Environment

Greenest Building in UK Approved

Norwich, England will soon be home to the "greenest building in the U.K.," reports Mark Wilding.

May 21, 2013 - Building Design

Environmentalists Told to Get With the Fracking Program

Environmentalists charged that the new federal rules guiding hydraulic fracturing do not protect the environment and inform the public about the fracking process. The new Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, appeared prepared for their comments.

May 21, 2013 - The New York Times

Going, Going, Gone: High Plains Drains its Water Supply

Years of record drought and more intensive farming are draining the High Plains Aquifer, distressing farmers from Colorado to Texas. Rural communities are suffering from dwindling water supplies.

May 21, 2013 - The New York Times

The Urban Diary as a City-Dweller's Tool

Chuck Wolfe champions the 'urban diary' tool as a universal means to understand the city around us.

May 20, 2013 - Crosscut

Rush to Rebuild Could Cause Long-Term Damage to NY/NJ Beaches

Just seven months ago Hurricane Sandy damaged 94 percent of New Jersey's beaches and eroded dozens of miles of coastline in New York. As waterfront communities rush to rebuild before summer, some fear disastrous long-term consequences.

May 20, 2013 - The New York Times

Rural-Urban Partnerships May Be the Key to Water Conservation

Most of us who live in major metropolitan areas know that urban water supplies are dwindling. The question is: what can we do about it?

May 19, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Tidal Wave Energy: Is it Ecologically Sustainable?

Balancing renewable energy production and ecological preservation is a difficult business for governments who have ample resources, but also pristine environments that would be negatively impacted.

May 18, 2013 - Global Site Plans - The Grid

Energy Secretary Confirmed; EPA Pick Advances

On May 16, President Obama's pick to head the EPA, Gina McCarthy, was approved on a 10-8 party-line vote by a Senate Committee and advances to the full Senate. His pick to head the Dept. of Energy, Ernest Moniz, was approved by the Senate by 97-0.

May 18, 2013 - The Hill's Energy & Environment Blog

Poor Planning Brings a Flood of Water Problems

A new study by the Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) compares that city's flood insurance claims with its floodplains, and finds a 'completely counter-intuitive' relationship between the two.

May 16, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Bike Sharing Prepares to Get its World Rocked

The evolution of today's infrastructure-intensive bike sharing systems has been a hard-fought learning process; alas, the current paradigm is about to get turned on its head, and it's happening – surprise - this week in Hoboken, New Jersey.

May 16, 2013 - Ian Sacs

Might the Republican Party Soon Change Course on Climate Change?

The Republican party has long obstructed efforts to pass climate change legislation in the United States. But the party may soon be forced to reckon with its "willful denial of science and facts," reports Coral Davenport.

May 15, 2013 - National Journal

$100 Million Competition Aims to Boost Urban Resilience

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the Rockefeller Foundation is kicking off a three-year worldwide competition to select 100 cities to receive training and support to boost their resilience.

May 14, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Electric Vehicles Are Money Losers, But That's Expected

All-electric vehicles - those without tailpipes or gas tanks, are entering the marketplace, particularly in California, but unlike other models from the same manufacturers, they are not expected to sell well. So why are they even being manufactured?

May 13, 2013 - USA Today

Environmental Conservation Is Costly, But Economic Benefits Are Great

A new report has sought to quantify the annual costs of America's assorted environmental protection efforts for the first time.

May 13, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Fracking Bans Upheld by New York Court

Fracking opponents scored two major court victories In New York State on May 2 when an Appellate Division court panel ruled unanimously that two towns can use zoning to ban fracking. Paradoxically, it could also be good for energy companies.

May 12, 2013 - The Oneonta Daily Star

Could Keystone Approval Bring a Victory for Environmentalists?

With a decision over the fate of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline by expected later this year, John M. Broder wonders whether an environmental quid pro quo could deliver a major climate policy victory in exchange for the pipeline's approval.

May 9, 2013 - The New York Times

Could Glowing Trees One Day Light Our Streets?

Glowing trees are the latest project in the weird and maybe not-so-wonderful world of genetic engineering. Alarmed over the potential for the spread of "malicious organisms", environmental organizations are trying to shut down the effort.

May 8, 2013 - The New York Times

Downtown Louisville

Louisville is America's Hottest City; But That's Not Cool

Recent analysis shows that Louisville, Ky. suffers from the worst 'heat island' conditions among America's 50 largest cities. The city is also one of the few without a tree ordinance. Coincidence? Sarah Goodyear investigates.

May 8, 2013 - Next City

Residents Near Brooklyn Enviro Cleanup Fear 'Cure Is Worse Than the Disease'

Residents living near Brooklyn's toxic Gowanus Canal are fighting the E.P.A.'s $500 million environmental cleanup effort over disagreement with the methods proposed by the agency. Will their opposition thwart the long-sought remediation.

May 7, 2013 - The New York Times

Shrinking Government for Environment's Sake?

Eli Lehrer argues that ending subsidies to high-risk developments, as Florida is about to do, presents a successful small-government environmental preservation measure that also benefits taxpayers.

May 7, 2013 - Huffington Post

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.