sustainable communities

Black Friday Reflections on Happiness, Consumption, and Sustainability

As discussed in a fascinating new book by Derek Bok, psychologists have been busily researching a new set of issues relating to happiness. As a result of this research, psychologists are beginning to develop a deeper understanding of the factors that control well-being. Well-being is a multi-dimensional concept that includes objective factors such as health, …

CONTINUE READING

Community Planning: What Do People Want?

Gallup has published an interesting poll about the qualities that people value in communities.  They conducted a poll to find out what made people feel attached to their communities. The top three on the list are: Social offerings are the top driver of attachment in 2010. . . . This includes the availability of arts …

CONTINUE READING

To the left is the famous cardigan worn by Jimmy Carter in the oval office, when he urged Americans to turn down their thermostats to save energy.  In reality, the most important ways of saving energy (such as cogeneration by industry, better insulation, etc.) don’t involve any discomfort.  It turned out that the American people …

CONTINUE READING

HUD and DOT, sitting in a tree…

The two federal agencies that should go together like peas and carrots are finally making moves.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a new joint task force to identify strategies to link affordable housing with transportation and to create sustainable communities. The task force will …

CONTINUE READING

TRENDING