Sustainability

District energy systems/shutterstock

District energy planning embodies a paradigm shift in urban planning which includes utility services as a component of community development. As district energy is reimagined in the city planning process, new models of development, governance, and financing are being considered for these systems.[read more]

Efficient, but sustainable?

 

The 8.2 million inhabitants of Tehran have witnessed stunning growth in sustainable transport infrastructure. Over time and with great effort, it has transformed itself into an example of sustainable transport.[read more]

ideas for sustainable cities

A new ‘toolbox’ is put together annually by the Danish organisation Sustainia, aiming to differentiate itself from other sustainability awards by focusing exclusively on solutions that are available today.[read more]

traffic in Nairobi

In Kenya’s capital, the informal sector is closely tied to the formal economy. As the city heads toward world-class status, policymakers will need to make careful decisions about how best to accommodate the informal sector.[read more]

Vietnamese farmers

New Orleans' Vietnamese community of fishermen was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and then the Deepwater Horizon debacle but found ways to come together and come back with sustainable urban farming.[read more]

Urbanism Speakeasy is a podcast with a particular focus on human-scale design. We love streets and places designed for people, regardless of how they happen to travel. No advanced technical degrees or silver spoons required on this show. Our primary goal is to share technical information and trends in ordinary language. The show is...[read more]

promoting civic engagement

While Robert Putnam argued that the growth of large cities weakened civic engagement in the US, new data suggests that strong educational and religious organisations within a city can reverse that pattern.[read more]

urbanization

How do we deal with the neighborhoods and suburbs that have become notorious for being environmentally unfriendly?[read more]

mapping rooftop energy

Kudos to the people at MIT who created this interactive map showing property owners in the city how much electricity can be generated from their rooftops.[read more]

Detroit and community engagement

Hundreds of Detroiters pour into an empty warehouse near the New Center section of the City and gather around tables near the floor made of milk crates and plywood boards. As more people settle in, a woman takes the stage to explain what this night is all about.[read more]

sugarcane workers at rest

A lack of long term planning, petrol-dominated fuel markets, production decline resulting from the economic downturn, and global climate issues, have led Brazil into an ethanol crisis.[read more]

urban organism?

We are quickly moving away from an isolationist approach to broadening our lens as much as possible. Urban planning as usual is a little slow to arrive to the party. However, our late arrival means we do not have to start from scratch.[read more]