cities

With gas prices at record highs, a new report on walking couldn't come at a better time. The site Walk Score has just released a list of America's 10 most walkable cities.

On National Park(ing) Day parking spots around the country are turned into temporary parks. It's a creative way to draw attention to the need for more public parks in urban areas. National Park(ing) Day is Sept. 19, 2008. www.tpl.org/parkingday

The earth is getting warmer and warmer with each year that passes and that means we're going to see some significant changes in the land around us. For a few lucky places, global warming means positive things. However, a great number of places aren't going to be nearly so lucky.

Rather than expanding current wind and solar power sources, energy experts indicate it is more crucial to eliminate and restructure current consumption methods. Jim Sweeney, an energy economist from Stanford University, says "freeing up 10 percent of current demand would leave more energy available than expanding all current wind and solar production tenfold." Echelon, a Silicon Valley-based company, indicates certain areas known as "smart cities" are doing this using networking technology.

Cool new database on all-things-green.

Sustainability is trendy in many circles throughout the Western World, but in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates they are building an entirely sustainable city.  Planning for the city of Masdar began around the year 2006 as a ten year project and the first phase is expected to be completed by 2009.

A ranking of the largest 50 US cities -- and which are best and worst prepared for expensive gasoline prices!

Abu Dhabi announces an initial investment of US$15 billion during the opening ceremony of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), themost ambitious sustainability program launched by a government. It will finance projects targeting solar, wind and hydrogenpower, carbon reduction and management, sustainable development, education, manufacturing as well as research and development.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) describes a new block grant program to provide funds to cities and towns to allow the localities to experiment with new environmental and energy-saving initiatives.

Elaine N. Walker, Mayor of Bowling Green, KY, Chair, Women Mayors, describes the interconnected nature of energy conservation, green building, sustainability and other issues facing U.S. cities.

James Diffley, Managing Director of US Regional Services, Global Insight, outlines the economic analysis his firm is doing to examine the impact of green jobs and the emerging green economy.

Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle, Advisory Board Chair, US Conference of Mayors, describes what U.S. mayors are doing to combat climate change through the Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. Some 780 US cities have signed the Agreement. Nickels also talks about the emerging field of green jobs.

Short documentary on what is possible in 2020 for sustainable design...incredible.

People really want to figure out what to do about the twin dooms they hear are upon them; thinking people know recycling just isn't enough. There has to be some kind of coordinated preparation. This is a book from the Post Carbon Institute about how we can become more ready for peak oil and climate change at the city level. It's meant for planners, city government, and citizen activists who want to try to make sure their corner of civilization has a plan in place.

Peak Moment 73: Smart municipalities are planning and preparing for energy vulnerability and climate change. Daniel
Lerch, manager of the Post Carbon Cities project, has prepared a guidebook including case studies of cities large and small
planning how to maintain essential services in the face of energy and climate uncertainty.