Mass Transit and Urban Design
Balancing the Effect of Urban Development on Nature
Cities and the natural world seem to be at opposite ends of a spectrum, at least according to the dominant thinking of city dwellers: Keep the wolves out and the Thai takeout close. Country folks, on the other hand, readily extol the virtues of clean air, water, greenery and birdsong. Read the entire article […]
Eight Tips for Low Footprint Traveling
Travel season will soon be in full swing. Unfortunately, globe-trotting can significantly enlarge your carbon footprint. Ensure a more mindful and sustainable trip by implementing these eight simple strategies. Read the entire article at Delicious Living. Seek Out Sustainable Lodging Increased demand means you can find Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (or LEED-certified) […]
Sweden’s New Electric Highway Works like a Scaled-up Slot Car Track
In a move that will delight anyone who raced slot cars as a kid, the Swedish Transport Administration has just opened a 2-km stretch of electrified road that works the same way. The project, dubbed eRoadArlanda, involves embedding electric rails into the road surface to power electric vehicles through a contact arm hanging down from […]
Paris Mayor Wants Free Transit for All
Leaders in Brussels, Seoul and Salt Lake City have all experimented with free transit to curb air pollution on smoggy days. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wants to take the practice one step further, and offer fareless service year-round. Reuters reports that Hidalgo announced this week that the city will conduct a feasibility study of free […]
Paris Offers Subsidies to Those Who Give Up Cars / Buy Bikes
Paris will offer its residents tax incentives to give up their cars or buy electric bikes. Anyone who purchases an e-bike or upgrades a conventional bike with an electrical assist will receive up to €400 ($495) and those who purchase both electric and conventional cargo bikes will receive up to €600 ($744). The city will also […]
DFA’s flood-proof towers could survive six feet of sea level rise in Manhattan
New York-based architecture firm DFA just unveiled plans for 19 cylindrical apartment towers that can survive six feet of sea level rise at Manhattan’s Pier 40. The towers are wrapped in lattice facades with lots of vegetation, and they’re designed to address the city’s lack of affordable housing and flood-resistant buildings. Read the […]
Over Half the World’s Buses will be Electric by 2025
Nearly half of the municipal buses on the road worldwide will be electric within seven years, with China expected to dominate the global market as it aims to cut urban pollution and support domestic manufacturers. Read the entire article at Bloomberg. Public buses are a key part of the urban transit infrastructure, and the […]
China is Building Solar Roadways
Transparent concrete sits atop solar cells that charge electric vehicles driving on the road. Read the original article at electrek. The Jinan City solar highway is formed with three layers. The top layer is a transparent concrete that has similar structural properties with standard asphalt. The central layer is the solar panels – […]
Stockholm Pursues Climate Holy Grail: a Fossil Fuel-Free Future
Stockholm’s clean energy and sustainability measures have been deployed to create two of the city’s most remarkable eco-districts. Read the entire article at The Huffington Post. Stockholm Royal Seaport is known in the city as a “second-generation sustainable city district.” The 650-acre area was the focus of a comprehensive 20-year sustainability program for the area […]
Solar Town, Babcock Ranch, Virtually Unscathed by Irma
Read the entire article at Florida Weekly. Located away from the coast on some of the highest ground in Southwest Florida, Babcock Ranch was designed with resiliency in mind. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, a survey of storm impacts at Babcock Ranch is strong evidence of the benefits of Florida’s enhanced building codes […]
