentives to
develop in the city as opposed to the suburbs.
Sub Theme – Education: Indicator – Education Attainment
 Major actions and interventions are needed to reduce education gap and disparities
among students of color and whites education/graduation rates and skills level.
 Structure k-12 to develop vocational tech training that provides blue collar jobs.
Sub Theme – Community Involvement: Indicator – Voter Participation
 We need to strive to increase voting since it is a major cornerstone to any democracy.
 Elected officials need to find ways to demonstrate accountability to citizens, adoption of
a comprehensive sustainability indicators program will aid this goal.

Page 9 of 49
THEME – Poverty
Sub Theme – Inequality: Indicator – Income Inequality
 Improved skills and training needs to be developed to reduce income inequality.
 A local or state taxing structure to reduce income inequality would allow for systematic
approach to this issue.
Sub Theme – Poverty Level: Indicator – Poverty Rate
 Need to establish a commission on the root causes of poverty which often link back to
underperforming schools, and inadequate job skills.
Sub Theme – Healthcare Delivery: Indicator – Health Coverage
 Need to attract more jobs that offer healthcare and livable wages.

Page 10 of 49
Sub Theme – Cost of Living: Indicator – Affordability
 Citizens in Houston pay more for transportation as a percentage of income than other cities
of comparable size. Improving transit options would help to alleviate this burden.
Sub Theme – Quality of Life: Indicator – Accessibility of Public Spaces
 Houston needs to aggressively develop more parks and green space.
Sub Theme – Health & Nutrition: Indicator – Food Deserts
 City of Houston needs to actively attract more grocery stores selling fresh fruits and
vegetables across the city.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THEME – Economic Development
Sub Theme – Employment
Indicator – Employment Status
Sub Theme – Macroeconomic Performance
Indicator – Primary Jobs and Green Jobs
Sub Theme – Earnings
Indicator – Income
Sub Theme – Waste Generation & Management
Indicator – Waste Generation
Sub Theme – Energy Use
Indicator – Energy Consumption
THEME – Transportation
Sub Theme – Access
Indicator – Access to Public Transportation
Sub Theme – Demand
Indicator – Vehicle Miles Traveled
Sub Theme – Mode
Indicator – Travel Choice

Page 12 of 49
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - POLICY
Sub Theme – Employment: Indicator – Employment Status
 Need to match skills training from universities and colleges with demand from employers.
Collaboration between universities, community colleges, school district, and major
employers, with support from the city, is necessary. Develop apprenticeships programs.
 Utilize Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) training programs more effectively.
Sub Theme – Macroeconomic Performance: Indicator – Primary Jobs/Green Jobs
 Develop alternative energy industry to attract high end jobs in that sector.
 Develop IT/ Advanced Technologies skills and knowledge labor force.
 Need to improve quality of life to attract professionals and jobs (eg. Arts, eco-tourism,
attractions).
 Need to foster and grow Life Science and Bio-Technology industries in Houston.
Sub Theme – Earnings: Indicator – Income
 Foster development of energy trading (Collaboration between Greater Houston
Partnership, Banks, and Universities).
 Develop our opportunity to increase international trade based on large diversity.

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Sub Theme – Waste Generation and Management: Indicator – Waste Generation
 Reporting requirement for waste haulers to report sources of waste collected.
 We need to be more conscious about decreasing land fill space to work towards a green
and sustainable region.
 City of Houston needs to expand the household recycling program to all households.
Charging a fee for regular stream waste disposal will offset the cost of this important
program.
Sub Theme – Energy: Indicator – Energy Consumption
 We need to utilize energy efficient building technology such as smart energy meters.
 Educate and Incentivize residents on weatherization and energy conservation.
 Need to develop real time pricing policy since we have smart meter capability.
 Need energy disclosure policies and required audits for large users.

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Sub Theme – Access: Indicator – Access to Transit
 Transit service improvements - Frequency, circulation services/linkages within strategic
areas such as the job centers, and travel time need to be improved to circumvent
congestion and long travel time.
 Transit accessibility improvements - Infrastructure such as ramps, sidewalks, bridges over
ditches, and sufficient amount of shelters need to be addressed as part of a complete trips
package to make public transportation safe, feasible, and desirable.
 Transit coordination - We need coordination of public agencies to plan for improving
transit (METRO, Houston Planning Department, Houston Public Works, HGAC, HISD.
 Transit Planning - Transit corridor ordinance has not been utilized effectively in Houston.
Sub Theme – Demand: Indicator – Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
 Incentivize housing development near employment areas.
 Flex Work program is not be effectively promoted and utilized.
Sub Theme – Mode: Indicator – Travel Choice
 The pedestrian and bicycle network should be developed to complement the bus and rail
network as the rail network cannot be as effective without the other modes.
 Develop technologies such as apps to coordinate transit options such as bus, rail, and
ride share programs.

