Sustainable Urban Development
With cities expected to host about 70 percent of the world's population, sustainable urban development is key to making communities worldwide more resilient against the growing threat of climate change. Find out about the latest urban practices from across the world aiming to make our cities more sustainable and inclusive in these good-news stories from The Optimist Daily.
Recycling asphalt shingles is now possible thanks to this roofing giant
Affordable and easy to install, it’s not surprising that asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material in the US, covering about 75 percent of the country’s roofs. The problem with it, however, is that 12 to 15 years after installation, they need to be replaced. Due to this, shingles Read More...
Electric future: Why we need to make all stoves gas-free
A third of Americans cook with natural gas in their homes and many, especially kitchen-savvy chefs, seek out these appliances over electric versions, but the health and environmental effects of gas raise the question: Why are we still using these cooktops? What's wrong with gas stoves First and Read More...
Nature takes center stage in this redevelopment project in Tokyo
Adding more greenery to our built environment can go a long way in making our cities more resilient in the face of climate change. That’s why, here at The Optimist Daily, we love seeing urban development projects that seamlessly interweave nature with the built environment. The Toranomon Urban Read More...
Central Park and other open spaces are about to get an organic upgrade
Some of the world’s most famous parks, including Central Park in New York City and Grant Park in Chicago are about to get a green upgrade with the announcement that yogurt brand Stonyfield Organic is sponsoring the transition of these parks to pesticide-free areas. As part of the StonyFIELDS Read More...
Small wind turbine could enable buildings to live off the grid
Last week, we discussed Vortex Bladeless, a bladeless wind turbine with the potential to become the wind equivalent of rooftop solar panels. As it turns out, Vortex Bladeless is not the only invention out there seeking to rethink the design of traditional wind turbines. Enter Powerpod, a portable Read More...
Urban development upgrades that will outlast the pandemic
During the pandemic, cities closed off their streets to cars, turned unused parking garages into urban farms, and expanded bike lanes. These people-friendly modifications made cities more livable during a global pandemic, but many of them are here to stay as cities shift away from car-based Read More...
Solar concentrators provide fast and reliable solar light
With a population of 5.6 million people, the small island nation of Singapore has roughly the same density as New York City. In a country where space is of the essence, researchers from Nanyang Technological University have developed a compact solar concentrator to illuminate the island’s Read More...
Philadelphia is using a mediation program to prevent evictions
Back in August, with Covid-19 cases on the rise and tenants across the city struggling financially, the city of Philadelphia decided to take an unconventional approach to solve a housing crisis with their Eviction Diversion Program. With the new program, landlords are required to attend a Read More...
Hemp-based insulation is toxin-free and continually absorbs emissions
In one Parisian apartment building, the residents rarely turn on the heat, even in the dead of winter. That’s because the walls are filled with “hempcrete,” an innovative insulation that is better for people and better for the planet. The revolutionary material doesn’t contain harmful Read More...
Athens is tackling urban air pollution and heat stress with "pocket parks"
Adding greenery to urban areas can do wonders for the liveability of a city. On top of providing shade and a cooling effect, trees, and shrubs also remove pollution from the air. That’s why Greece’s capital, Athens, has embarked on a mission to green up the city by creating “pocket parks” Read More...