St. Louis is taking sustainability to the streets – literally. In a test program, the city redesigned the streetscape of six blocks on South Grand Boulevard. The redevelopment of the street is to create a more sustainable community – results benefitting the social, economy, and environmental character. The updates include: fewer lanes and shorter crosswalk [...]
Sustainable Housing And Recreation Space Of The Future
There have been a flood of sustainable building and city concepts in recent years – brought on by increasing concern and sensitivity for the environment as well as respect for environmental form. These new concepts set the stage for new living standards and ways of life. From organic forms to lush gardens, the future looks [...]
Home Green Home: Affordable Green Living
Sustainable home living is coming to Western Massachusetts thanks to Rural Development Incorporated (RDI) and the Franklin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Wisdom Way Solar Village is nearing completion, the end product will be 20 low- to moderate-income duplexes. These Zero Net Energy Homes are being built near the center of Greenfield each feature solar [...]
Federal Officials Praise Green Impact Zone In KC’s Urban Core
The green economy bug has hit Kansas City, and the federal government is taking note. The city has established a 150-block area as a Green Impact Zone. What exactly does this mean? This area will be the focus for home weatherization on a massive scale, bus rapid transit and more sustainable energy approaches. Already Kansas [...]
Can The Sahara Desert Power Europe
Plans are currently underway to establish large solar arrays in the African Sahara to create and transfer energy to Europe. One such plan has the potential of producing up to 15% of Europe’s energy needs – a significant chunk that could result in less environmental impacts. Hopefully the plans consider the social equity aspect. As [...]
Urban Farms Take Root
Farming’s not just for the back country. Due to recent food scares as well as a trying economy, farming is taking hold throughout the U.S. in all parts including its urban areas. These “farms” range from small garden plots to small-scale farms. Citizens are utilizing abandoned and neglected land as well as under-utilized rooftops to [...]
Act Now To Encourage Sustainability In Neighborhood Planning
This past July, residents in Seattle were invited to neighborhood meetings to help the Department of Neighborhoods and Department of Planning and Development develop and update the neighborhood plans for the city. While this process focused on areas that had light rail stations, the departments were also interested in the status of other neighborhoods based [...]
Young People Are Key Partners In Sustainable Development
UN’s Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has announced that the theme of this year’s International Youth Day will be “Sustainability: Our Challenge. Our Future”. This reflects the belief that our societal, economic, and environmental issues most impact the young as they are the ones who will be affected by the actions for decades to come. They, however, [...]
Laneway Housing Bylaw Passed
Housing will now be even more attainable in Vancouver thanks to the new housing bylaw that will permits secondary housing units. This type of housing, in-law or garden cottages, is common throughout the US but is catching on now in Canada. By permitting this form of housing, homeowners may convert unused portions of their property/home [...]
Initial Regional Sustainability Council Draws Interest
Southeastern Massachusetts regional planning agency, Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD), held a kickoff meeting in June to launch the Southeastern Massachusetts Council on Sustainability. SRPEDD’s intention for the Council is to provide education, advice and assistance on the broad issue of sustainability in Southeastern Massachusetts. Made up of representatives from education, [...]