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ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT
THEME – Atmosphere
Sub Theme – Air Quality
Indicator – Ambient Pollutants
Sub Theme – Climate Change
Indicator – Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
THEME – Fresh Water
Sub Theme – Water Quality
Indicator – Water Pollution
Sub Theme – Water Demand
Indicator – Water Use
Sub Theme – Water Resources
Indicator – Water Availability
THEME – Land
Sub Theme – Flooding
Indicator – Floodplain Expansion
Sub Theme – Land Cover
Indicator: Land Cover Change
Sub Theme – Classification
Indicator – Jobs/Housing Balance

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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Sub Theme – Community
Involvement
THEME – Poverty
Spaces

Page 17 of 49
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THEME – Social Demography
2010 2030
city 2,099,451 2,884,575
county 4,092,459 5,500,549
4Year
completion
rate
HISD
HISD
ENROLL Texas
All 74.3% 202,773 80.6%
White 87.9% 15,889 89.7%
Black 73.7% 53,680 73.8%
Hispanic 70.7% 125,097 73.5%
Sub Theme – Community Involvement
43% - 2000 . 34% - 2010
1,630,553
1,953,631
2,099,451
2,560,950
2,668,825
2,884,575
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2020
2030
Source: US Census Bureau, Intercensal totals and projection calculated by Lester King, PhD
City of HoustonPopulation Count
2,818,199
3,400,578
4,092,459
4,585,714
4,890,659
5,500,549
0
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
6,000,000
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2020
2030
Source: US Census Bureau
Harris County PopulationCount
0.22
1.81
0.72
1.42
1.67
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
Source: US Census Bureau, Calculationby LesterKing, PhD.
City of HoustonAverage Annual Growth
1.57
1.88 1.85
2.05
2.19
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
1980 -1990 1990 -2000 2000 -2010 2010 -2020 2020 -2030
Source: US Census Bureau, Calculation by Lester King,PhD.
Harris County Average Annual Growth
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
1980
1990
2000
2010
Population
Source: US Census
City of Houston Race andEthnicity
Total Population
White
Hispanic
African-American
Other
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
4,000,000
4,500,000
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Population
Harris County Race andEthnicity
Total Pop
White
Hispanic
African-American
Other

Page 18 of 49
Average Annual Growth Rate
1990-2000 2000-2010 2010-2020
29,476 14,063 29,812
4Year
completion
rate
HISD
HISD
ENROLL Texas
All 74.3% 202,773 80.6%
White 87.9% 15,889 89.7%
Black 73.7% 53,680 73.8%
Hispanic 70.7% 125,097 73.5%
43% - 2000 . 34% - 2010
0.22
1.81
0.72
1.42
1.67
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
City of HoustonAverage Annual Growth

Page 19 of 49
Race/Ethnicity 2010 Houston Harris
White 25.6% 33%
Black 23.1% 18.4%
Hispanic 43.8% 40.8%
Other 7.4% 7.7%
4Year
completion
rate
HISD
HISD
ENROLL Texas
All 74.3% 202,773 80.6%
White 87.9% 15,889 89.7%
Black 73.7% 53,680 73.8%
Hispanic 70.7% 125,097 73.5%
43% - 2000 . 34% - 2010
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
1980
1990
2000
2010
Population
Source: US Census
City of Houston Race andEthnicity
Total Population
White
Hispanic
African-American
Other
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
4,000,000
4,500,000
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Population
Harris County Race andEthnicity
Total Pop
White
Hispanic
African-American
Other

Page 20 of 49
Average Annual Growth Rate
1990-2000 2000-2010 2010-2020
29,476 14,063 29,812
4Year
completion
rate
HISD
HISD
ENROLL Texas
All 74.3% 202,773 80.6%
White 87.9% 15,889 89.7%
Black 73.7% 53,680 73.8%
Hispanic 70.7% 125,097 73.5%
43% - 2000 . 34% - 2010

Page 21 of 49
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THEME – Social Demography Indicator – Population Growth

