Sustainability

Austin

New Tool for Measuring Progress of Sustainability in Austin

Austin Office of Sustainability upgrades transparency with a new online resource.

October 17, 2016 - Next City

jetBlue Las Vegas

JetBlue to Reduce Carbon Footprint with Large Purchase of Renewable Jet Fuel

Within ten years, passengers flying on JetBlue out of JFK will leaving a much lower carbon footprint, thanks to a fuel composed of 30 percent biofuel.

September 23, 2016 - The New York Times

Hurricane Sandy

Unpredictable, High Risk, High Cost: Planning for the Worst Is the Worst

Ben Brown takes a hard look at our capacities and limitations in a world more complex than we’d prefer.

August 24, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Car2Go

Vancouver Sees Positive Benefits from Car Sharing

As car sharing services like Car2Go have infiltrated cities including Vancouver, B.C., benefits of reduced car ownership and greenhouse gas emissions are being realized, a new study finds.

July 31, 2016 - The Vancouver Sun

Car Share

Good News on Car Sharing

Car sharing networks that allow the vehicle to be returned to any location were found to have the impact of removing seven cars for each rented car in San Diego in a three-year study released July 19.

July 27, 2016 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Texas Suburb

Op-Ed: The Texas Miracle Won't Last

As economic migration continues to swell its population, Texas has been heralded by some as a new California. But Johnny Sanphillippo argues that the Lone Star State's boom just isn't sustainable.

June 22, 2016 - Strong Towns

Balancing the Scales of City Sustainability

Urbanism and smart growth are great for cities, people, and "the environment"—but neighborhood impacts must be mitigated. Kaid Benfield gives pointers on balancing the scales.

May 10, 2016 - PlaceShakers

How Gaming Can Revolutionize Planning

The new game Block’Hood seeks to illustrate and educate about the connection between sustainability and social and economic needs in city and neighborhood building.

March 21, 2016 - Dezeen

Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Infrastructure

As more and more people live on this planet, the pressure to build smart cities that feature environmentally sustainable infrastructure will become immense. Planners will be challenged to do more with less. Here's a discussion of this complex issue.

March 3, 2016 - CK Vango

Mobile Apps Provide the Ultimate Guide to Los Angeles

Get this guide for 21 apps and services for enjoying the city of Los Angeles to its fullest, whether you're a resident or a visitor.

February 17, 2016 - Netted

Passive House

Doing Well By Doing Good: Passive House and Affordable Housing

Pennsylvania finds proof that Passive House standards can be built at affordable housing prices, after the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency incorporated Passive House benchmarks into its Low Income Housing Tax Credit application.

January 13, 2016 - David Salamon

CEQA Abuse 'Choking' Good Development, Study Finds

A study of CEQA litigation revealed widespread abuse that experts say undermines California's environmental sustainability goals.

December 27, 2015 - The Planning Report

Paris Trees

Paris Launches EcoDistrict on Train Station Site

After a decade of development, Paris' first EcoDistrict launched this year. Built in place of a disused train station, the district features offices, housing, and amenities built around clean and green principles.

December 21, 2015 - The Global Grid

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston

Building for Resilience Makes (Good Business) Sense

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is showing developers how resilience can benefit the bottom line in the "Returns on Resilience" report. Sarene Marshall, director of the ULI Center for Sustainability, offers insight into the report's examples.

November 16, 2015 - Sarene Marshall

Green

The Greening of Planning Credentials

As sustainability initiatives gain momentum, planners have a growing number of options for credentialing their green skills.

November 9, 2015 - Eliot Allen

recycled water sign

San Francisco Leading the Way in Water Recycling

San Francisco's water district has become the first in the nation to require newly constructed large buildings to collect and reuse nonpotable water.

November 4, 2015 - SPUR Blog

City of Montreal

Greater Montreal Seeks a United Front to Transit Growth and Sustainability

The 82 municipalities that make up Greater Montreal are finally working together to forge a more sustainable, economically robust future.

October 12, 2015 - Citiscope

Coding for Character: Doing Away With the Zoned Out Nature of Cities

What's keeping the historic parts of your city or town from staying up-to-date and well-loved? Usually, the laws.

October 6, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Coit Tower

Beyond the Big One: Real Recovery in San Francisco

What does it mean to be a Chief Resilience Officer for one America's largest cities? Doggerel spoke to Patrick Otellini, Chief Resilient Officer for San Francisco, to find out what it takes to make a truly resilient city.

September 29, 2015 - Doggerel

First Wind Energy Farm Blows Into the Southeast

Elizabeth City, North Carolina, will host a 204-megawatt wind energy facility—the first in a region known for steady coastal breezes. The project is a collaboration of European-based Iberdrola Renewables, LLC, and Seattle-based Amazon.

July 20, 2015 - WRAL

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.