Smart Growth

Are Lawns Bad?

Mark Hostetler | Posted 05.27.2012

Read More: Biodiversity, Green, Lawn Care, Sustainability, Conservation, Lawns, Green Living, Green Cities, Smart Growth, Green News

I regard lawns as bad because they are like concrete to most species and have very little benefit for wildlife. But are lawns bad, considering all the other activities and consumption patterns we urbanites partake in?

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When Romney Liked High Gas Prices

The New Republic | Alec MacGillis | Posted 03.22.2012

Read More: Gas Prices, Mitt Romney 2012, Mitt Romney, Romney Gas Prices, Romney, Smart Growth, Mitt Romney Smart Growth, Politics News

As he campaigns for president, Mitt Romney is ratcheting up his attacks on Barack Obama over high gas prices, putting the issue at the center of his e...

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Evaluating Green Communities: Part 5

Mark Hostetler | Posted 05.15.2012

Read More: Sustainable Living, Energy Efficiency, Urban Biodiversity, Biodiversity, Green Developments, Green, Sustainability, Green Living, Urban Ecology, New Urbanism, Smart Growth, Green News

When you think about it, a window has a complicated job: it must allow the sun's light to pass though, but not the sun's heat. It must keep cool conditioned air inside, but not have condensation on the outside of the glass.

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Evaluating Green Communities: Part 4

Mark Hostetler | Posted 05.13.2012

Read More: Sustainable Living, Urban Biodiversity, Biodiversity, Green Developments, Green, Sustainability, Green Living, Urban Ecology, New Urbanism, Smart Growth, Green Community Development, Green Communities, Green News

You should not rely on a certificate as the sole indicator of how green your community is -- rely more on your "on-the-ground" analysis. Here are some things to look for.

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Evaluating Green Communities: Part 3

Mark Hostetler | Posted 05.11.2012

Read More: Green, Conservation, Sustainability, Green Living, Green Cities, Smart Growth, Biodiversity, Green News

Trails, sidewalks, and open spaces not only encourage residents to interact with their environment, but also promote a strong sense of community by facilitating interactions among neighbors.

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Evaluating Green Communities: Part 2

Mark Hostetler | Posted 05.08.2012

Read More: Green, Green Development, Sustainability, Green Living, Smart Growth, Green Living Tips, Green News

If you (as the homeowner) decide to convert the lawn to more native landscaping, will you be able to do so without penalty?

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Evaluating Green Communities: Part 1

Mark Hostetler | Posted 05.07.2012

Read More: Green Development, Sustainability, Green Living, Smart Growth, Green Living Tips, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Community Development, Green News

So you're buying a new home, and you're committed to "buying green" -- a house with good indoor air quality, that doesn't cost a fortune to heat and cool and resides in an ecologically friendly neighborhood. How do you find out about all that?

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As the House Transportation Bill Languishes, There's Still Time to 'Fix It First'

Geoffrey Anderson | Posted 04.23.2012

Read More: Smart Growth America, House of Representatives, Surface Transportation Bill, Public Transportation, Bicycling, Road Repair, Transit, Bipartisanship, Pedestrian Safety, Transportation Reauthorization, Smart Growth, Infrastructure, Third Industrial Revolution, Politics News

Americans are ready for an economically sound, people-friendly, and bipartisan transportation bill. It's a good thing our elected officials have extra time to meet those expectations.

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Walkable Neighborhoods Gaining Popularity -- Even in the Suburbs

Geoffrey Anderson | Posted 02.05.2012

Read More: Suburbs, Smart Growth America, Jersey City, Washington DC, Walkable Cities, Smart Growth, Suburban Sprawl, Locus, Green News

More and more Americans want to live in these affordable and accessible neighborhoods -- and the proof is in the prices of homes in these areas.

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D.C. vs. the Green Apple: In Efficiency, We're Closer Than You Think

Brian Keane | Posted 11.29.2011

Read More: Energy Efficiency, Scientific American, Urban Planning, Washington DC, Sustainability, Clean Energy, Green Cities, Smart Growth, New York City, Cities, Most Walkable Cities, DC News

New York City has it all: high-efficiency windows, hybrid taxis, low-flow appliances, underwater turbines and more. But let's face it: it's easy for cities to be efficient. What about the suburbs?

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American Jobs Act's Project Rebuild Aims to Revitalize Vacant Homes

Geoffrey Anderson | Posted 11.14.2011

Read More: Foreclosures, Smart Growth America, Foreclosure Crisis, Land Bank, Jobs, American Jobs Act, Foreclosure, Vacant Properties, Smart Growth, Barack Obama, Politics News

It can be difficult for a city to recover when, on top of unemployment, homes are boarded up or downtown is empty. Project Rebuild's strategies are exactly how smart growth can help communities facing these challenges.

