Energy Efficiency
HUD Announces Grants for Efficiency Retrofits in Multifamily Housing
A new program will fund solar panels, heat pumps, and other measures aimed at reducing emissions, improving air quality and resident health, and reducing heating and cooling costs.
Why the Gas Stove Debate Misses the Point
Banning gas-powered appliances is one part of a broader toolkit of changes in building codes that could vastly improve efficiency.
‘Passive House’ Development Brings 275 Affordable, Efficient Units to Brooklyn
A 14-story tower uses the ‘Passive House’ approach to drastically reduce energy use and improve quality of life for residents.
Efficiency Retrofits Get Expanded Tax Credits Under Inflation Reduction Act
The doubled incentive could be a ‘tipping point’ for innovative construction materials that were too expensive for most projects.
Boston Plans To Restrict Fossil Fuel Use in Buildings
As part of the city’s broader climate goals, Mayor Michelle Wu wants to require all new buildings to eliminate the use of fossil fuels.
'Inflation Reduction Act' a Mixed Bag for Climate Action, Planning Innovation
A roundup of all the emerging news and commentary regarding the Inflation Reduction Act, which last week broke through a Congressional roadblock to resuscitate some, but not nearly all, of the Build Back Better legislation that failed in 2021.
Chicago Updating its Climate Action Plan for 2022
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Earth Day announced the forthcoming release of a new plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare communities for the effects of climate change.
Sustainable and Affordable Housing Is No Longer a Pipe Dream
Fresh interest in green building among investors, new incentives, and stricter building codes are making it more possible to include green building practices in affordable housing production.
How Repairing and Modernizing Aging Homes Can Contribute to Housing Affordability
Weatherization and efficiency upgrades can reduce energy costs and keep older homes habitable, but many low-income households are excluded from federal funding.
Passive Building Incentives Spur New Housing in Massachusetts
Two grant programs aimed at supporting highly efficient, affordable housing developments are yielding promising results.
Virginia Law Granting Local Authority for Energy Efficiency Rejected Due to Housing Affordability Concerns
The state preemption pendulum swings again—this time in favor of state preemption of energy efficiency standards in Virginia.
Opinion: New Construction Is Safer, Better for the Environment
The emotional attachment to old homes can obscure the benefits of new buildings, which consume less energy and provide more amenities for residents.
8 Cities Taking Steps Toward Waste Reduction and Sustainability
These eight cities are taking steps to reduce waste and achieve sustainability of their metropolitan areas. Keep reading to learn more.
Cities as a Climate Change Solution
With the urban exodus hysteria of the early pandemic in the rearview mirror, urban apologists are staking high ground on urban soil.
The Surprising Ways Cities Work to Clean the Environment
Municipal programs and urban design offer cities multiple, perhaps surprising ways, to clean the environment.
Industry Wins a Round Over Building Efficiency Requirements
New regulations prohibit cities from enacting stricter efficiency standards in new buildings.
A Year of Climate Action for Cities
The Trump administration might have dealt numerous setbacks in the fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but climate action in 2020 went local, with cities all over the country finding new ways to reduce emissions.
The 'Marshall Plan for Middle America' Plans $600 Million in Clean Energy Investments
A coalition of leaders in the Appalachian region recently released the "Marshall Plan for Middle America" to create jobs and transition the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky away from fossil fuels.
Fostering a 'Green Economic Recovery' in Post-Coronavirus Cities
Cities around the world are putting sustainability and climate change at the forefront of economic recovery plans.
LEDs, Downward Lights Changing the Night in Chicago
The nighttime illumination of Chicago is almost finished with a complete overhaul of its streetlights, producing a dramatic effect in the nighttime environment of the city.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
