This article is freely accessible to anyone at:  http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmelpr/vol36/iss1/6/.

Happy New Year!

Developing a Solar Energy Potential Map

By Lyle Leitelt and Todd BenDor

Are you interested in increasing renewable energy use in your community? Efforts like the Solar America Cities initiative have helped spread the use of solar energy in communities across the country, but solar is still [...]]]> Just published as a American Planning Association Planning Advisory Service Memo:

Developing a Solar Energy Potential Map

By Lyle Leitelt and Todd BenDor

Are you interested in increasing renewable energy use in your community? Efforts like the Solar America Cities initiative have helped spread the use of solar energy in communities across the country, but solar is still an under-used resource in many places. This month’s PAS Memo describes how solar energy potential maps can help inform communities, residents, and business owners of the viability of solar energy on specific properties and rooftops.

http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/06/09/leed-double-platinum-for-construction-offices/

I want to work here!

Airspace Rebooted from ItoWorld on Vimeo.

We already know that green construction dramatically lowers the environmental impacts of new building and provides long-term financial benefits through lowered utility bills and improved health (e.g. leading to fewer employee sick days).

A former student and I set out to understand differences between urban and rural green [...]]]> Check out my new op-ed in the Asheville Citizen-Times!

We already know that green construction dramatically lowers the environmental impacts of new building and provides long-term financial benefits through lowered utility bills and improved health (e.g. leading to fewer employee sick days).

A former student and I set out to understand differences between urban and rural green building. Our research discovered that:

1. Rural green building starts with supportive local governments.  Without building inspectors and government officials who are willing to encounter something new, green building will not happen. This has happened in places like Asheville and Durham, but happens far less frequently in surrounding rural communities.
2. Active local industry groups that support green building, such as the Western N.C. Green Building Council, are imperative to resolve confusion found in many rural areas over green construction and its benefits.
3. Community colleges and universities with sustainability curriculums diffuse information about green construction to nearby developers and local governments. For example, the sustainability programs at UNC-Asheville and Warren Wilson College have helped spur more extensive green building in their vicinity than in many other rural areas around the State.

“Taken for a Ride is an amazing documentary by Jim Kleina and Martha Olson that documents the efforts to derail mass transit in America. Ever wonder why the U.S. has the worst mass transportation system in the industrialized world? Using historical footage and investigative research, this film tells how GM fought to push freeways [...]]]>

“Taken for a Ride is an amazing documentary by Jim Kleina and Martha Olson that documents the efforts to derail mass transit in America. Ever wonder why the U.S. has the worst mass transportation system in the industrialized world? Using historical footage and investigative research, this film tells how GM fought to push freeways into the inner cities of America, and push public transportation out. For more information about this film, check out http://www.newday.com. This video was funded by the Independent Television Service. Support the work of this film by (a) using public transportation, (b) telling your elected representatives to dedicate more funding towards public transportation, and (c) purchase this video for your own collection. Go to http://www.newday.com/films/Taken_for_a_Ride.html”