Heating, cooling, and other forms of energy used in the thousands of tightly packed cities, are currently among the world's highest energy consumers, and therefore, significant greenhouse gas emitters. However, through innovative design techniques, cities and college campuses alike are reducing their carbon footprint even further.
Detroit Michigan has switched its street lamps to LED bulbs, and Denison University, Ohio, is retrofitting building to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Vancouver, B.C. has transitioned tactfully transitioned into a more bike friendly town: opening up side walks to pedestrians. Across the United States and Europe, city planners have realized that the same barriers necessary to keep pedestrians safe can also encourage foot traffic.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/as-seattle-struggles-with-bike-lanes-vancouver-b-c-has-won-the-battle
David Gutman
The Seattle Times
23 April 2018
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As Seattle tries to implement bike lanes effectively, it can look to Vancouver as a success story. Vancouver’s bike lanes are physically separated from roads, making riders safer and increasing the number of people who commute by bike by 60% since 2013. After several tests and then responding to both positive and negative public feedback, Vancouver has miles of bike lanes connecting many parts of the city.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/earthrise/2017/05/building-cities-170530045413282.html
Juliana Schatz
Russell Beard
Al Jazeera
5 March 2017
Broadcast TV News / Over 15 Minutes
By 2050 the percentage of the world's population living in cities will increase to two-thirds with significant environmental strains. In Colombia, a company called Conceptos Plasticos collects recyclable plastic material, melts it down and moulds it into bricks used to build houses for the local community. Singapore too, is on the cutting edge of environmentally sustainable urban solutions including vertical farms and living buildings.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/06/investing-in-energy-efficiency-pays-off
David Bornstein
The New York Times
6 February 2015
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Retrofitting buildings for energy conservation in the United States could save $1 trillion over a decade, reduce American greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent, and create employment across the country. Many universities and other institutions are creating green investment funds to sustain projects that enhance efficiency.
http://midwestenergynews.com/2014/07/10/led-street-lighting-kindles-interest-in-michigan
Kat Friedrich
Midwest Energy News
10 July 2014
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As the traditional sodium vapor lamps used for decades in street lights begin to burn out and need replacement, many municipalities, like Detroit, are turning to LED lighting - thanks to rebates and conscientious consumer demand. Though they sometimes have higher up-front costs, LEDs have multiple benefits including long-term cost savings (as they require less maintenance), increased energy efficiency, better lighting that can help decrease crime, and less light pollution and glare.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/why-your-favorite-bench-might-be-there-to-thwart-a-terrorist-attack/2018/08/27/28a863fc-9b49-11e8-b60b-1c897f17e185_story.html?noredirect=on
Katherine Shaver
Washington Post
27 August 2018
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How do you make a public space inviting so people will gather, but also safe from the growing danger of attackers using vehicles to ram large numbers of people? Many cities have responded to such attacks with concrete bollards and other barriers. But designers and architects are increasingly innovating other options that protect people via planters, fountains, trees, bike racks, steps and traffic calming designs to stop or slow down vehicles.
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