Housing as a Leading Indicator

See on Scoop.it – Green Real Estate

During the economic crisis of 2008, the housing market, along with everything else, crashed hard and fast.

See on www.linkedin.com

Sustainable Energy Stands Out in 2012 Platts Global Energy Award | XS4GREEN.com | Makes green products visible

See on Scoop.it – Sustainable Green Real Estate

Sustainable Energy Stands Out in 2012 @Platts Global Energy Award http://t.co/JkI6BpuK #business…

See on www.xs4green.com

Moladi – innovations in affordable housing “empowering people. Award Blog”

See on Scoop.it – Sustainable Green Real Estate

@Africare Fight poverty with innovation – empowering people – producing homes http://t.co/yyXm11af @moladi #Africa #Housing #entrepreneur…

See on www.empowering-people-award.siemens-stiftung.org

Sustainable Style : Rebuilding or Renovating Your Home with Reclaimed Wood

See on Scoop.it – Green Real Estate

I first talked about reclaimed wood, briefly, in my piece 10 Eco-friendly ways to Renovate your Home…. Now, on the heels of Hurricane Sandy many of us are looking to rebuild or renovate our homes after suffering severe damage and devastation.

See on homes.yahoo.com

Cool new Ecological Urbanism App offering

Cool new Ecological Urbanism App offering global share of important research and advancements in the sustainable initiatives. Cool concept. Not sure where they’re pulling data from. US underpopulated with results. http://ow.ly/fQNgf ^HH

Cost of solar energy continues to declin

Cost of solar energy continues to decline (Infographic) | ProudGreenHome.com http://ow.ly/fQJKQ ^HH

Five Ways The Government Can Create Sust

Five Ways The Government Can Create Sustainable Innovation | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation http://ow.ly/fQHQq ^HH

Chicago Mayor Jump starts the Electric Vehicle Industry

Mayor Emanuel Jump starts the Electric Vehicle Industry

Last week, Mayor Emanuel joined city, state and federal leaders to make a number of important announcements with respect to electric vehicles and batteries: a $15 million incentive program to encourage the adoption of electric trucks; Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corp. opening an electric-vehicle factory in Chicago; a new procurement program that will encourage city contractors to purchase electric vehicles; and a dramatic expansion of the city’s commitment to building an energy-efficient fleet. The week was capped off with the announcement of a historic partnership and a $120 million investment in Argonne National Laboratory that will turn Chicago into a world-renowned battery hub.

These five initiatives fit into one broad strategy that addresses every aspect of electronic vehicles, from their conception and design to their construction to, ultimately, their presence on our streets. In line with Goals #11 and 12 of the Mayor’s roadmap, Sustainable Chicago 2015, this strategy will lead to Chicago becoming the electric-vehicle epicenter for Illinois, the Midwest and beyond.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/December-2012-City-of-Chicago-Sustainability-Programs—Events.html?soid=1102254033668&aid=ZG9c_8teC74.

Chicago’s Riverwalk Project: Revitalization, public space + community identity

See on Scoop.it – Sustainable Green Real Estate

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced plans in November to expand the city’s Riverwalk by six blocks, tying public space along Lake Michigan to the confluence of the river’s three branches at Wolf Point.

 

Conceptual plans establish identities for each of the six blocks from State Street west to Lake Street.

 

The project is intended to draw more recreation to the riverfront, presumably to include kayaking at the Cove and the Marina, and fishing at the jetty. After the state committed $10 million to clean up the Chicago River, the Environmental Protection Agency followed suit, ordering a cleanup for the wastewater-ridden waterway downtown that would be comprehensive enough to make stretches actually clean enough for swimming.

 

The design team for the expansion is composed of Sasaki Associates, Alfred Benesch & Co., Ross Barney Architects, and Jacobs/Ryan Associates.

 

Visit the link to learn more about this large-scale revitalization effort and development of green public space in Chicago.

See on www.archpaper.com

10 Techniques for Making Cities More Walkable

See on Scoop.it – HealthyHomesChicago

In Jeff Speck’s excellent new book, Walkable City, he suggests that there are ten keys to creating walkability. Most of them also have something to do with redressing the deleterious effects caused by our allowing cars to dominate urban spaces for decades. I don’t necessarily agree with every detail, and my own list might differ in some ways that reflect my own experience and values. But it’s a heck of a good menu to get city leaders and thinkers started in making their communities more hospitable to walkers.

 

Visit the article link to read more details and examples of the author’s ten steps of walkability…

See on www.theatlanticcities.com