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  • The Bane in Spain Falls Mainly on the, Um, Construction

    Spanish coast being ravaged by development The Spanish coast is being ravaged by a decade-long building boom, and there seems to be no end in sight. About 3 million houses have been started or built in the country in the past four years, with as many as half of them along its famed 3,100-mile coastline. […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • First cradle-to-cradle house takes shape in Virginia

    Nothing about this traditional design says “gray water treatment happens here.” Renderings: Southern Heritage Homes Lined with rundown, century-old houses and situated within a couple miles of downtown Roanoke, the neighborhood of Gainsboro, Va., seems an unlikely place to hatch a groundbreaking architectural experiment. But in early November, construction will begin there on the first […]

    Allison Milionis Cities

  • Nothing Could Prius Away

    Toyota Prius tops EPA’s list of most fuel-efficient cars for 2007 Yesterday, the U.S. EPA released its 2007 ranking of the most fuel-efficient vehicles, with gas-electric hybrids sweeping the top four spots. The Toyota Prius, ranked No. 1, gets 60 miles per gallon in the city and 51 mpg on the highway, according to the […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • Turns out its done by single-driver car

    The Transportation Research Board has released its third annual report on Commuting in America. The news is pretty much all bad. Kevin Drum summarizes:

    ... the number of workers has increased by 31 million since 1980 while the number of workers who drive alone to work has increased by 34 million. Despite the population increase, carpooling is down (except in the West), transit use is down (except in the West), walking is down, and motorcycle use is down. The only bright spot is an increase in people like me, who work from home.

    Here's the report's top ten list of commuting tidbits:

    David Roberts Cities

  • Property-rights initiatives threaten environmental protections in four Western states

    Field of dreams or field of nightmares? It depends who you ask. Photos: iStockphoto When you hear the phrase “a perfect storm,” it’s likely to conjure images of roiling whitecaps, perhaps a daring Coast Guard rescuer dangling from a helicopter to pull half-drowned sailors from their foundering vessels. Chances are the last thing it will […]

    Dan Whipple Cities

  • ‘Burb Your Enthusiasm

    Commuting costs often outweigh savings from living in suburbs, researchers say The cost of commuting more than 12 miles often nullifies the savings of cheaper suburban housing, says a new study by the Center for Housing Policy. Low- to moderate-income families are often pushed to outer suburbs by a lack of affordable housing near job […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • Drop Goes the Diesel

    Most of U.S. diesel-fuel supply to be cleaner by next week Diesel fuel will get a major makeover this weekend, thanks to rules drawn up during the Clinton administration and set to take effect on Sunday. (The Bushies would like to get some credit too, for not quashing the rules, like they did so many […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • A guide to offsetting your carbon emissions

    Taking a vacation to the other side of the planet is the ultimate luxury, but it’s one laced with guilt. On top of developed-country remorse, a new form of shame is beginning to stalk those of us taking “unnecessary” airplane rides: What about all that carbon dioxide spewing into the friendly but beleaguered skies? That’s […]

    Erica Gies Cities

  • The Little Engine That Could

    Honda develops “superclean” diesel engine for passenger cars Honda Motor Co. is aiming to clean up diesel’s dirty image with a new diesel engine for passenger cars that runs as cleanly as the most advanced gasoline-powered engines. In 2009, the company plans to start selling a sedan, probably a Honda Accord, powered by its new […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • Make a parking space into an impromptu public park

    Late last year there was a bit of blogospheric hubbub about Park(ing), a nifty public art/activism/event/thingy whereby a parking space is colonized and made into a temporary, impromptu public park, with grass, a potted tree, and a park bench. (It stays that way as long as passer-bys are willing to keep feeding the meter.) I love the idea, but I never got around to posting about it.

    And look, I blew it again! Yesterday was Park(ing) Day, and NPR did a nice little story about it, and me, well, I slept on it. Next year!

    park(ing)

    David Roberts Cities