Energy

Free Electricity for the Poor

Volunteer electricians from the Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee reconnect those who can't afford to pay the bill.

November 25, 2009 - BBC News

Canada Increasing Investment in Carbon Capture

The Canadian government said that it will invest millions in the third carbon capture and storage project in Alberta.

November 25, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Denser Neighborhoods Could Save Bay Area $31 Billion

Walkable, transit-accessible neighborhoods do more than just lower greenhouse gas emissions of their residents - they save them money too, states a new report, "Windfall for All", from the Bay Area's TransForm, a coalition of over 100 non-profits.

November 23, 2009 - Sacramento Business Journal

Competing Technologies Within Hydrogen Car Community

Not only is the hydrogen car industry being pressured by outside competition such as electric cars and those that run on biofuels, but there is competition within the hydrogen car industry itself.

November 21, 2009 - Hydrogen Cars & Vehicles Blog

The Remarkable Rezoning of NYC

Recently the NYC Planning Dept. announced its 100th rezoning since Bloomberg took office. This article takes a spin through the city's remarkable shift in the last 50 years away from industry to business and tourism and a sustainable approach.

November 16, 2009 - New York Observer

Light From Garbage

A new concept streetlight from Yanko Design would use garbage cans built into the base as fuel tanks, converting the trash to light.

November 16, 2009 - Treehugger

Mining Algae's Potential

Researchers are experimenting with using LEDs to grow algae in abandoned mines to be used for biofuels.

November 11, 2009 - Scientific American

CAFE Or Gas Tax? How Best To Increase Fuel Efficiency.

The current government strategy to increase fuel efficiency is to mandate it through increases in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, currently set for 35.5 mpg by 2016. In this piece, auto executives suggest a better way - using gas taxes.

November 9, 2009 - Automobile

Solar Power to the People

A new program in India is teaching women in tribes that live in remote areas how to make and use solar panels.

November 9, 2009 - Inhabitat

'No Credits, Just Prerequisites'

The Living Building Challenge is a new environmental rating system that focuses on required environmental design elements, diverging dramatically from the credit-based approach of the built environment's dominant rating system, LEED.

November 6, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

Solar-lit Footbridge Opens in Brisbane

Last month saw the debut of one of the world's longest footbridges, which also happens to be 100% solar-powered. 36,500 people are projected to walk across the bridge each week.

November 6, 2009 - Inhabitat

Funding the Fantastic

The Feds have given the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) $151 million to look at some highly unusual ways of creating energy. Are they so crazy they just might work -- or just plain crazy?

November 3, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Wind Power Gets Airborne

The motherlode of wind energy up, up in the air, say scientists. A handful of new technologies are being developed to harvest it at the source, roughly six miles up.

November 3, 2009 - Miller-McCune

Ford in the Black, Thanks to Cash for Clunkers

Ford Motor Co. is reporting almost $1b in profits in the third quarter. CEO Alan Mulally credits the Cash for Clunkers program and cost cutting for their success.

November 2, 2009 - The Los Angeles Times

Chicago's Answer to NYC's High Line Will Generate Power & Food

A proposed plan from Gensler and 4240 Architecture would turn an abandoned rail line in Chicago into an energy-generating, food-growing powerhouse. Oh, and a park too.

November 2, 2009 - Fast Company

Transportation Planning In Federal Climate Legislation

In this short radio broadcast, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer welcomes the support of influential land use planner Mike McKeever of Sacramento, who testifies in support of the bill that incorporates smart growth strategies first employed by his MPO.

October 30, 2009 - Capital Public Radio

$3.4 Billion for the Smart Grid

Earlier this week, the Obama Administration announced a significant investment in smart grid infrastructure like improved transmission lines and smart meters in homes.

October 29, 2009 - The White House blog

Coal & Oil - Biggest Health Culprits, Says National Academies

The National Academy of Science has released a report showing that health effects from burning fossil fuels cost the economy about $120 billion a year. Global warming was not included due to uncertainty, so it's focused mostly on air pollution.

October 27, 2009 - The New York Times - Environment

Emissions Impact of Biofuels Undercounted

A new report claims that the way the global warming impact of biofuels is measured leaves out the land use component of clearing land and growing crops.

October 27, 2009 - The Washington Post

The Prius Power Drain

PG&E CEO Peter Darbee says that it wouldn't take very many all-electric cars to create a serious drain on local power generators.

October 25, 2009 - CNET

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.