"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Month: February 2022
Why Banning NFTs Would Be Good for the Environment
02/10/22
“Why are banning NFTs good for the environment?”
NFTs are known to be highly wasteful and bad for the environment. So if governments were to band together to ban them, then they could cut off a potential large source of carbon emissions. This is Why Banning NFTs Would Be Good for the Environment.
Why NFTS Are Bad for the Environment
02/09/22
“Why are NFTs bad for the environment?”
NFTs are (as of writing) one of the latest crazes in the world. However, one significant downside is that they are bought and sold using cryptocurrency, which consumes gargantuan amounts of energy and greenhouse gasses. Once you know this it’s pretty simple to see Why NFTS Are Bad for the Environment.
Using Road Bridge Tolls to Fund Cross-Bridge Public Transportation
02/08/22
“How could we use road bridge tolls to fund and incentivize cross-bridge public transportation?”
People often have difficulty choosing whether to use a car or public transportation to cross a bridge. However, if we leverage a bridge toll to make it more expensive to use your car and have it subsidize public transportation, then it would make the latter more appealing. This is how Using Road Bridge Tolls to Fund Cross-Bridge Public Transportation can create positive change
Why Decreasing Gas Usage Advances Indigenous Rights
02/07/22
“Why can decreasing natural gas usage advance Indigenous rights?”
Natural gas pipelines are vulnerable to leaks and stressful environmental impacts. Energy companies disproportionately place these networks on Indigenous territory because they are aware that they will face legal ramifications as a result of settler-colonial power structures. However, if people decrease their gas usage, there will be less demand for these pipelines, and Indigenous land will be pressured much less. This is Why Decreasing Gas Usage Advances Indigenous Rights.
Why Converting Parking Space Into Multifamily Housing Is a Great Way for Cities to Welcome Climate Refugees
02/06/22
“Why is converting parking space into multifamily housing a great way for cities to welcome climate refugees?”
Parking spaces can take up large portions of cities. And these areas are often made of impervious material that causes water to build up during flooding events. And worse, these spaces are not available when natural disasters occur. But one thing we can do is replace their footprint with multi-family housing. Not only does this take away a lot of climate vulnerabilities, but it also creates more room for newcomers to move in. This is Why Converting Parking Space Into Multifamily Housing Is a Great Way for Cities to Welcome Climate Refugees.
Why Bedrock Is a Great Foundation to Build Skyscrapers On
02/05/22
“Why is bedrock a great foundation to build skyscrapers on?”
Every building requires a foundation to be built upon. However, heavier buildings like skyscrapers will need a more solid foundation to support. So what kind of material would work for massive skyscrapers? Well, let’s think about it. We know that a pure hard rock would make things very easy to work with. So what if this could come in the form of solid bedrock? Well, this just so happens to be the case! Dense cities like Manhattan that contain heaps of bedrock are great examples of Why Bedrock Is a Great Foundation to Build Skyscrapers On.
Why Allowing Stores in Homes in Residential Areas Can Increase Quality of Life
02/04/22
“Why will allowing commercial operations in residential areas increase the quality of life?”
Small coffee shops, bookstores, and music venues are some of the biggest magnets for neighborhood livability. However, oftentimes zoning codes prevent these stores from being built in residential neighborhoods, preventing someone from turning their home into a small store. One way to solve this is to change zoning laws to allow stores in homes, giving entrepreneurs a chance to start! This is Why Allowing Stores in Homes in Residential Areas Can Increase Quality of Life.
Why Making Minimum Residential Building Sizes Can Make Housing More Affordable
02/03/22
“Why can making minimum residential building sizes smaller make housing more affordable?”
The bigger a house is, the more likely it will be more expensive. If minimum residential sizes in a neighborhood require large lot sizes, then it will probably be more expensive to live there. But with the rising housing crisis and the ongoing dearth of construction, such a steep requirement for building new housing is something that must be overcome. Instead, communities should look into making minimum residential sizes smaller so more housing can be built and people can have more freedom to live. This way, supply goes up and costs go down. This is Why Making Minimum Residential Building Sizes Can Make Housing More Affordable.
Bike Sharrows
02/02/22
“How can we mark that cars should share the lane with bicycles?”
Separating bicycles from riders is a great way to ensure cyclist safety. However, sometimes this is not possible to achieve. So how can we do the best we can given the circumstances? Well, what if we were to simply mark the part of the road where cyclists are supposed to ride? This would be a relatively affordable and easy to implement procedure and help automobiles know that they should look out for bicyclists. These Bike Sharrows can be found in cities all over the world, wherever there are bicyclists.
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