Energy

Finding a Home for California's Renewable Energy Transmission Lines

A new report from an interdisciplinary group of officials and advocates outlines where new energy transmission lines are needed in California, where they should be sited, and how best the state can transition to a renewable energy future.

August 16, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Creating a 'Carbon-Positive' City

Mayor Yu Qun has transformed the city of Baoding, China into what some are calling the world's first "carbon-positive" city -- mainly by shifting away from polluting industries to the renewable energy industry.

August 13, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Living A No-Impact Lifestyle in Manhattan

Writer Colin Beavan set a goal for his family to live a year in New York with no impact on the environment. A new documentary film follows their travails as meat, cosmetics, and trash bags get packed away.

August 10, 2009 - WorldChanging

Clunkers Program Extended By Senate

With not a moment to spare, the Senate passed the House-approved version of the Clunkers program extension - an additional $2 billion to last to Labor Day, and then went into recess. Any changes would have ended the program.

August 10, 2009 - The New York Times - Business

Where Are We Going To Charge Our Cars?

Cities need stations where electric cars can recharge in order for the new technology to take off and become a reality in the future, The Wall Street Journal reports.

August 10, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Solar Thermal Power Tower Debuts in U.S.

This week, eSolar debuted the first solar thermal power tower in the U.S., which they say is a step forward in technology and affordability.

August 9, 2009 - Earth2Tech

ASLA Creates Sustainability Guide

The American Society of Landscape Architects has released an extensive online guide to resources for sustainable urban development.

August 7, 2009 - ASLA's The Dirt blog

When Clunkers Become Junkers

Where do those 'clunkers' go once they've been accepted by the new car dealer for a $3500 or $4500 credit from the Cash for Clunkers program? Turns out the economic stimulus continues with the auto wreckers, junkyards and recyclers.

August 6, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Inside the Construction and Planning of Masdar City

WBUR's On Point takes an hour-long look at plans for Masdar City, the zero-waste, carbon-neutral city under construction in Abu Dhabi.

August 6, 2009 - On Point

Becoming an Energy-Independent City

The City of San Jose, California is on its way to becoming the nation's first energy-independent city, deriving all of its energy from renewable sources.

August 5, 2009 - USA Today

Oil Crunch Coming

Peak oil will happen at least 10 years earlier than most governments are expecting, and an oil crunch will occur in the next 5 years, says Dr Fatih Birol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency.

August 4, 2009 - The Independent (UK)

Vancouver Setting the Bar for Green Cities

Mayor Gregor Robertson was elected in December 2008 on a green platform, and the city could be on its way to being the greenest city in the world.

July 31, 2009 - Alternet.org

U.S. Behind in Drive for Clean Energy

China, South Korea and Japan are all investing teh equivalent of hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy technologies, while the U.S. is debating a mere 1.2 billion in the Waxman-Markey bill.

July 29, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Incentives for Energy Efficiency Expanding

The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administration are looking to increase energy efficiency incentives for homeowners, including opportunities for larger home loans.

July 28, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Building Codes: Most Important Aspect of Climate Bill

Architect Edward Mazria looks at the climate bill heading to the Senate for approval and argues that its most important part is the section on building energy codes, which he calls "more powerful than 100 nuclear plants".

July 25, 2009 - Grist

Geoengineering the Problem of Climate Change

This piece from The Atlantic looks at the emerging concept of "geoengineering" -- a set ideas that seek solutions to climate change by manipulating the environment.

July 23, 2009 - The Atlantic

LEED-ND: Yay or Nay?

After five years of preparation and testing, members of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Congress for the New Urbanism will begin balloting in late July on whether to authorize a full-fledged LEED-Neighborhood Development program.

July 22, 2009 - New Urban News

Where City Rankings Fail

Worldchanging's Alex Steffen looks at the recent city rankings compiled by the Natural Resources Defense Council and says the method of measurement doesn't really prove how sustainable a place is -- or how it's improving.

July 20, 2009 - WorldChanging

Vancouver's Olympic Village Going Green, Hopefully

Vancouver is hoping to build the greenest Olympic Village yet as it prepares to host the 2010 Winter games. But there are some challenges facing the ambitious plans.

July 17, 2009 - Grist

GE's Home of the Future

General Electric has released a design for a Home of the Future, which is planned to be almost completely energy-neutral. As GOOD Magazine notes, the house is almost overloaded with gadgets to get you there.

July 17, 2009 - GOOD Magazine

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.