Post Carbon Cities compiled feed

Towards Carfree Cities VIII: Rethinking mobility, rediscovering proximity

laurel — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:23:17 -0700

Street Smart: Streetcars and Cities in the 21st Century

laurel — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:09:37 -0700

States remove local barriers to eco-friendly homes

laurel — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:50:55 -0700

Eight states have passed legislation meant to make it easier for homeowners to put electricity-generating solar or wind installations on their property. They've found that homeowners who run into opposition from local agencies or associations often just drop the project - and states committed to cutting their emissions don't want to see that happen.

City planners descend on Las Vegas... and largely ignore energy

Daniel Lerch — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:58:55 -0700

Last Wednesday John Kaufmann, Jennifer Brost-Sarnecki and I held a session on "Responding to Peak Oil and Energy Uncertainty" at the annual American Planning Association conference in Las Vegas -- the only session this year specifically on peak oil, and likely the first ever at thi

Energy Shock and Climate Change: Sustainable Solutions for Converging Crises

laurel — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:53:12 -0700

Speakers’ Series on Planning for Sustainable Communities (with webcast)

laurel — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:28:33 -0700

Resources from the 2007 Challenge of Global Warming and Peak Oil for Local Government conference

laurel — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:54:34 -0700

Presentations and reports presented at the 2007 Challenge of Global Warming and Peak Oil for Local Government conference, sponsored by the Municipal Association of Victoria (Australia), illuminate many aspects of the issue for local governments.

Relocalizing North Carolina

laurel — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:15:17 -0700

[Note: This post was written for the Relocalization Network's forthcoming May newsletter, which is why it's addressed to Relocalization Network Groups. The Relocalization Network is another project of Post Carbon Institute, created to support grassroots groups in strengthening their communities in preparation for energy uncertainty. Check if there's a Relocalization group in your area; they could be valuable allies! - Laurel]

Brattleboro, Vt. Selectboard cuts Peak Oil Task Force

laurel — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:54:32 -0700

The Selectboard of Brattlebro, Vt. voted to dissolve the town's Peak Oil task force after receiving their report. The members were encouraged to work with Brattleboro's Climate Protection Director on integrating their suggestions with the town's climate protection plan.

GreenGov Conference 2008

laurel — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:18:18 -0700

Tokyo takes the lead in climate change mitigation measures in Japan

laurel — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:48:53 -0700

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is showing great leadership in its efforts to address climate change. This article from Japan for Sustainability describes some of the strategies the TMG has undertaken.

Waste Management to use landfill gas to power trucks

laurel — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:02:22 -0700

Waste Management is converting a part of its California fleet to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reduce emissions. But the really innovative part is that it will be generating its own renewable LNG from landfill emissions. Generating the fuel locally cuts down on waste while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the landfill.

Fighting global warming block by block

laurel — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:52:39 -0700

Here's a simple test you can apply to every new public works project, building plan or government land purchase: Will it increase the region's total greenhouse-gas emissions, or reduce them? That test is courtesy of King County, Washington's Executive Ron Sims, but state, regional, and city governments across the country are taking action to make sure development doesn't undermine their energy and emissions goals.

Smarter electric grid could be key to saving power

laurel — Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

We've all heard that efficiency is the cheapest source of power. Here's one way to encourage efficiency. Cues from a "smarter" power grid can prompt end-users (or the computers they've set up in their homes) to be more frugal with energy during times of high demand. The technology is currently in testing phases in private homes.

Bicycle-sharing program to be first of kind in U.S.

laurel — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:58:08 -0700

Bike-sharing is hardly new, but this initiative in Washington, D.C., modeled on Paris's Vélib, will be a test case for the more high-tech version in this country. Tracking technology on the bikes can address some of the historical weaknesses that have doomed similar programs in the past, and arrangements with advertisers can defray costs to the city and the customer.

What's beyond a Platinum award? Think of the kids.

laurel — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:36:48 -0700

By Laurel Hoyt, Post Carbon Cities Program Coordinator

City of Maribyrnong: Peak Oil Policy

laurel — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:11:02 -0700

Maribyrnong City Council, covering the inner suburban area west of the centre of Melbourne, is rapidly proving itself to be Australia's (if not the world's) most peak oil aware council. On Tuesday 15th April, the council unanimously endorsed a Peak Oil Policy and Action Plan.

Maribyrnong, Australia's Peak Oil Policy and Action Plan

laurel — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:12:33 -0700

Planning for likely high oil prices and reduced supply of oil is essential to avoid the worst consequences and ensure public services can be provided in a timely and economic manner. Maribyrnong Council's Peak Oil Policy and Action Plan describes how they will continue to deliver community programs and services in spite of global oil price increases.

Maryland county aims to make green homes mandatory

laurel — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:54:50 -0700

As part of a suite of bills passed in honor of Earth Day, the Council of Montgomery County, Maryland, approved one that would require all new buildings to comply with EPA standards for energy efficiency.

The community's choice is greener energy

laurel — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:11:18 -0700

Previously, the only way for a local government to have a say in where the community's power came from was to establish a municipally owned utility. The Community Choice Aggregation process provides an easier way to switch to an earth-friendlier power supply without taking on the burden of managing the power lines, collecting bills, and the divisive politics involved with the expensive process of bringing energy under municipal control.