Environment

The Hawaiian Energy Islands

The islands of Hawaii are proving to be a laboratory for renewable energy projects, playing host to a variety of pilot projects that could end up paving the way for the rest of the country's transition to an energy menu with more renewable options.

September 16, 2009 - The New York Times

The Two Paths to Sustainability

Achieving sustainability can take one of two paths, according to Richard Carson: centralized or decentralized policy. Choosing one will be crucial.

September 16, 2009 - ArchNewsNow

Manhattan is the Greenest City

A review of GREEN METROPOLIS: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less Are the Keys to Sustainability by David Owen, expanding on his groundbreaking essay in the New Yorker in 2004 on why New York is the greenest city around.

September 15, 2009 - The New York Times

California Environmental Groups Hope to Save State Parks with DMV Fees

Major environmental groups hope this year's park closures, caused by the California budget crisis, will inspire support for parks at the ballot box next year.

September 15, 2009 - San Jose Mercury News

Greenest Developments in Asia

Warren Karlenzig looks for the best examples of sustainable developments in Asia to serve as examples for the growing region.

September 15, 2009 - Common Current

Watching Where the Water Goes

Monitoring how much water is diverted from rivers and pumped from wells is notoriously difficult. But now, researchers have developed a new way to track usage.

September 15, 2009 - The Washington Post

Deadly Water Going By Unregulated

This investigation from The New York Times examines water pollution records from across the country and finds more than half a million violations that are causing deadly pollution to local water resources.

September 15, 2009 - The New York Times

"Polluted and Dangerous" Abandoned Properties

Tufts urban planning professor Justin Hollander appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to answer questions about his new book, Polluted & Dangerous: America's Worst Abandoned Properties and What Can Be Done About Them.

September 14, 2009 - Washington Journal

Energy from the Landfill

Landfills produce a lot of methane gas, one of the main greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. In an effort to both reduce that impact and responsibly reuse the gas, some municipalities are converting it into energy.

September 13, 2009 - Governing

Proposed Port Threatens Flood-Prone Venice

Plans to construct a new cargo port near Venice has some conservationists up in arms. They say the plans would exacerbate rising water levels and further endanger the flood-prone ancient city.

September 13, 2009 - The Guardian

Some Say Olympic Green Efforts Fall Short

Organizers of next year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver are hoping to add a green sheen to the international event, but some critics say they aren't doing enough to offset the huge carbon footprint the Olympics will carry.

September 11, 2009 - BBC

Injecting Planning Issues into Seattle's Mayoral Race

Seattle is in the midst of a mayoral election, and while typical election issues are getting their own share of lip service from the candidates, land use is being overlooked.

September 10, 2009 - Crosscut

TRB Report Evaluates Densification & VMT Reduction

A new Transportation Research Board study examines the relationship between land use and carbon emissions - specifically reduction of vehicle miles traveled resulting from densification and the shape of new growth to come.

September 8, 2009 - Streetsblog

Fitting the Olympics into Tokyo

Edward Lifson talks to architect Tadao Ando about his work masterplanning Tokyo's bid for the 2016 Olympics.

September 8, 2009 - The Architect's Journal

Is the Local Food Movement Misguided?

Eating local is in vogue, as the environmental impacts of industrialized agriculture surface. But is eating local really the right response? One author says maybe not.

September 6, 2009 - Forbes

Disappearing Sand Leads to Illegal Land Engineering in Cancun

As environmental conditions erode sand along the tourist-heavy beaches in Cancun, some hotel owners are taking drastic -- and illegal -- measures to rebuild their beaches.

September 5, 2009 - The New York Times

Street Greening Upsets Some Portland Businesses

A new street greening project in North Portland that seeks to reduce stormwater runoff is fueling a debate between the area's young, eco-conscious businesses owners and older owners who are worried about interruption from the project.

September 4, 2009 - The Oregonian

Cities Facing Turf Questions

Water saver or environmental hazard? Questions are compounding about artificial turf as more homeowners ditch their grass for fake lawns. Contradicting city policies muddy the issue in the arid Southwest.

September 4, 2009 - Miller-McCune

Stopping Sprawl Won't Happen Soon Enough to Fight Global Warming

Policies that encourage density as a way to reduce carbon emissions won't be able to play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions in time to counteract global warming, according to a new report from the National Academy of Sciences.

September 3, 2009 - Technology Review

Kansas' 'Green Impact Zone'

Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrion, Jr. visited Kansas City on Tuesday to visit the site of the city's new "Green Impact Zone". The inner-city Zone will be a laboratory for energy-saving techniques.

September 3, 2009 - Kansas City Star

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

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

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