Opinion: How geothermal HVAC reduces costs improve grid resilience
New affordable housing developments in Southeast DC use innovative geothermal HVAC systems to provide more efficient heating and cooling. According to the opinion of Matthias Poustian and Glen Hall of Greater Washington, “The geothermal HVAC system, part of a $2.5 million pilot project funded by the DC Public Service Commission (PSC), uses a closed loop […]
Tenant Screening: A billion dollar industry with little surveillance. What is being done to protect tenants?
Tenant screening has become a billion dollar industry dominated by thousands of companies that promise landlords data-driven, rapid decisions about future tenants. However, as Shelterforce has revealed, these tools often rely on error-prone biased algorithms that exclude tenants, particularly blacks, Latino, low-income, and voucher-holding tenants, based on factors that have little to do with their […]
Downtown Portland is ready for the tallest buildings in Maine
The proposed development in Portland, Maine could significantly change the city’s skyline. Along with Safdie Architects, East Brown Cow president Tim Soley leads the “Old Port Square” project. According to News Center Maine, “For the past 16 years, Solly has strategically acquired properties on this block. His latest vision includes a 30-storey hospitality and residential […]
EV “Charging Dividing” is plaguing the American countryside
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is growing at a slower rate in rural America, according to an analysis by EV charging data analytics firm Paren. In a Daily Yonder article, Julia Tilton said, “As of the first quarter of 2025, 45% of rural counties installed at least one fast EV charging port, compared to 76.5% in […]
Judge stops removing Brooklyn Bike Lane
In the victory of Brooklyn Bike supporters, the judge ordered New York City to halt the planned removal of the protected bike lane at Bedford Avenue. The judge has yet to issue a final verdict, but “for now, street safety advocates have cried out that they have stopped plans for the city, at least for […]
The restaurant patio was a pandemic victory – why are they so hard to maintain?
Five years ago, cities across America witnessed something incredible. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that cities could change much more quickly than many previously thought, due to all its painful effects. With the right incentives, transformation can almost literally take place overnight, and authorities have shown that we can act quickly and subtly to implement […]
Engineers gave American roads almost failed grades – why don’t we fix them?
Is “First revision” at the heart of the transportation sector’s strategy? In the beginning of a series of blog posts entitled “Rethinking Certification,” U.S. Transportation argues that the federal government must direct transport funds in a way that prioritizes maintenance and repair of new roads and projects expanding capacity. A new approach is urgently needed. […]
European cities that love electronic scoters – and not
David Zipper of Bloomberg CityLab reports that the e-Scooter industry shared in Europe is booming. “The small devices have found a niche, especially in places where many trips are short, tourist-rich, and car use is tedious and expensive.” Scooters, especially rental users, do not have to park or store them themselves, offer a convenient and […]
Map: Where Senate Republicans want to sell your public land
If the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources proposes to sell hundreds of millions of acres of public land in the West, it could cause irreparable damage to sensitive natural, historical and cultural sites. As Andrew McKeane explains in Outdoor Living, “The bill sells land for the BLM and the Forest Service “over 0.50%, […]
Amazing Pro-Fighting Swing in the Texas Legislature
Texas lawmakers are passing several laws aimed at increasing the state’s housing supply, seeking to reduce the growing housing burden that many Texas households face, reports Joshua Fater of Texas Tribune. Among the passed legislation, Senate Bill 15 allows developers to build small homes in small lots, except that cities require a minimum lot size […]