Climate Cities
All Stories
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Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Build
Brownfield redevelopment increasingly popular in U.S. cities Developers the U.S. over are lately enamored of “Cinderella” properties (aka brownfields). These formerly contaminated sites can transform into luxury real estate, thanks to the magic of fairy godmothers like, um, the federal government. Once upon a time, the abandoned toxic sites were shunned and only a brave […]
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Highway Just Met a Girl Named Maria
Provision in highway bill would require gas-mileage reality check The U.S. EPA would have to use more realistic conditions when testing new vehicle models for gas-mileage figures under an amendment offered by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), backed by green and consumer groups, and successfully attached to the Senate highway bill. Currently, the agency’s methods include […]
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Umbra on whether to visit national parks
Dear Umbra, We are considering a driving vacation this summer with the intent of visiting as many of America’s wonderful national parks as we can — both to enjoy them and to add some money to their coffers, which have been depleted in recent years. But as we all know, burning up lots of gasoline […]
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Sick Transit Gloria
Public transit in major cities on collision course with tight budgets Flat or declining revenue and ridership, coupled with increased fuel costs, have left public transit systems in many major cities across the U.S. in financial trouble. Commuters in New York, D.C., Pittsburgh, and Boston have already seen boosted fares over the past few years. […]
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Pedi Cure
Pedicabs catching on in Germany Bicycle taxis, or pedicabs, have been thriving in Germany recently thanks to changes in national law, concerns about pollution and global warming, and a souped-up model dreamed up by former DaimlerChrysler project manager Ludger Matuszewski. The $9,000 German pedicabs — rented to operators for about $8 a day — are […]
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Talkin’ Bout Microgeneration
Microgeneration may energize future With an energy crisis looming and national governments slow to adopt clean, renewable sources, some small communities are creating their own solutions — and their own energy. Case in point: Beddington Zero Energy Development in South London (BedZED for short), a carbon-neutral sustainable-housing estate employing “microgeneration,” or small-scale, local, renewable power […]
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They Did It Norway
Norway’s high gas and auto taxes lead to lower gas consumption Americans, who view cheap oil as a divine birthright and throw a tantrum when gas prices exceed $2, would surely view Norway as a strange and alien land if they, ahem, knew anything about it. Despite the Scandinavian country’s huge oil reserves — it […]
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Stats on how far we’ve come (or haven’t) since the first Earth Day
3.7 billion — world population in 19701 6.4 billion — world population in 20051 1,535 billion — kilowatt-hours of electricity used in the U.S. in 19702 3,837 billion — kilowatt-hours of electricity expected to be used in the U.S. in 20053 6.0 — percentage of electricity in U.S. consumed in 1970 produced from renewable sources4 […]
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Quibbles and Bits
New strategies aim to limit drilling impact in Western U.S. As pressure mounts from greens and the hook-and-bullet crowd to slow the pace of energy development in the American West, some companies are moving to support conservation research and employ strategies to lessen their impact. One such method, called “directional drilling,” involves the use of […]
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The Kids on the Bus Go Cough, Cough, Cough
Kids on school buses breathe more dangerous air than pedestrians Kids who ride the bus to school may be exposed to higher levels of pollutants than those outside on the street, a new study suggests. Researchers from the University of California at Berkeley measured the air inside six school buses on a route through Los […]
