"Not knowing which kinds of buildings consume what is like not being able to gauge differences between a diesel truck and a hybrid car."
Laura Bliss reports on a new tool produced by Stephanie Pincetl, a UCLA environmental planning scholar, and her colleagues at the California Center for Sustainable Communities to measure the energy use of buildings around Los Angeles County.
The Energy Atlas, as it's known, provides a database that "charts and maps previously unreleased data on household natural gas and electricity consumption obtained from utilities alongside Census records." Bliss also adds that the Energy Atlas is "fully searchable: The curious can sort L.A.’s energy use by income, neighborhood, energy type, building age, and plenty of other measures."
Bliss then puts the Energy Atlas to good use, exploring its database for a few conclusions about energy use in Los Angeles. So, for instance, Bliss uncovers this probably-not-at-all surprising revelation: "Given that low-income families tend to live in multi-family buildings, perhaps it’s not surprising that the highest energy users were also those with the highest incomes. Residents of wealthy beachside Malibu used more than 10 times more energy per capita than those in working-class Bell, a city south of east L.A."
FULL STORY: L.A.'s New 'Energy Atlas' Maps Who Sucks the Most Off the Grid

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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