Energy

Ailing Chrysler Drops Hybrid SUV Just As It Goes On Lots

No sooner had Chrysler released its new hybrid SUV- a Dodge Durango 40% more efficient than its gas-only counterpart- than it has been forced to close the factory where both versions are produced in order to save on costs.

October 31, 2008 - Bloomberg.com

Driving Habits Revert as Gas Prices Drop

Gas prices are falling, and drivers are going right back to their gas-guzzling ways.

October 31, 2008 - The New York Times

Lights Out for Renewable Energy?

David Morris of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance wonders if the economic crisis will see alternative energy fall off the political agenda, or if the next president will recognize the economic benefits of renewable energy investments.

October 30, 2008 - AlterNet

Kazakhstan: The New Dubai?

Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, is reinventing itself as an increasingly wealthy and fast developing country through its architecture.

October 30, 2008 - Architectural Record

Why It's Different This Time

Historically, green initiatives come about as responses to energy crises, but are abandoned when oil prices drop and the economy busts. This time around, though, that's less likely to happen.

October 29, 2008 - NPR

Three Oil Producing Nations Impacted By Oil Price Plunge

Plunging oil prices are hitting three oil-producing countries the hardest: Venezuela, Iran, and Russia. This article looks at each of them and evaluates how they will fare if oil prices do not rise, including their relationships to the U.S.

October 24, 2008 - The New York Times

Oil Price Plunge Dampens Green Technology

The new 'oil shock' is one of plummeting oil prices and its effect on alternative technologies and energy. Combined with the credit crisis, the fallout in some green technologies is shown by difficulties in attracting capital and customers.

October 22, 2008 - The Washington Post

Climate Change Tackled by Cities and States

Before the fiscal crisis, there was the global climate crisis. After the fiscal crisis, we’ll still have the global climate crisis — for the rest of our lives.

October 21, 2008 - Citiwire.net

Report from the Congress For European Urbanism

Faith Cable reports on the CEU's 3rd annual conference, held in Oslo, Norway, which addressed cities and their ability to address climate change through urban design.

October 19, 2008 - WorldChanging

Chilling in Honolulu

Honolulu is moving ahead with an ambitious plan to use deep seawater as a natural air conditioning for downtown buildings. The system should be in place for up to 40 clients by 2010.

October 18, 2008 - Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Will Cheaper Gas Cause Increased Driving?

As oil prices plunge to well below $100/barrel, will Americans reverse all their fuel-efficient behavior learned from $145 oil seen in July? It appears that the economic crisis may continue where the energy crisis left off.

October 14, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

T. Boone Meets Gov. Palin To Talk Energy

Oil, gas and wind man T.Boone Pickens is clearly interjecting himself and his plan into presidential, and vice-presidential politics. Recently, he sat down with Sarah and Todd Palin to promote his plan of using natural gas as a transportation fuel.

October 11, 2008 - Boone Blog

Disparities of Going Green

In this article, Deneen Borelli argues that elite environmentalists are blocking access to natural resources that are abundant and in urgent need. As a result, higher costs of stricter energy requirements hit poor black communities the hardest.

October 9, 2008 - The Root

Environmentalism Over Aesthetics

John Barber laments cities' tendency to (rightfully) favor environmental consciousness over aestheticism. Low-carbon street lighting is the latest eco-trend to retrofit, and potentially blight, the streets of Toronto.

October 8, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

New Jersey to Lead in Wind Power

By 2020, New Jersey will have tripled its wind energy use.

October 8, 2008 - Newsday

Smart Meters Go Mainstream

While they're still more common in Europe, 'smart' energy meters are gaining ground in the U.S. Southern California Edison recently announced plans to install 5.3 million smart meters by 2012.

October 8, 2008 - The New York Times

Computers and Cacti: Saving Energy Together

The University of Notre Dame at Indiana is projecting a savings of $100k in heating and cooling by putting its computer servers into their cactus conservatory, in a technique known as 'waste heat recovery.'

October 3, 2008 - WorldChanging

Fairbanks' Emissions Exceed National Average

Greenhouse gas emissions in Fairbanks, Alaska are significantly higher than the national average, according to one report.

October 2, 2008 - Anchorage Daily News

Emissions Study Comes to Cities' Defense

According to one study, cities are often wrongly blamed for 75 to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions; the figure is closer to 40%.

October 2, 2008 - Terra Daily

Carbon Tax: A Norwegian Case Study Since 1991

Norway's carbon emissions have increased 15% since imposing a carbon tax in 1991, unlike neighbor's Sweden and Denmark where emissions decreased with their carbon taxes. Unlike the oil industry which became carbon-lean, Norway's drivers didn't change

October 1, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

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.