Accessible Technology
More to discover ↗A citywide ranking can be a useful conversation starter, but it cannot show who benefits, which neighborhoods are falling behind or whether gains in one area come at a cost elsewhere. A small, transparent set of measures offers a clearer way to track progress.
Read article · 4 min↗A street redesign can improve walking, cycling, transit and public space, but a finished project still needs scrutiny. Learn how to spot common design mistakes, gather useful feedback and assess whether a redesigned street works for the people who use it.
Read article · 4 min↗Traffic pollution is not spread evenly across a city. Road design, vehicle activity, weather and the places people spend their time all shape exposure. Understanding those patterns can help communities choose responses that protect the people most affected.
Read article · 4 min↗Composting and anaerobic digestion can both keep food scraps out of general waste, but they produce different benefits and need different infrastructure. Here is a practical way for cities to compare them—and decide whether they work better together.
Read article · 4 min↗Recycling contamination is often treated as a problem of individual behavior. But unclear rules, confusing bins and collection practices also shape what reaches a sorting facility. Here is how cities can make the right choice easier.
Read article · 4 min↗A city resident does not need to own a roof to explore solar power. This guide compares rooftop systems, shared building systems and community solar, with questions to ask about access, costs and benefits.
Read article · 4 min↗District energy connects multiple buildings to shared heating or cooling equipment through a network of pipes. Here is how the water moves, where the heat comes from, and why neighborhood density matters.
Read article · 4 min↗Keeping a building can preserve much of the material already invested in it, but renovation is not automatically the lower-carbon choice. A fair comparison looks at what can be retained, what each option must add, how long the result will serve, and whether the building will meet its occupants’ needs.
Read article · 4 min↗Insulation can make an older building more comfortable, but sealing drafts without planning for fresh air can trap moisture and pollutants. This guide offers a practical way to identify problems, choose improvements and check whether they work.
Read article · 4 min↗Water conservation is not just about asking residents to use less. Cities can make a lasting difference by finding leaks in their networks, repairing them in a sensible order, and making everyday water-saving choices easier and fairer.
Read article · 4 min↗Rain gardens and permeable pavement both help manage runoff, but they need different amounts of space, maintenance and site preparation. Here is how to compare them on a city street—and why the strongest design may use both.
Read article · 4 min↗Street trees and cool roofs both help cities respond to heat, but they work in different places and on different timescales. A useful choice starts with who needs relief, where the heat is felt, and what can be maintained.
Read article · 4 min↗Urban heat is not spread evenly. Streets, buildings, trees and daily travel patterns all shape who faces the most heat. A useful heat-risk map brings together temperature, exposure and residents’ knowledge, then helps a city decide where to act.
Read article · 4 min↗The curb is a small part of the street with many jobs. A practical approach starts by mapping who needs it, when they need it, and what happens when there is no room. Here is how cities can make curbside choices that support access, reliable travel, local businesses, and public life.
Read article · 4 min↗A walkable street is more than a sidewalk beside traffic. Continuous paths, crossings where people need them, and vehicle speeds suited to the surroundings work together to make everyday trips easier and safer.
Read article · 4 min↗A protected bike lane is more than a strip of pavement behind a barrier. Its usefulness depends on how people enter it, cross intersections, reach destinations, and travel through it in every season. Here are the design choices that can make cycling feel more predictable for everyone on the street.
Read article · 4 min↗A bus network can run often on a smaller set of routes or reach more neighborhoods with less frequent service. The best design depends on who needs the bus, where they need to go, and what alternatives are available.
Read article · 4 min↗Transit-oriented development puts homes, jobs, services and public spaces within an easy walk or roll of reliable transit. But building near a station is only a start. Good connections, useful destinations, accessible streets and housing choices determine whether the approach works for everyday life.
Read article · 4 min↗When everyday destinations are close to home, more trips become possible on foot, by bike, or on a short transit ride. Mixed-use neighborhoods can make daily life more convenient, but proximity works best when housing, accessible routes, and useful services are planned together.
Read article · 4 min↗A sustainable city is more than a collection of green buildings. It gives people practical ways to meet daily needs while using resources carefully and preparing for change. This guide explains how land use, infrastructure, public space, and everyday choices fit together.
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