Page 22 of 49
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THEME – Poverty
Median Income
2000 2010
T0P20% $144,476 $140,689
Median $36,866 $43,295
Bottom20% $8,619 $10,415
Living in Poverty
1990 2000 2010
21% 19% 23%
Uninsured
Houston Harris
646,313 1,141,788
31% 28%
2000
Harris (a)
2010
Harris (b)
2010
Houston (b)
Insured 2,754,239 2,946,305 1,445,921
Uninsured 676,637 1,141,788 646,313
% 19.7% 27.9% 30.9%
Source:
a – US Census Bureau, 2000 Small Area Health Insurance Estimates
b – US Census Bureau
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
160,000
1990 2000 2010
Dollars
Source: US Census, Calculation by Author
City of Houston Median Household Income
Comparison between Top and Bottom 20%
Median Top 20%
Median
Median Bottom 20%
13.01
16.76
13.51
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1990 2000 2010
Ratio
Ratio of Share in Income
Between the Top and Bottom 20%
Ratio of Share in Income
20.7
19.2
22.8 22.5 23.0
24
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
1990 2000 2010 2015 2020 2030
Source: US Census
Pecent Below Poverty

Page 23 of 49
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THEME – Livability
Housing
cost
%Income
Housing &
Transportation
cost %Income
Houston 23% -26th 46% -26th
New York 25% -39th 37% -3rd
Chicago 25% -42nd 42% -14th
Los
Angeles 31% -58th 51% -51st
Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology 2011
Spaces
30%
620,000
Population living ¼ mile
from city park 2010
36%
750,000
Population living
>1 mile from Grocery
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2015
2020
2030
Cost($)
Source: US Department ofLabor, BLS, Calculation by Lester King,PhD.
Gasoline / gal
Houston
US Average
19.81 20.33
29.55
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1990 2000 2010
Percentage
Percent of Housing Units costing > 30% Income of Tenants
143,428
31,067
20,213
12,283
36,633
48,916
172,859
35,465
22,440
13,984
46,112
60,096
171,108
44,805
28,411
21,368
82,772
104,140
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
< 20% 20 to 24
percent
25 to 29
percent
30 to 34
percent
> 35% > 30%
HousingUnits
Percentage of Income
Housing Units by Percentage of Income
1990
2000
2010
0
5
10
15
20
25
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Source: Bureau of LaborStatistics; TexasA&MReal Estate Center; Calculation by
Lester King, PhD.
Houston MedianHome Price vs Gasoline price
MedHomePrice($0000)
MedianGas/Gal(scale)

Page 24 of 49
%Housing units costing >30%
of Income
1990 2000 2010
20% 20% 30%
Spaces
30%
620,000
Population living ¼ mile
from city park 2010
36%
750,000
Population living
>1 mile from Grocery
0
5
10
15
20
25
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Source: Bureau of LaborStatistics; TexasA&MReal Estate Center; Calculation by
Lester King, PhD.
Houston MedianHome Price vs Gasoline price
MedHomePrice($0000)
MedianGas/Gal(scale)

Page 25 of 49

Page 26 of 49
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Sub Theme – Waste Generation & Management
THEME – Transportation
Indicator – Access to Public Transportation
Sub Theme – Mode

Page 27 of 49
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THEME – Economic Development
Unemployment
Rate 2010
White Black Hispanic
10% 6.2% 16.5% 9.5%
<7% Jobs in
Houston are
Green
%Primary Jobs
1990 2000 2010
22% 18% 23%
PerCapita
Income
1990 2000 2010
20,108 34,180 44,001
Sub Theme – Waste Generation &
Management
6.5lbs/person/day – Disposal Rate
18.7 MWh – Electricity Use
14.7
11.49
16.5
9.3
9.04
9.5
5.05
4.16
6.2
8.18
7.57
10
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1990 2000 2010
Rate
Unemployment Rate
African-American
Hispanic
White
Total
517,331
1,472,332
1,545,390
1,949,397
2,206,412
2,720,442
3,234,472
86,064
170,697
143,300
214,340
244,960
306,200
367,440
29,245
101,506
172,515
292,905
328,722
400,357
471,992
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
1990 2000 2010 2015 2020 2030 2040
Jobs
Source: 1990, 2000, 2010 - CTPP, 2010 health HGAC, after 2010 calculation by Lester King, PhD
Houston Jobs 1990 - 2040
TotalJobs
Manufacturing
Health
20,108
34,180
42,984
44,872
48,741
44,001
53,774
60,797
74,842
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2015
2020
2030
Income($)
Source: U.S. Dept ofCommerce, BEA
Per capitaIncome Houston SugarLandBaytown MSA
11.17
8.93
6.49
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
1990 2000 2010
%
Source: TCEQ, Calculation by Lester King,PhD.
DisposalRate (lbs/person/day)
Disposal Rate (lbs/person/day)
0
2,000,000
4,000,000
6,000,000
8,000,000
10,000,000
12,000,000
Total ResidentialHouston
(Mwh)
Total HISD (Mwh) Total City Administration
(Mwh)
Mwh
Source: Centerpoint Energy 2011Annual Report; HISD Energy Report 2011; EPA 2010
HoustonResidential Energy Demandvs City
AdministrationandHISD
2000
2010