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The Problem With Potholes: Neglected Road Repair Poses Huge Liabilities for Many States

Geoffrey Anderson | Posted 08.02.2011

Read More: Road Repair, Transportation Spending, Potholes, Pavement, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Smart Growth America, Smart Growth, Politics News

For decades, states have invested disproportionately in road expansion and left regular repair and preservation underfunded. As a result of these spen...

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EPA Announces Plan to Abandon Kansas City -- at the Cost of the City and Taxpayers

Geoffrey Anderson | Posted 06.15.2011

Read More: Epa, Smart Growth America, Environmental Protection Agency, Economic Development, Geoff Anderson, Sprawl, Smart Growth, Kansas City, Kansas, Green News

To avoid small costs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be creating big costs for everyone, including the federal government.

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Nurturing a Smart and Sustainable Community

John M. Eger | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Creativity, Internet, Community, Sustainability, Technology, Innov, Cities, Smart Growth, Healthy Living News

One of the more interesting paradoxes is that the more we live and work in cyberspace, the more important real place becomes.

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On the Road to Recovery, Smart Transportation Policies Stimulate the Economy and Create Jobs

Geoffrey Anderson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Smart Growth America, U.S. Economy, ARRA 2009, State Spending, Economic Stimulus Package, American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, Obama Administration, Jobs, Smart Growth, Federal Stimulus, Job Creation, Politics News

By prioritizing the care of existing infrastructure and public transportation, states can stretch precious transportation dollars further, put more Americans back to work, and help our economy grow.

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A Sputnik Moment for Smart Growth

Geoffrey Anderson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Obama Infrastructure, Infrastructure, Infrastructure Investment, National Infrastructure, President Barack Obama, Crumbling Infrastructure, State of the Union, Smart Growth, Politics News

In his State of the Union address, President Obama laid out strategies for better education, better energy production, better transportation and better job creation. All of these strategies are key to a stronger American economy.

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Village Green: Walkable Neighborhoods Enjoy More Trust, Participation

F. Kaid Benfield | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Architecture, Sustainability, Neighborhoods, Urban Planning, Smart Growth, Cities, Green News

A study by the Natural Resources and Earth System Science program at the University of New Hampshire finds that residents of neighborhoods wit...

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Village Green: EPA Honors 5 Exemplars of Smart Growth

F. Kaid Benfield | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Architecture, Sustainability, Development, Neighborhoods, Urban Planning, Smart Growth, Cities, Environmental Protection Agency, Green, Green News

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Wasteful Development Subsidies Among Cuts Proposed by Debt Commission

Geoffrey Anderson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Federal Budget Cuts, Smart Growth America, Obama Deficit Commission, Deficit Commission, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, Smart Growth, Debt Commission, Politics News

If Congress really wants to rebuild our economy and spur job growth they should start by cutting federal subsidies that incentivize wasteful development and bankrupt our communities.

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PHOTOS: These States Aren't Letting The Climate Bill Failure Stop Them

The Huffington Post | Alden Wicker | Posted 05.25.2011

Though the federal government may be hamstrung by man-made climate change deniers and dirty energy lobbyists, state governments are doing their part t...

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Village Green: Seven Rules for Sustainable Communities

F. Kaid Benfield | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Sustainability, Community, Neighborhoods, Smart Growth, Cities, Green News

Patrick Condon, senior researcher at the Centre for Sustainable Design at the University of British Columbia, has a new book, Sustainable Communities:...

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Village Green: Musings on Vacation Sites, Consumption, and Resilient Communities

F. Kaid Benfield | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Community, Travel, Historic Preservation, Smart Growth, Small Towns, Green News

When one can afford it, travel can be a wonderful experience. Many of us relish the adventure of seeing new places, eating new foods, ex...

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Village Green: How Government Buildings Shape Community, and What to Do

F. Kaid Benfield | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Planning, Towns, Architecture, Government, Community, Cities, Smart Growth, Green News

We generally do not think of the federal government as having much of a role in the shape and function of our local cities and towns. But there are important ways in which it does.

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Village Green: With the Oil Spill, What Will Become of Pass Christian?

F. Kaid Benfield | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Pass Christian, Mississippi, Oil Spill, Urban Planning, Hurricane Katrina, Fishing, Gulf Oil Spill, Smart Growth, Green News

“You’ve probably had your last really good Pass Christian oyster for a while,” Captain Louis Skrmetta of Ship...

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Village Green: New Program Launches to Promote Smart, Green Land Development

F. Kaid Benfield | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Green Building, Sprawl, Real Estate, Development, Neighborhoods, Leed, Smart Growth, Green News

The country’s first comprehensive system for defining, measuring, and certifying smart, green land development is now fully open for business. T...

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