Five US cities target building energy use, emissions with fines

New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Boston and St. Louis are poised to implement penalties to curb building-level greenhouse gas emissions or energy use.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Nov. 30, 2022

NYC to expand bike lanes, public spaces in 2023

The upgrades build on the city’s Open Streets program, which closes streets to vehicle traffic for use by pedestrians and cyclists, and its efforts to create the largest bike network in the U.S.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 23, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Public pressure at meetings affects rezoning application approval: study

An Urban Institute study found that Louisville, Kentucky, approved fewer rezoning applications in wealthy neighborhoods, even though developers submit more applications there, which was related to the level of public opposition.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 17, 2022

The 10 most future-ready cities in North America: report

Cities must invest more in digital and physical infrastructure to address today’s challenges but face several barriers, including a lack of public trust, a new report finds.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 15, 2022

White House endorses nature-based solutions in first US road map

The Biden administration said this week’s release in conjunction with COP27 marks the first time the U.S. has developed a strategy to scale up green roofs, rain gardens, urban trees and other green infrastructure.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 10, 2022

With control of Congress unknown, clean energy advocates cheer state wins and press for climate action

So far, it appears Republicans failed to pull off an anticipated “red wave” and Democrats outperformed expectations, analysts say.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 9, 2022

Climate funding wins big on state and local ballots

Voters in many jurisdictions embraced spending on resilience projects, clean energy and other climate change mitigation efforts  — with one notable exception.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Nov. 9, 2022

COP27 to spotlight implementation, finance for climate action

Even at the global stage, there could be insights on how to best go about decarbonizing U.S. cities from this month’s United Nations climate conference, experts say.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 7, 2022

To foster community, connect residents to the outside

Gardens and co-working spaces are among MBH Architects’ strategies for resident interaction.

By Mary Salmonsen • Nov. 4, 2022

Taxpayer-funded football stadiums rarely pay off. So why do cities keep footing the bill?

Sports economists warn U.S cities don’t reap enough economic benefits when stadiums are built with taxpayer money. Some city officials say community pride and shared identity are worth the investment.

By Gaby Galvin • Nov. 3, 2022

As part of new rat abatement program, NYC law targets construction sites

The New York City Council passed the Rat Action Plan Thursday to help address the Big Apple’s notorious rodent problems.

By Sebastian Obando • Oct. 28, 2022

Boston wants to use curb bump-outs to manage flooding, boost resilience

Curb extensions must incorporate at least one of five green infrastructure features, from rain gardens to porous paving, to improve water management and reduce environmental impact, according to the proposal.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 28, 2022

For equitable building electrification, philanthropy-backed fund puts communities in the driver’s seat

Who designs the energy transition? As cities work to reduce building emissions and spur clean alternatives, the creators of the Equitable Building Electrification Fund believe that decision-making power needs to shift.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 26, 2022

Affordable housing, zero waste efforts could benefit from San Antonio deconstruction policy

One of the largest, fastest-growing U.S. cities is trying to use more of the materials it already has by requiring that some old buildings be deconstructed rather than demolished.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 25, 2022

What’s next with Orlando’s digital twin

Users can experience the 800-square-mile digital twin in downtown Orlando or via virtual reality as the Orlando Economic Partnership seeks to market its potential to inform decisions around infrastructure and business development.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 21, 2022

Aiming for equitable building decarbonization, Chicago gets long-awaited working group guidance

A green bank, a heat pump pilot and expanded energy benchmarking are among the strategies the group presented to address the 70% of greenhouse gas emissions that come from the Windy City's buildings.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 19, 2022

7 urban asphalt art transformations in 2022: photos

From Alaska to Mississippi, see some of the latest intersection redesign and street mural projects cities have completed after receiving Bloomberg Philanthropies grants.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 18, 2022

NYC Meatpacking District vision aims to improve safety, mobility and business

New bike lanes, improved traffic patterns, more green space and pedestrian plazas are some of the recommendations from the New York City Meatpacking District Management Association.

By Kalena Thomhave • Oct. 17, 2022

Philadelphia agrees to install or fix 10,000 curb ramps in class-action lawsuit settlement

The city will be required to hit 2,000-ramp milestones every three years, take service requests and provide status updates online in the settlement of the lawsuit advanced by Philadelphians with disabilities and others.

By Danielle McLean • Updated May 9, 2023

Chicago passes updated building energy code to support decarbonization

Starting in November, new building designs must adhere to stronger energy-efficiency and electrification standards as the city seeks to mitigate one of its major sources of emissions.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 29, 2022

California could phase out gas heaters by 2030 to cut smog

The home and building appliances are “an underappreciated driver of unhealthy air quality in California cities,” non-profit advocates say in a report Tuesday, as state regulators consider only allowing zero-emissions alternatives.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 20, 2022

150 years after the Great Chicago Fire, mass timber buildings are making a comeback

Now equipped with fire-resistant technologies, a planned Chicago high-rise is among the latest building projects in the U.S. utilizing the carbon-sequestering building material.

By Stephenie Overman • Sept. 16, 2022

Advanced mobility, mass timber projects chosen in $1B federal regional challenge

The American Rescue Plan’s $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge will support joint efforts to use mass timber to accelerate affordable housing, spur American manufacturing for advanced mobility, and much more.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 9, 2022

How 3 cities are using public art for neighborhood revitalization

Community engagement, economic development and beautification are just some of the benefits of investing in local artists and public art, city and nonprofit leaders say.

By Karen Kroll • Sept. 6, 2022

Arup, startup are building smart city modeling tools to maximize energy efficiency

With Matidor, the partners seek to help civil engineers see the environmental impact and energy efficiency of what they’re developing in real time.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 2, 2022