Author: Isaac Gendler

Climate Action Plans

Climate Action Plans

Climate Action Plans

11/04/19

“How can governments design roadmaps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions?”

 

Climate change is going to affect every part of human society, whether it be how transportation infrastructure will buckle under extreme heat or how strengthened floods will harm coastal power generation. To help make sure climate conditions will not become too exacerbated, governments are looking to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their communities. Central to this will involve creating plans and frameworks to organize all actors of their institutions to reduce their carbon footprint. The prescribed actions can vary, from designing new energy efficiency programs for buildings to replacing carbon emitting power plants with solar and wind. These Climate Action Plans will be vital to ensuring that humanity has a safe and sustainable future ahead of it.

How the Increased Frequency of Droughts Will Put Pressure on City Water Infrastructure

How the Increased Frequency of Droughts Will Put Pressure on City Water Infrastructure

How the Increased Frequency of Droughts Will Put Pressure on City Water Infrastructure

11/03/19

“How will the increased frequency of droughts add stress to a city’s water infrastructure?”

 

As the climate is changing, more and more cities around the world will have to deal with the effects of drought. This means that less water will be available for municipal services, placing a strain on infrastructure. This effect can already be seen in cities around the world, whether it be Cape Town’s Day Zero crisis or Chennai running out of water. This is How the Increased Frequency of Droughts Will Put Pressure on a City’s Water Infrastructure.

Suspended Solids

Suspended Solids

Suspended Solids

11/02/19

“What happens when solids particles do not dissolve in water?”

 

Many types of solid particles are able to be dissolved in water. But often this is not always the case. Some particles are able to stay suspended in water, contaminating its purity. These Suspended Solids are often fine particulate matter, such as the ones from wildfire air pollution, that have settled onto the water. These can be purified either through the use of a water filter or sedimentation.

 

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Examples of Inequitable Heat Resilience

Examples of Inequitable Heat Resilience

Examples of Inequitable Heat Resilience

11/01/19

“What are examples of inequitable heat resilience?”

 

The rising global temperatures are putting heat resilience more and more into focus. However, if not properly implemented, there could be grave consequences for the world. There are many potential illustrations of this. If an urban area decides to plant trees in an upper-income area using species that require high volumes of water, then it might drain it off from the river banks of poorer communities. If upper-income communities install large amounts of energy-intensive HVAC systems in a power-starved region such as Lebanon or India, then it could siphon off electricity from the rest of the grid and cause brownouts in surrounding areas, making the response to heatwaves only worse. And if housing in temperate coastal or mountain areas becomes too expensive, lower-income people will be pushed into hotter areas that could prove deadly in a heat-wave, as being seen in California right now. These are just a few out of many Examples of Inequitable Heat Resilience.

 

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Why Urban Heat Resilience Needs to Be Equitable

Why Urban Heat Resilience Needs to Be Equitable

Why Urban Heat Resilience Needs to Be Equitable

10/31/19

“Why must equity take paramount importance when we design urban heat resilience?”

 

With the increase in average global temperatures and the densification of metropolitan centers, urban heat resilience will become a greater issue for the world. However, engineers and urban planners must keep in mind that the most vulnerable people in society, particularly seniors, young children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities and medical conditions will be the most susceptible to extreme heat. Resilience techniques that do not take these elements of society into account or ignore their needs will actively hurt them. For example, if all of the resources go to greening the wealthy districts of a city, then none will be left for people of lower-income areas. Since it is the duty of resilience professionals to ensure the safety of those most affected by climate change, it is only understandable Why Urban Heat Resilience Needs to Be Equitable.

Why Slow-Charging Electric Vehicle Stations Are a Good Assets for Residential Buildings

Why Slow-Charging Electric Vehicle Stations Are a Good Assets for Residential Buildings

Why Slow-Charging Electric Vehicle Stations Are Good Assets for Residential Buildings

10/30/19

“Why should communities consider placing slow-chargers in residential communities?”

 

Municipal governments are on the forefront of electric vehicle charger buildout. Part of this will be determining how to economically and logistically implement them. One strategy can be to consider placing slow-chargers in residential areas since they are more affordable and EVs are meant to be parked there for a long time. This is Why Slow-Charging Electric Vehicle Stations Are Good Assets for Residential Buildings.

 

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How Landowners Can Make Money Through Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

How Landowners Can Make Money Through Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

How Landowners Can Make Money Through Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

10/30/19

“How can landowners make money with electric vehicle charging?”

 

With the ever-increasing proliferation of electric vehicles, there needs to be more incentives for installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure. One such possibility can be for landowners to install electric vehicle chargers on their property and put a tax for everyone that refuels from them. Not only would this increase the EV infrastructure charging available but it would also allow for landowners to make a profit. This is How Landowners Can Make Money Through Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure.

 

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Why Requiring Electric Vehicle Chargers in Building Codes Might Be a Good Idea

Why Requiring Electric Vehicle Chargers in Building Codes Might Be a Good Idea

Why Requiring Electric Vehicle Chargers in Building Codes Might Be a Good Idea

10/29/19

“Why might requiring electric vehicle chargers in building codes be beneficial?”

 

With the ascent of electric vehicles, new charging infrastructure will need to be implemented to ensure demand can be met. One way to accelerate this will be to require electric vehicle chargers to be put in the building codes. Although it will add cost to building developers, society at large will be able to benefit from the extra availability of charging stations. This is Why Requiring Electric Vehicle Chargers in Building Codes Might Be a Good Idea.

 

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How Marking up the Cost of Electricity at Charge Points Can Help Recover the Cost of Electric Vehicle Chargers

How Marking up the Cost of Electricity at Charge Points Can Help Recover the Cost of Electric Vehicle Chargers

How Marking up the Cost of Electricity at Chargep  Points Can Help Recover the Cost of Electric Vehicle Chargers

10/29/19

“How can charging more to charge an electric vehicle can offset the cost of installing its supporting infrastructure?”

 

Electric vehicle chargers can be quite expensive to install. However, this can be offset by charging more for electricity at the charging station. Although this decision would probably not sit well with customers, it is How Marking up the Cost of Electricity at Chargep  Points Can Help Recover the Cost of Electric Vehicle Chargers.

 

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