Sustainable Cities Collective - The world's best thinkers on the urban future

Sustainable Cities Collective is Moving!

Sustainable Cities Staff — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 04:00:00 +0000

In the coming days, this community will be moving to a new home: Smart Cities Dive! To make sure you still get your daily intel on sustainable cities and urbanization...

Starting Young: 4 Tips For Reducing Waste In Schools

AnnaJo — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 04:00:00 +0000

In order to reduce the amount of waste produced by our schools, we need to emphasize sustainability from a young age. This can be accomplished through student leadership and with the implementation of a few simple programs.

Tackling Sustainable Development One Step at a Time

hundredgivers — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 10:56:13 +0000

There’s no doubt we have work to do. Let’s begin by tackling sustainable development one step at a time.

Austin’s New Bike-Share System Solves An Old Dilemma

anumyoon — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 10:42:39 +0000

This is a major step forward in offering more public transportation systems that make sense to the consumer, while reducing congestion on the roads and improving the environment.

Restaurants are Prioritizing Sustainability in 2017

AnnaJo — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 04:00:00 +0000

When you study recent trends in the food and restaurant industry, it’s obvious that sustainability is more than a passing fad. We’re seeing more and more partners in the industry turning towards efficiency in how they source, create, and deliver food - and consumers are demanding it.

The Future for Renewables and Our Low Carbon Ecomony

TCaine — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 10:34:59 +0000

There is no shortage of news headlines about upcoming changes in the U.S. With the presidential inauguration only just behind us, we are already seeing intense shifts in policy targeting changes in the health care system, immigration reform and the renegotiation of trade deals. In this time of transition it is important not to lose sight of what this means for the environment and the U.S.’s role in fighting global climate change.

Honda: Designing More Than Just Sustainable Cars

Greenhouse Gnome — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:28:23 +0000

On the University of California’s Davis campus sits a live-in model of the future of home design. Known as the Honda Smart Home, the building boasts more than just curbside appeal. Using passive house design, rooftop solar panels, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and greywater capture, the Honda Smart Home was awarded the Best Demonstration Home of 2014 by Green Builder Media.

"This Land is Your Land" - Environmental Ownership

Bluekayak — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 10:42:45 +0000

Who should 'own' the land for the sake of the environment? While tragedy of the commons begets a lack of responsibility, complete ownership confers no responsibility towards anyone or anything apart from your own interests.

Urban Soundscapes: Creating Quiet Spaces in a Roaring City

deeproot — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 04:00:00 +0000

"Soundscape" refers to both the natural acoustic environment (animals and sounds from trees, water, weather, etc.) and sounds created by humans (human activities, sounds of mechanical origin, etc.). How can designers ensure that quiet spaces exist in the middle of a roaring city?

How Shrubs Are Used in Urban Landscape Design Plantings

Sarah Smith — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 10:53:38 +0000

Researchers aim to show that picturesque shrub gardens are an achievable goal.

Urbanism By Any Other Name

think_katrina — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 04:00:00 +0000

In our ongoing quest for improving cities, we have come up with all manner of tactics for “good” urbanism, some of which even have organizations attached to their guiding principle. In my career, I’ve done my best to collect these approaches (so to speak) in an attempt to trace the disparate threads we in the urbanist community have woven over time.

Our Interaction with Nature Doesn’t End When We Age

The Dirt — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 15:11:24 +0000

The Shift Towards Nature-based Recreation

equinox_environmental — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 15:04:34 +0000

Four Principles to be on the Cutting EdgeThe most prominent national recreation trend to emerge in the past 10 years, is the shift away from organized sports-oriented recreation to nature-based recreation. Demand for trails, wildlife viewing, and other nature-based recreation activities have nearly doubled in the past 20 years. In a national poll by the National Recreation and Park Association, respondents listed being close to family and nature as well as being physically active as their top three reasons for visiting a park.

Builders eye certifications, products for greener homes

Construction Dive — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:53:04 +0000

Homebuilders are getting greener, both in the products and practices they use and in the certifications they and their clients seek for their finished projects

Understanding Recyclable and Renewable Materials for Sustainable Living

Philip Piletic — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:49:33 +0000

Sustainability is a necessity in the 21st century. Both recyclable and renewable resources will aid in making the planet safer, greener, and better for future generations. Recycling is the practice of transforming waste products into new supplies and products. Renewable resources are resources that have the capability to be naturally and organically replaced in a set time period. With the impending threat of climate change, understanding the difference and spreading awareness about both recyclable and renewable materials for sustainability is essential.

Preserving Trees on a Development Site: Contractor’s Best Practices

deeproot — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 12:53:14 +0000

Good design preserves existing trees during a development project. However, the most tree-sensitive design will not be enough if tree-friendly building practices are not in place. Many times a tree that was damaged during development may not show symptoms of decline for a few years, so the cause and effect is often not obvious unless an arborist is consulted to determine the cause of the decline.

US scores D+ in infrastructure report card

Construction Dive — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 15:42:24 +0000

The mark from the American Society of Civil Engineers remains unchanged from 2013, but the amount needed to repair infrastructure has risen by $1 trillion.

How to get the most out of grid modernization, in 5 simple steps

Utility Dive — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 15:31:22 +0000

A new paper offers guidelines for designing and evaluating expensive utility modernization proposals

How to mitigate odor issues amid the growth of organics processing

Waste Dive — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 16:05:23 +0000

As residents and regulators push back on high-profile facilities, industry professionals say community engagement is key.

Activity-based workplace design boosts employee well-being

Construction Dive — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 15:58:48 +0000

A new white paper from New York–based architecture and planning firm Perkins Eastman and Ontario, Canada–based Three H Furniture Systems outlines the health and worker productivity benefits of activity-based workplace design.