A pilot program seeks to be a model for electrifying groups of buildings or entire neighborhoods.
A geothermal energy project in Boston will connect seven federal public housing buildings to a networked geothermal grid, the first in the city and the second such project in Massachusetts. “The networked geothermal system, which includes ground-source heat pumps, will replace an aging gas boiler loop that serves 129 units at the Franklin Field Apartments. The system will provide in-unit cooling, meaning residents will no longer have to purchase window air conditioning units to stay comfortable during hot days.”
As Ysabelle Kempe explains in Utility Dive, “Networked geothermal uses underground pipes to heat and cool buildings in a highly efficient manner by pulling heat from the ground in the winter and transferring indoor heat to the ground to cool buildings in the summer.”
The approach of electrifying groups of buildings aims to streamline the process of decarbonization, rather than relying on individual homes and buildings switching out individual appliances. In addition to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, electric appliances also benefit public health by limiting harmful indoor air pollutants.
FULL STORY: Boston’s first networked geothermal project will electrify 7 public housing buildings
Study: Building Pollution Contributing to Poor Air Quality in NYC
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Hot Asphalt May Increase Air Pollution in Urban Areas
Research shows that road asphalt exposed to heat and sunlight may eventually become a significant emissions source.
New California Law Regulates Warehouse Pollution
A new law tightens building and emissions regulations for large distribution warehouses to mitigate air pollution and traffic in surrounding communities.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
Opinion: California’s SB 79 Would Improve Housing Affordability and Transit Access
A proposed bill would legalize transit-oriented development statewide.
Record Temperatures Prompt Push for Environmental Justice Bills
Nevada legislators are proposing laws that would mandate heat mitigation measures to protect residents from the impacts of extreme heat.
Downtown Pittsburgh Set to Gain 1,300 New Housing Units
Pittsburgh’s office buildings, many of which date back to the early 20th century, are prime candidates for conversion to housing.
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.
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Jessamine County Fiscal Court
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Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service