The Art of Artful Places
By Timothy Beatley / On February 20th, 2009
Sea Levels Rise and Scientists Wade In
By Elizabeth Grossman / On February 19th, 2009
If anyone doubts that the world's environment is in a state - if not of crisis then of grave concern - I suggest attending a major scientific conference. Among the sobering assessments offered at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science held this past weekend in Chicago, came from climate scientist Chris Field, director of the department of global ecology at the Carnegie Institution for Science.
The Eco-Efficient City
By Peter Newman / On February 17th, 2009
Cities and regions will move from linear to circular or closed-looped systems, where substantial amounts of their energy and material needs are provided from waste streams. Eco-efficient cities will reduce their ecological footprint by reducing wastes and reducing resource requirements.
Paul Ehrlich Talks about The Dominant Animal
By Admin / On February 16th, 2009
Watch Paul Ehrlich talk about his book The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment:
The Dominant Animal by Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich from Island Press on Vimeo.
The Role of Wonder in Planning
By Timothy Beatley / On February 13th, 2009
I don’t think we talk enough about wonder in planning schools today. That sense of fascination, awe, of being spellbound by the immensity, delicacy, beauty of something, is an essential ingredient of our human spirit, and to making life joyous and meaningful. Yet it goes virtually undiscussed in professional planning programs, with few insights offered about how to go about designing and planning places and communities that provide these experiences. Planners are a wonkish bunch, more likely to wax on about special use permits, density bonuses, and sliding-scale zoning.
The Photosynthetic City
By Peter Newman / On February 10th, 2009
The potential to grow energy and provide food and materials locally will become part of urban infrastructure. Photosynthetic processes in cities will reduce their ecological impact through replacing fossil fuels and can bring substantial ecological benefits through their emphasis on natural systems.
Lessons from the LA Ecovillage
By Timothy Beatley / On February 6th, 2009
Two weeks ago I had the chance to visit the Los Angeles Ecovillage (LAEV), and spent time with its visionary creator Lois Arkin. The story of the LAEV is inspirational and instructive. Located 3-miles west of downtown, the Ecovillage represents a compelling model of how to begin to transform dysfunctional and unsustainable urban (and suburban) environments into real places, places with soul and meaning and commitment to community and environment.
The Distributed City
By Peter Newman / On February 2nd, 2009
The seven key innovations of resilient cities are set as city models (being detailed over the next several weeks here at “Eco-Compass”). While no one city has shown innovation in all seven areas, some are quite advanced in one or two. The challenge for urban planners will be to apply all of these city characteristics together, to generate a sense of hope through a combination of new technology, city design and community-based innovation, which together will create the Resilient City.
Can Americans Learn To Share?
By Timothy Beatley / On January 29th, 2009
It would be an interesting exercise to inventory the "things" we have in our homes and offices—the objects, the equipment, specialized things, electronic and otherwise, that occupy space. Along with this accounting, might be some estimate of how recently the thing has actually been used, and how frequently. My hunch is that much of our home "inventory" consists of things that are used rather infrequently, if ever.
Jerry Yudelson: Top Ten Green Building Trends for 2009
By Admin / On January 28th, 2009
Green building consultant Jerry Yudelson has published his "Top Ten" list of green building trends for 2009. Yudelson says that green building will continue to grow in spite of the global credit crisis and the ongoing economic recession in most countries."What we're seeing is that more people are going green each year, and there is nothing on the horizon that will stop this trend. In putting together my Top Ten trends for 2009, I'm taking advantage of conversations I've had with green building leaders in the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Middle East over the past year," said Yudelson.