About two months ago we challenged what we perceive to be a bias in favor of ultra high density, subsidized housing on the part of urban planners who should be engineering cities but often seem to want to engineer society while they’re at it.  These comments culminated (for now) with our Critique of New Urbanism (also known as [...]

That they are pioneers in ”BIPV” technology (building integrated photovoltaics) makes Los Angeles based Solar Integrated a very interesting company.  But what makes Solar Integrated really, really interesting is they very likely have the most inexpensive photovoltaic solution in the world today.

Solar Integrated’s flexible PV
panels being installed on the
CocaCola plant in Los Angeles.

Large scale photovoltaic installations are still [...]

The sporadic nature of renewable energy, wind and solar in particular, poses a great challenge to wider adoption.  Storage systems, even in stationary applications, are not sufficently developed.  But rather than depending on creating a massive battery industry to facilitate a decentralized electricity grid reliant on wind and solar sources, why not develop thermal storage?  [...]

It’s been a long time since land development in California was governed solely by market forces. For decades, and especially in the last 10-15 years, myriad regulations and agencies have had a hand in land use decisions. To some extent, of course, this is appropriate. There are legitimate reasons why we empower our government to [...]

Our post yesterday, “Taking on Smart Growth” prompted a lengthy exchange between the author and a very well informed critic. Despite our best efforts to communicate our point of view, ultimately the critic described our criticisms of new urbanism as coming from “Wingnuttia.” Rather than continue to argue the point on yesterday’s post, [...]

When green technology delivers decentralized solutions to water and energy - from hi-tech and low maintenance, ultra-effective septic systems to affordable rooftop photovoltaics and electrical storage systems, there are a lot of public works contractors who will be looking for something to do.

A green mega-project:
High rise agriculture for food & biofuel.
(Photo: www.verticalfarm.com)

Fortunately, we have the [...]

Definition: “New Urbanism - the revival of our lost art of place-making, and promotes the creation and restoration of compact, walkable, mixed-use cities.”
It is completely impractical to make everything “walking distance” from everything else. People like cars. The car is the most liberating personal appliance ever invented. The new urbanist war [...]