Page 28 of 49
Unemployment
Rate 2010
10% 6.2% 16.5% 9.5%
<7% Jobs in
Houston are
Green
%Primary Jobs
1990 2000 2010
22% 18% 23%
PerCapita
Income
1990 2000 2010
20,108 34,180 44,001
Management
14.7
11.49
16.5
9.3
9.04
9.5
5.05
4.16
6.2
8.18
7.57
10
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1990 2000 2010
Rate
Unemployment Rate
African-American
Hispanic
White
Total

Page 29 of 49
Unemployment
Rate 2010
10% 6.2% 16.5% 9.5%
<7% Jobs in
Houston are
Green
%Primary Jobs
1990 2000 2010
22% 18% 23%
PerCapita
Income
1990 2000 2010
20,108 34,180 44,001
Management
517,331
1,472,332
1,545,390
1,949,397
2,206,412
2,720,442
3,234,472
86,064
170,697
143,300
214,340
244,960
306,200
367,440
29,245
101,506
172,515
292,905
328,722
400,357
471,992
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
1990 2000 2010 2015 2020 2030 2040Jobs
Source: 1990, 2000, 2010 - CTPP, 2010 health HGAC, after 2010 calculation by Lester King, PhD
Houston Jobs 1990 - 2040
TotalJobs
Manufacturing
Health

Page 30 of 49
Unemployment
Rate 2010
10% 6.2% 16.5% 9.5%
<7% Jobs in
Houston are
Green
%Primary Jobs
1990 2000 2010
22% 18% 23%
PerCapita
Income
1990 2000 2010
20,108 34,180 44,001
Management

Page 31 of 49
Unemployment
Rate 2010
10% 6.2% 16.5% 9.5%
<7% Jobs in
Houston are
Green
%Primary Jobs
1990 2000 2010
22% 18% 23%
PerCapita
Income
1990 2000 2010
20,108 34,180 44,001
Management
0
2,000,000
4,000,000
6,000,000
8,000,000
10,000,000
12,000,000
Total ResidentialHouston
(Mwh)
Total HISD (Mwh) Total City Administration
(Mwh)
Mwh
Source: Centerpoint Energy 2011Annual Report; HISD Energy Report 2011; EPA 2010
HoustonResidential Energy Demandvs City
AdministrationandHISD
2000
2010

Page 32 of 49
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THEME – Transportation
Indicator – Access to Public
Transportation
93% pop – ¼ mile to Bus Stop
Annual VMT/Capita
1990 2000 2010
6,605 8,560 8,497
Sub Theme – Mode
Alternative to Private auto
1990 2000 2010
28% 28% 25%
50 48
93
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1990 2000 2010
Percentage
Source: Houston METRO, Calculation by Lester King,PhD.
Accessto Transit
Access to Transit
6,605
8,560 8,497
9,306
9,779
10,725
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
1990 2000 2010 2015 2020 2030
Miles
Source: TTI, Calculationby Lester King, PhD.
Annual VMT PerCapita
28.33 28.2
24.63 24.275
23.35
21.5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1990 2000 2010 2015 2020 2030
Percentage
AlternativeTravel

Page 33 of 49
ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT
THEME – Atmosphere
Emissions
THEME – Fresh Water
THEME – Land
Indicator – Floodplain Expansion
Indicator – Jobs/Housing Balance

Page 34 of 49
ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT THEME – Atmosphere
Annual VMT/Capita
Ozone PM2.5
Standard 0.075ppm 0.079ppm
HGB 15 μg/m3 11.7μg/m3
Emissions
CO2– 78,619,538tons 2008
Harris County – #2 Emitting
county in the country (LA#1)
0
5,000,000
10,000,000
15,000,000
20,000,000
25,000,000
30,000,000
35,000,000
40,000,000
45,000,000
Houston MSA CO2 Emissions2008 (Tons)
Nonroad
Airborne
Airport
Cement
Onroad
Elec Prod
Residential
Industrial
Commercial
0
5,000,000
10,000,000
15,000,000
20,000,000
25,000,000
30,000,000
35,000,000
40,000,000
45,000,000
50,000,000
Harris County CO2 Emissions 2000 - 2008 (Tons)
2000 Harris
2008 Harris
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16
1
9
9
0
1
9
9
1
1
9
9
2
1
9
9
3
1
9
9
4
1
9
9
5
1
9
9
6
1
9
9
7
1
9
9
8
1
9
9
9
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
2
0
0
2
2
0
0
3
2
0
0
4
2
0
0
5
2
0
0
6
2
0
0
7
2
0
0
8
2
0
0
9
2
0
1
0
Concentration,ppm
Ozone Levels in HGB
Site1
Site2
Site3
Site4
Site5
Site6
Site7
Standard
Trend
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
2
0
0
2
2
0
0
3
2
0
0
4
2
0
0
5
2
0
0
6
2
0
0
7
2
0
0
8
2
0
0
9
2
0
1
0
Concentration,μg/m3
PM2.5 Trend HGB
Site1
Site2
Site3
Standard
Trend

