Environment

By Necessity, City Becomes Leader In Energy Conservation

14 May 2008 - 11:00am
The New York Times

After an avalanche drastically cut the supply of electricity, residents the Alaskan capital of Juneau cut their power consumption by almost 40 percent in a few weeks. Now the city is gaining attention as a leader in energy conservation.

Phoenix Takes a Green Turn

14 May 2008 - 8:00am
Grist

This article from Grist looks at the city of Phoenix as it teams with Arizona State University to shift the city's direction from endless sprawl to a smarter, more environmentally-conscious growth pattern.

Will Nissan Revive The Electric Car?

13 May 2008 - 2:00pm
The New York Times

The automaker has announced plans for a fully-electric vehicle by 2010, and says it wants to lead the industry towards zero-emission vehicles.

Is A Prius Greener Than Light Rail?

12 May 2008 - 1:00pm
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Light rail vehicles aren't as green one might think, and cities that really want to lower carbon emissions might want to take a harder look at new hybrid-electric buses, argues a recent column.

New State Laws Making It Easier To Build Green

12 May 2008 - 11:00am
USA Today

States are helping homeowners who want to have a more eco-friendly lifestyle by overturning homeowner association regulations that ban solar panels and wind turbines.

A Day In The Life Of An Urban Farmer

12 May 2008 - 10:00am
Marketplace Radio

With growing numbers interested in urban agriculture, American Public Radio's Marketplace interviews one urban farmer in Pasadena, California.

America's First Wind-Powered City

11 May 2008 - 1:00pm
KOMU

The city of Rock Port, Missouri, recently celebrated the fact that its four wind turbines produced more energy than the town needed, becoming the first community in America to be completely powered by wind.

Market Downturn Is Good News For Land Conservationists

11 May 2008 - 11:00am
Wall Street Journal

While plenty of investors and homeowners are feeling the pain of the current real estate market, groups trying to protect land from development are welcoming the downturn.

New Urbanist Town Designed For Ultimate In Green Living

10 May 2008 - 9:00am
Washington Post

A planned New Urbanist development in Northern California wants enable its eventual residents to live within their prescribed ecological footprint.

Sweden Tops All Nations As Climate-Friendly

10 May 2008 - 5:00am
The Guardian

One country stands out in Europe in surpassing the greenhouse gas emission reductions required by the Kyoto Protocol - Sweden. While it used several environmental technologies to achieve those reductions, experts give credit to its carbon tax.

Major Land Deal To Protect 240,000 Acres In Southern California

9 May 2008 - 12:00pm
The New York Times

The developer of the Tejon Ranch agreed to a plan to put permanent conservation easements on almost 375 square miles of ranch lands and wilderness 60 miles north of Los Angeles, in exchange for rights to develop 10 percent of its land holdings.

Transit Systems Going Green

9 May 2008 - 10:00am
USA Today

Transit operators around the country are looking at ways to make taking public transportation even more environmentally friendly.

How To Encourage Brownfield Redevelopment

9 May 2008 - 8:00am

Builders and planners are gathering in Detroit to discuss funding options for brownfield redevelopment and learn from region's experience transforming these community eyesores.

Building Water Slides in Drought Country

8 May 2008 - 2:00pm
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Water shortages have hammered the Atlanta region. But despite the drought, one real estate developer is planning to build a huge water park.

A City Serious About Recycling

8 May 2008 - 12:00pm
The New York Times

With 70 percent of its waste already diverted from landfills, San Francisco continues to push forward with new laws and programs to increase recycling.

Portland Bicycling Goes Platinum

8 May 2008 - 10:00am
The Oregonian

The City of Portland joins Davis, California, as the only other city to earn the League of American Bicyclists' Platinum rating.

Red Tape Holds Back Drivers Using Biofuels

8 May 2008 - 7:00am
Los Angeles Times

Environmentalists say laws have yet to catch up with greener fuel alternatives for cars.

People Like Cars, And There's Not Much You Can Do About It

7 May 2008 - 9:05am

With climate change on the mind of the world's policy makers, the auto-oriented design of our cities has been singled out as a major culprit -- and understandably so. Cars burn a lot of fossil fuel, so getting people to walk, bike and use public transportation more would help cut down on pollution and green house gases.

But how to get people out of their cars? The key, many agree, is to redesign cities. Right now cities are designed for people moving around in their cars, so it's unreasonable to expect people to use any other means of transportation. But give them a city that's planned for walking, biking and public transit -- and it could be a whole new ballgame.

From Dump to Park in Cairo

7 May 2008 - 9:00am
NPR

Cairo's first new green space in more than 100 years has opened -- on top of a 500-year old garbage dump.