Options for cities

[Ludi]

It's tough to stay on topic, but let's try!

[rangerone314]

I wonder if putting saltpeter into the city water supplies would reduce the birthrate?

[Ludi]

I wonder if putting saltpeter into the city water supplies would reduce the birthrate?

Maybe if you don't mind the collateral damage to everyone's health, such as increased colon cancer.

[rangerone314]

I wonder if putting saltpeter into the city water supplies would reduce the birthrate?

Maybe if you don't mind the collateral damage to everyone's health, such as increased colon cancer.

Wow, decrease the birthrate AND increase the deathrate.

They can eat more broccoli, LOL

[Ludi]

Wow, decrease the birthrate AND increase the deathrate.

Well, thing is, I really don't want this thread to be about deliberately increasing the death rate (except by means of reducing the birth rate through family planning). There are plenty of ways of doing that which would be relatively "easy," but this thread is not about that!

I'd like it if people could present more ideas about how cities might deal with the problems facing us, such as resource depletion and global warming. That would be great.

[nocar]

Reduce the spaces with asphalt and concrete devoted to cars, grow food there. Convert car-ports to greenhouses. Plant trees along the streets to shade people and homes. Design all streets primarily for walking and bicycling, motor vehicles can be allowed but only at 15 miles/h - except ambulances and fire trucks of course. Design a network of grocery stores within walking distance so people do not have to drive to get food. Also small schools within walking distance - some homes may be converted to schools. Same with work places - with internet, many office workers can be relocated to satellite offices close to home. Allow backyard chickens. Backyard chickens reduce food scraps to be trucked away, but trash should be reduced in other ways too. Allow people to have small businesses in their homes - hair dressing, boutiques, small retail, small lunch eateries, bicycle repair shops, sewing and mending/changing clothes.

People make livings in favelas and other sorts of informal/illegal settlements all around the world. Why not in American cities/suburbs?

[Loki]

I'd like it if people could present more ideas about how cities might deal with the problems facing us, such as resource depletion and global warming. That would be great.

I no longer live in the city (born again country boy) but I did live in “Ecotopia,” i.e., Portland, Oregon, for 15 or so years. Here are some things off the top of my head that the Portland area has done that might pertain to your question Ludi---mostly relates to green infrastructure and transportation:

--Subsidized street tree planting and natural area restoration to reduce sewer overflows, improve neighborhoods, reduce energy use, provide habitat, etc. (this was my full-time job for a while)

--Expanded community gardens (not nearly enough, last I heard there were 1,000 people on waitlists)

--Built a fair number of bioswales

--Encouraged green roofs (tax credits, subsidies, public education, etc.) for stormwater runoff and various other environmental goals

--Expanded park system, much of it natural areas

--Focused what most cities would consider an inordinate amount of time on developing a bicycle-friendly environment (as a former bike commuter I think they still have a ways to go)

--Built a trolley system downtown and a small but growing light rail grid---bus service is also pretty good, but could be better and has gotten worse since recession---general sense from the local powers is that public transportation is a good thing that should be encouraged

--Encourages density and “close-in” living and a walkable city (at least 'close-in')---new urbanism is the buzzword in city hall

--Organized a peak oil task force, though I have zero idea as to what they do or how influential they are

--Have let the road system deteriorate to Third World conditions to accustom us to the peak oil apocalypse on the horizon

Still, it's a big American metro area with all the sprawl, overconsumption, overpopulation, car-centric, fast food, strip mall characteristics of any American city. Just less bad.

[rangerone314]

One huge thing would be to redirect sewage so that it can be a feed into a system that generates compost for farms. At least make the agriculture / human waste part of the same cycle.

Although obviously you need to find a way to get people to not dump toxic chemicals etc into the toilet.

Existing systems need to be made into closed systems.

[mos6507]

Reduce the spaces with asphalt and concrete devoted to cars, grow food there.

Have you ever looked closely at the green median strips on the freeway during bumper to bumper traffic? Boy, is it depressing. They are caked with layer upon layer of litter accumulated over decades of never cleaning it up so as not to block traffic. I'm not sure I'd want to eat anything grown in what's become an unofficial trash heap.

[nocar]

mos6507 » Wed Mar 23, 2011 3:27 am

Reduce the spaces with asphalt and concrete devoted to cars, grow food there.

Have you ever looked closely at the green median strips on the freeway during bumper to bumper traffic? Boy, is it depressing. They are caked with layer upon layer of litter accumulated over decades of never cleaning it up so as not to block traffic. I'm not sure I'd want to eat anything grown in what's become an unofficial trash heap.

I did not have in mind the median strips. I was more thinking about parking lots, that you can break and remove the asphalt, and put new soil in there. But you are right, the median strips could be used if we got rid of all the cars first. If it really poisonous perhaps a woodlot instead of veggies. This just proves my point that cars are good for the people inside, but they create a terrible environment all around.

[anador]

In the solviva article that you posted, the author continually refers to bio-benign buildings, which appear to be south facing glass greenhouses.

How exactly do walls entirely made of south facing glass provide heating and cooling?

Would it not make more sense to use lower energy materials with natural ventilation?

Is there something I'm missing in how they are supposed to work?

[Narz]

I wonder if you could build Earthship-type apartment buildings.

Frankly, out of all the "sustainable" mofos out there I'd say Mike Reynolds is the most inspiring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ENIhmDskmY

[mos6507]

Earthships are passive solar which means they need a clear path for sunlight to enter the wedge-shape. In an urban environment you're going to have too much shade for that to work. Plus earthships rarely have more than one floor. The passivhaus approach seems more appropriate for denser housing.