Sustainability posts, articles, and infographics

Biophilic Building Design Held Back by Lack of Data

May 23, 2012 by The Dirt ASLA
with 36 views

Biophilic design is still at the bleeding-edge of green building design and hasn’t taken off yet. The obstacle may be the lack of data on the impact of biophilic design on health and well-being. Or perhaps it’s because there still hasn’t been that one model site that makes current practice irrelevant. ... [read more]

Sustainability and Affordable Housing: Maybe Occupy Is Onto Something

May 23, 2012 by Audrey Henderson
with 72 views

Occupy has been speaking out against the ongoing housing and foreclosure crisis. In conjunction with this cause, and as an adjustment to forcible removal from public spaces by law enforcement, the movement has evolved to Occupying abandoned properties and homes of families facing foreclosure as an act of civil disobedience. This post considers what would be involved in Occupying vacant and abandoned buildings – legally – as affordable housing for homeless families and individuals or for households caught up in the housing crisis. [read more]

‘Decision Trees’ Guide Vacant Land To Renewables

May 20, 2012 by Nino Marchetti
with 107 views

Image via Shutterstock

There’s no telling how much land sits vacant in America. Some of this land is just unused, while other plots, called brownfields, have been contaminated by industrial waste, and deemed unfit for use. There have been no comprehensive studies to tally it all, but there are some clues that it’s a big number. A 2000 study of 70 major... [read more]

Should you eat farmed fish? It’s complicated

May 18, 2012 by Marc Gunther
with 66 views

For environmentalists, some food choices are simple. Eating less red meat is better than eating more. Beef and cheese have bigger climate impacts than turkey and eggs. Fruits and vegetables in season likely have a smaller footprint than strawberries in the wintertime.Farmed fish is complicated–because it includes many species of... [read more]

Affordable Housing Goes Green in Georgia

May 14, 2012 by Glenn Meyers
with 160 views

PhotoStocker/Shutterstock

The Northwest Georgia Housing Authority (NWGHA) has been actively helping Georgia’s residents to find safe and affordable housing for sixty years and in the past few years it has progressed into a leader in quality housing, as well.NWGHA is composed of eleven public housing communities.They recently worked with Lord, Aeck & Sargent (... [read more]

Organic Farming: Beyond the Yield Debate

May 12, 2012 by Marc Gunther
with 121 views

Image courtesy of the author

Yields from organic farming may not match those produced by farmers who use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, but there are other good reasons to buy and support organic–its health benefits, the good that it does for farm workers, even its animal-welfare rules.So, at least, say executives of the Organic Trade Association, a... [read more]

Bringing Sustainability to the Entertainment Industry

May 10, 2012 by Tyler Caine
with 79 views

When sitting comfortably with popcorn and soda in hand, it is easy to be drawn into the world of plays and films with little thought spared to what was necessary to create them. Whether it’s a blockbuster movie or just a commercial the focus is on the finished product rather than things like efficiency or post-production waste management... [read more]

D.C. Offers a Bold Vision for a More Sustainable Future

May 4, 2012 by The Dirt ASLA
with 269 views

At a historic church in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray said there are either two future directions for the city: “The gaps between us could further divide our city,” or the city could become “greener, more equitable, and more prosperous” for all. Outlining a bold vision for a Sustainable D.C.,... [read more]

Bogotá’s Opportunity for Integrating its Informal Pedicab Network

May 3, 2012 by This Big City
with 118 views

Rickshaws are fast becoming a genuine transport alternative in many cities. A recent study by the World Resources Institute concluded that rickshaws, or pedicabs as they are also known, promote public transportation systems while reducing private motorization. Some of the direct benefits associated with rickshaw services include... [read more]

Four Ideas to Lead Cities Into The Future [Video]

May 2, 2012 by Rashiq Fataar
with 329 views

The mayor of Rio shares his insight into what can make the city of the future sustainable. Cool! [read more]

On the Long, Long Life of a Plastic Bag

May 1, 2012 by Victoria Okoye
with 144 views

[daizuoxin]/[shutterstock.com]

Does it really take about 500 to 1000 years for a plastic bag to disintegrate? Think about that next time you head to the supermarket... [read more]

America's best cities for public transportation

April 26, 2012 by Kaid Benfield
with 383 views

Which are the best US cities for those who need or prefer to use public transportation? New York, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, and Philadelphia – in that order – according to the terrific organization Walk Score, whose range of services offered to the public just keeps getting better and better.Today, Walk Score is... [read more]