Energy

Driving Species to Extinction

A new report highlights the threat posed to a wide range of species by the extraction of fossil fuels in the United States.

22 January 2012 - 5:00am

CommonDreams

Facebook's New App Allows Users to Track Their Household Energy Consumption

In early 2012, Facebook will launch a yet-to-be-named app that will allow 800 million users to access home energy usage information provided by their utility company. This 'Social Energy Application' will help users manage their energy.

20 October 2011 - 8:00am

Forbes

Electric DeLorean Scheduled to Hit Streets in 2013

DeLorean Motor Company has not only resurrected that iconic car many remember from 'Back to the Future,' but have made it a true car from the future. The 2013 DMC-12 EV will run on lithium-ion batteries, making it fully electric.

20 October 2011 - 7:00am

Your Atascocita News

U.S. Solar Industry Fights to Keep Alive a Federal Incentive Program

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is fighting with Congress to extend a popular federal incentive program. Set to end on December 31 this year, the group states that the program could create 37,400 more jobs and add nearly 500 megawatt.

14 October 2011 - 11:00am

Forbes

Gas Prices Drive Canadians to Bikes

Sunny Freeman of The Canadian Press takes to the streets to talk to bicyclists about their choice of conveyance. She says a gas price spike during the summer of 2008 pushed many Canadians onto two wheels.

14 August 2011 - 5:00am

Canadian Business

Versatile Urban Design: China’s Roadblock Toward Energy Sustainability

Studying neighborhoods in Jinan, China, MIT urban studies and planning Professor Dennis Frenchman told MITnews that the country’s biggest challenge is its homogenous urban design.

23 June 2011 - 6:00am

MITnews

Todd Litman

An Inaccurate Attack On Smart Growth

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 05:07

Note: This column was originally titled, "A Stupid Attack on Smart Growth," intended as a pun on 'smart' and 'stupid.' However, that sounds harsh so I retitled it. - T.L.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has a well-financed campaign to discourage communities from considering smart growth as a possible way to conserve energy and reduce pollution emissions. They contend that compact development has little effect on travel activity and so provides minimal benefits. The NAHB states that, “The existing body of research demonstrates no clear link between residential land use and GHG emissions.” But their research actually found the opposite: it indicates that smart growth policies can have significant impacts on travel activity and emissions.

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Chicago Plans for a Warmer Future

Climate scientists have warned Chicago's planners that the City will be significantly warmer and wetter by the end of theentury. And from street trees to building standards, that message is infiltrating Chicago's planning and design.

23 May 2011 - 11:00am

A City Prepares for a Warm Long-Term Forecast

Architecture Projects with a Regional Mindframe

An increasing amount of architecture projects in the U.S. are taking regional concerns like water and energy production into consideration.

14 May 2011 - 1:00pm

Architect

Aligning Historic Preservation and Sustainable Design

Sustainable design and historic preservation design have sometimes been at odds. But a group of experts says these two goals can work together to improve building sustainability.

29 March 2011 - 2:00pm

Sustainable Cities Collective

Midwest Industrial Cities Re-emerge as Clean Energy Centers

Utilizing skilled labor forces, existing manufacturing facilities and generous public incentives, Michigan and Ohio are becoming solar power leaders.

2 December 2010 - 10:00am

The New York Times

Taking the Gloom Out of Peak Oil

The latest issue of Yes! Magazine focuses on local resilience, and how preparing for a Peak Oil era -- through such efforts as the Transition Town movement -- can be a positive force for community building.

24 September 2010 - 10:00am

Yes! Magazine

Stealth Solar is Slowly Transforming Downtown Portland

In Portland, two examples of how stealthy implementation of solar-powered technology is changing the rhythm of daily life.

2 September 2010 - 1:00pm

EnzymePDX.com

Friday Funny: Environmental Disaster Looms as Tanker Docks Safely

The satirical newspaper The Onion reports on how the safe transfer of millions of barrels of oil into the energy infrastructure of the United States will result in environmental calamity.

13 August 2010 - 2:00pm

The Onion

Economic Fallout of Gulf Disaster Could Top $200 Billion

While the scale and extent of the oil blowout in the Gulf of Mexico are still unknown, the potential damage could mean a severe blow to the Gulf's $234 billion economy.

30 May 2010 - 5:00am

CNN Money

Why Peak Oil Will Bring us Closer

In this excerpt from his new book "Eaarth", Bill McKibben discusses how such efforts as the Transition movement and farmer's markets are tapping into our need for neighbors.

28 April 2010 - 7:00am

AlterNet

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4 comments

Lonsdale Energy district energy system

Lonsdale Energy district energy system delivers high-efficiency, cost-effective sustainable energy to North Vancouver customers, while reducing community-wide GHG emissions.

5 March 2010 - 1:41pm

Green Dream Put to the Test

Boulder Colorado has tried peer pressure, free weatherization services, and intense publicity, but so far, voluntary efforts to increase energy efficiency have yielded mediocre results.

16 February 2010 - 9:00am

Wall Street Journal

Cities Prepare for Electric Cars

San Francisco, Portland, and San Diego lead the charge to ensure everything from power grids to building codes are prepared for arrival of electric cars.

16 February 2010 - 6:00am

New York Times

Government Plans Vertical Garden on Portland Skyscraper

As part of a $133 million renovation of a federal building in Portland, the Government Services Administration plans to add 200-foot high "vegetated fins" that will carpet the building with plants and - hopefully - energy savings.

1 February 2010 - 1:00pm

New York Times