Architects and planners are eager to help tsunami victims rebuild. But Western solutions are not always the best.
Experts agree that there is a "place for sophisticated new design and technology -- but only when and where local traditions and ways of building and living cannot be readily adapted to cope with future emergencies.
'It's always sad when you lose architectural and craft traditions in areas of the world that have been developed over a thousand years or more and replace them with a culture of concrete boxes, converted containers and factory-built home with no character,' says Lubkowski. 'Experience from tsunamis in Hawaii has shown that traditional building types can be modified without undermining the way they look. They can be raised above the predicted flood line, for example; they can be anchored like a ship at bay; and they can be designed to flex to withstand storms.' "
Thanks to Laura Kranz
FULL STORY: 'What can we do?'

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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