Page 35 of 49
ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT THEME – Atmosphere
Annual VMT/Capita
Ozone PM2.5
Standard 0.075ppm 0.079ppm
HGB 15 μg/m3 11.7μg/m3
Emissions
CO2– 78,619,538tons 2000
Harris County – #2 Emitting
county in the country (LA#1)
0
5,000,000
10,000,000
15,000,000
20,000,000
25,000,000
30,000,000
35,000,000
40,000,000
45,000,000
50,000,000
Harris County CO2 Emissions 2000 - 2008 (Tons)
2000 Harris
2008 Harris

Page 36 of 49
ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT THEME – Fresh Water
Compliance - Meets all known
federal drinking water quality
standards
165Gal/Person/Day
389,082acre/feet water used
1.8billion acre-feet –
Houston access rights
300acre-feet – Houston
dedicated to Galveston
Bay
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Source: CityofHouston Annual Drinking WaterQuality Reports 2000, 2010
City of Houston Drinking Water Quality2000 - 2010
2000
2010
281
255
247
229
221
215
209
203
157
159
165
139
139
139
140
141
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060
GPCD
Source: Texas Water Development Board; Calculation by Lester King, PhD.
Harris County vs Houston PerCapita Municipal Water
Demand (GPCD)
Harris
Houston
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060
AcreFeet
Harris County and Houston Municipal Water Demand
Source: Texas Water Development Board
Harris minus Houston
Houston
3,747,169
3,083,399
2,925,935
2,992,479
1,306,562
1,264,231
1,203,528
1,254,628
403,200
379,500
403,200
164,061
137,475
137,475
137,475
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
4,000,000
2000 2010 2030 2060
Supplies(acre-feet/year)
Source: Region H - RegionalWater Plans 2006, 2011
Available Water Supply in Region H by Largest
Wholesale Providers
Total
City of Houston
Trinity River Authority
San Jacinto RiverAuthority
Gulf Coast Water Authority
Brazos River Authority
Dow Chemical

Page 37 of 49
ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT THEME – Land
Indicator – Floodplain
Expansion
25.5% - Houston in Floodplain
148,853 – Housing units in
Floodplain
$18.5billion – Housing
damage risk
78% - Urbanized
16% - High Intensity Development
46% - Medium-low Intensity
Development
Indicator – Jobs/Housing
Balance
17 – Business centers
57% - Jobs in Business centers
22%pop – living ¼ mile from
Business center

Page 38 of 49
Expansion
Floodplain
damage risk
78% - Urbanized
Development
Balance
Business center

Page 39 of 49
Expansion
Floodplain
damage risk
78% - Urbanized
Development
Balance
Business center

Page 40 of 49
Expansion
Floodplain
damage risk
78% - Urbanized
Development
Balance
Business center

Page 41 of 49
NEXT STEPS
 Public Presentation
 Policy and Program Recommendations
 National Comparison
 Neighborhood Comparison

Page 48 of 49
Conclusion
 How to take big data on the city and systematically develop knowledge and understanding
of development.
 The research also shows how the precepts of sustainable development can enhance
understanding of development. Relationships in urban development measures can be
combined in a systematic format under the rubric of sustainability.
 How to target investment for many of the various functions of government and systems in
the urban area.
 How systems are interrelated and how those interrelations have impacts on
neighborhoods.
 How to categorize and compare various areas in the city. Separating areas by population
size or income is a socio-economic historical approach to managing the complexity of the
city. The research procedure offers a much more efficient and systematic procedure.

Page 49 of 49
THANK YOU
Houston Sustainable Development Indicators:
A comprehensive development review for citizens, analysts and decision makers
Lester King, PhD, AICP, LEED
Sustainability Fellow
(713) 703-8535 | LOK1@rice.edu | http://www.facebook.com/hsi.project
Find the Houston Sustainability Indicators Project http://shellcenter.rice.edu

Houston Sustainability Indicators 2012

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