Replacing water with slipperiness in an unexpected place can save energy.
"The architect Robert Fox, a partner at Cook + Fox Architects in New York, was talking about his favorite new urinals.
'The porcelain sides are extremely slippery, so when you urinate, the urine goes down the sides and down the hole,' he said. 'It is not sitting on a pool of water like a typical urinal. When you are peeing, the pee is going away immediately.'
The urinals he enjoys so much are a new kind of urinal, favored by 'green' builders, that use no water.
'There is blue liquid in the chamber underneath, and the blue liquid is lighter than urine,' he said. 'So the urine sinks and the blue liquid stays on top and forms a seal which keeps the odor in.'"
"Waterless urinals date to 1891, when a Swiss entrepreneur used sunflower oil instead of light blue liquid to make odorless outhouses. But they have experienced a rebirth now that the green building movement has taken a hold of our internal plumbing."
FULL STORY: It’s Urinetown 2006: Green Architects Use Heads of the Future
Central Florida’s SunRail Plans Major Expansion
The expanded train line will connect more destinations to the international airport and other important destinations.
Las Vegas Golf Course to Become Over 1,000 Units of Affordable Housing
The project is part of an initiative to build affordable housing on shuttered golf courses.
Planning for True Transportation Affordability: Beyond Common Misconceptions
Transportation affordability is important but often misunderstood, resulting in misguided solutions. New research helps identify ways to provide true affordability for economic freedom, opportunity and happiness.
California Governor Vows to Protect EV Credits
If the federal government eliminates the tax credit for electric vehicles, the governor will need legislative support to restart a state-level incentive program.
Seattle Legalizes Co-Living
A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.
NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project
Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.
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.
Los Alamos County
City of Culver City
Skagit Transit
American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners