Why Urban Infrastructure is Important

In any city, a large part of the carbon output and energy draw can be accredited to the transportation network. In inefficient cities (read L.A.), transportation is burdened by heavy individualized and long distance traffic. This results in people driving alone, in automobiles, for an excessively long period of time. Efficient transportation cities (read New [...]

Top 10 Smart and Sustainable Cities

A “Smart City” in the United States may be defined as one that uses technologies in the field of information and communication to become much more intelligent in the way it handles resources to ensure in savings via cost and energy. These technologies are also utilized to improve quality of life for all residents as [...]

Emanuel Delivers on Clean Energy Promise for Chicago

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has taken two more big steps toward a clean energy future for Chicago. While many leaders talk about the urgency of transitioning to clean energy, Emanuel is acting, and making major changes that will deliver cleaner air and new jobs for Chicago in the near future. First, Emanuel made a major [...]

Report: Future Cities Need Government Clean Energy Support

Governments will have to provide long-term sustained support for renewable energy, smart grid and other future city initiatives for them to be successful, according to a new report from Lux Research, a global company providing intelligence on emerging technologies. Lux focused on eight urban development models in brownfield cities like Barcelona, Spain and Amsterdam in [...]

Chicago Goes Coal Free

Chicago’s two coal plants are shutting down after more than a decade-long battle by the Chicago Clean Power Coalition. Midwest Generation, a subsidiary of giant Edison International will shut down one plant this year and other in 2014, when Chicago will be “coal free.” Called notoriously decrepit and toxic Model-T-era coal plants, they are among [...]

California’s Fastest-Growing Solar Cities

California has become one of the top states in the country in clean energy production, with solar energy growing rapidly throughout the Golden State. SunRun, one of the leading home solar companies in the country, recently announced the fastest-growing solar cities in California, in conjunction with the release of the company’s year-end reports. The cities [...]

The Boston Institute for Clean Energy Prototyping (BICEP)

BICEP is the Boston Institute for Clean Energy Prototyping. It’s run by me, Ethan Labowitz. My goal is clear: I want to make Boston a world class city for clean energy prototyping. A world class city has the resources and knowledge to build the most high quality prototypes the fastest, for the least amount of money, [...]

Self Sufficient Mega Cities of the Future

The cities of the world are facing multiple challenges. While it is expected that nearly 60 percent of the world’s population will be urban dwellers in the next two decades, the disharmony among the spatial, social and environmental aspects of a city and its inhabitants is growing at a startling pace. The problems are more [...]

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