Energy
Energy Research Funding Declining
Experts warn that existing green alternatives are not enough to meeting the world's growing energy demands. But government and private investment in energy research has fallen.
Religious Groups Fighting 'Mountain-Top Removal Coal Mining'
Halting the environmentally destructive mountain-top removal of coal mining in Appalachia has long been a goal for environmentalists. Now members of the Mennonite and other Christian denominations have joined the movement.
Energy Efficient Building Methods Offset By Huge Home Sizes
Despite the wave of green building techniques that have appeared over recent years, the energy efficiency of new houses is being offset by a rising average size of single family homes, which has increased by almost 1,500 square feet since 1950.
Few In Accordance With Corporate Sustainability Guidelines
While few of the world's 50,000 multinational corporations are reporting in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, many that are reporting are going beyond the requirements.
Michigan Dairy Farm To Produce Energy From Manure
A grant has been awarded to a large dairy operation in a Michigan County to build a bio-digester to both produce electricity and reduce pollution that officials hope will become widespread in the future.
Grid Locked
Promised federal investments to upgrade America's electricity grid in the wake of the 2003 blackout have never materialized. As a result, the U.S. power grid "hangs by a thread."
Sprawl Hurts Lower Income Families
Low-income families in big cities spend significantly less on housing and transportation than poorer suburban families, according to a new study by the Center for Housing Policy.
Is Sustainability Coming To A Neighborhood Near You?
Doug Farr, widely known as a leader in the United States green building movement, is shifting his focus from single buildings to entire neighborhoods.
College Pledges To Offset All Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A small college in Maine has made a pledge to reduce and offset all of its greenhouse gas emissions, including those generated by students' trips to and from school.
Greenspan Joins Movement Advocating Gas Tax Increases
Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the Federal Reserve for two decades, is the latest Republican economist to join a small academic movement to increase gas taxes to address market imperfections so as to reduce energy consumption.
Green Roof Test To Tackle Runoff In Florida
A planned public library in Sarasota County, Florida, has a garden-topped future ahead of it, as county officials plan to use the library's green roof as a test-run to determine if green roofs are a solution to Florida's stormwater runoff problems.
Wind Power Takes Off
India and China are turning to wind power in response to growing energy needs.
California Enacts America's First Cap On Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Gov. Schwarzenegger, flanked by New York Gov. Pataki, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair by telecast, signed the landmark global warming emissions bill, AB 32, making California the first state to place a cap on greenhouse gas emissions.
California's Not As Green As It Thinks It Is
The state with the most wind-generated energy is not California but Texas. Notwithstanding all its headline-making, landmark laws, renewable energy has increased a mere 1% in 4 years. The obstacles appear to lay more in bureaucracy than technology.
Will Falling Gas Prices Revive SUV Sales?
Gas prices averaged $2.44 nationwide on Sept. 22, 47 cents less than a month ago (per AAA) and continue to fall as oil prices hover at $60/barrel; yet surveys show consumers continue to rank fuel economy as their top consideration.
Benefits Of Plug-In Hybrids Overrated
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles have been promoted as achieving over 100 mpg. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy reports on the energy and emissions benefits of this new technology, showing it varies on geography and technology.
Bio-Diesel As A Rural Development Strategy
Having become the world leader in ethanol production, Brazil turns to bio-diesel, with a policy that is intended to benefit small, family farms so as to keep them on their land, and benefit President Luiz da Silva in his reelection bid.
California Emission Law Has Its Day In Court
In U.S. District Court in Fresno on Sept. 15, a California deputy attorney general asked Judge Ishii to dismiss a suit by the auto industry that would void the state's new emission standards, applicable in 2009, that target carbon dioxide.
Cooling Cities With Green
Research shows that New York City's heat island could be mitigated by increased vegetation and green roofs.
Some Say LEED Is Lacking
The LEED green building standards may not be green enough, as critics voice concerns over some allowed materials and an apparent building industry influence.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
