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Friday 14 October 2022

Sounds appropriate



Utah is building a ‘15-minute city’ on the site of a former prison

Three out of four Americans believe it’s “better for the environment if houses are built farther apart”, according to a recent survey by the polling group YouGov.

Three out of every four Americans are, for the most part, very wrong.

City living is far more sustainable than suburban life in part because walking, biking and public transportation keep people out of cars. A 2014 study from UC Berkeley found that the average carbon footprint of city households was about 10 metric tonnes of planet-heating carbon dioxide (CO2) less per year than homes in the suburbs.

In Utah, plans are underway to take this eco-friendliness to the next level with a “15-minute city”. The concept, developed by urban planner Carlos Moreno, describes neighbourhoods where residents can reach everything they need – work, school, shopping, entertainment – with a short walk or bike ride.


Built on the site of a former prison - it sounds appropriate somehow. Here's a guess to stir into the eco-mix - rich people won't live there.

6 comments:

Doonhamer said...

I do not know if Carlos Moeno is rich, but I bet he won't be bunking up there either.
The winners of award winning homes for the plebs never do.
Why not enclose the city in a giant transparent cloche. Then regulate the temperature by adjusting the CO2 level. In summer removed all CO2, result cool. In winter boost the the CO2 level, result warmth. Obvious, innit.

Unless you do not believe that CO2 controls the temperature.

Sam Vega said...

"neighbourhoods where residents can reach everything they need – work, school, shopping, entertainment – with a short walk or bike ride."

With Amazon deliveries, WFH, and an exercise bike or treadmill, people can already achieve this anywhere.

dearieme said...

I used to cycle almost everywhere. Work, nursery school, primary school, shops, library ...

Then my right knee packed in. Tried an electric bike - wonderful but I found the riding position gave my back gyp. The bike doctrine is fine until it isn't.

Nessimmersion said...

Funny how when you let people have free choice, the vast majority seem to prefer suburbia for the 25-70 age group,whether Oz, USA or Europe.

Wonder if people can observe outcomes & decide thats the best way for them.

A K Haart said...

Doonhamer - your idea sounds like a version of carbon capture. Don't tell anyone!

Sam - and the exercise bike or treadmill could generate community electricity.

dearieme - I prefer walking to cycling. I cycled to work in my younger days but found it tedious doing the same journey day after day. I once had a job where I could walk to work in 30 minutes - never bettered that as a daily journey to and from work.

Nessimmersion - yes, it's strange how people can observe outcomes and make choices for themselves, yet other people don't think they should be allowed to.

dearieme said...

Ha! My GP told me to stop cycling everywhere and walk instead. I did so and contracted the painful condition "policeman's heel" aka
plantar fasciitis. Back to the bike I went.