Category: Policy

Zoom Towns

Zoom Towns

Zoom Towns

07/29/21

“Why are these places described as “zoom towns” springing up?”

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic forced employers into cyberspace and liberated many employees to move elsewhere. Unconstrained by office proximity, these workers began moving into cities that offered a low cost of living with high amenities. Towns that fit this profile have seen large influxes of remote workers, leading to the name Zoom Towns. As remote work becomes a more permanent feature of our society, we’ll see more and more zoom towns spring up.

Infrastructure Negotiation

Infrastructure Negotiation

Infrastructure Negotiation

07/28/21

“Why is infrastructure negotiation so important?”

Infrastructure is just as political as it is physical. The funding, construction, and maintenance of it is governed by a wide variety of actors with power. For this reason, Infrastructure Negotiation is highly important. By deciding on all of the factors that govern what must happen, we can try to work together to build a bridge forward.

Why Purchasing a Home in a Hot Climate Is a Risky Financial Decision

Why Purchasing a Home in a Hot Climate Is a Risky Financial Decision

Why Purchasing a Home in a Hot Climate Is a Risky Financial Decision

07/25/21

“Why is purchasing a home in a hot climate a risky financial decision?”

A home’s price is based on a number of externalities, one of them being climate. If the climate is too extreme, people are driven away and the prices go down. With the advent of climate change, hot areas are going to become more hot, so much so that many areas will probably be extremely uncomfortable to live in. Prices will reflect this, and home values may go down with each passing year in those zones. This is Why Purchasing a Home in a Hot Climate Is a Risky Financial Decision.

Why Having More People Live in Temperate Climate Could Reduce Carbon Emissions

Why Having More People Live in Temperate Climate Could Reduce Carbon Emissions

Why Having More People Live in Temperate Climate Could Reduce Carbon Emissions

07/23/21

“Why could having more people live in temperate climates reduce carbon emissions?”

People who live in very hot or cold areas have to use HVAC systems more often to keep their homes habitable. However, if a greater share of the world’s population were to live in temperate areas, then this need would lessen. This is Why Having More People Live in Temperate Climate Could Reduce Carbon Emissions.

Why Flood Infrastructure Adaptation Spending Will Have to Rapidly Increase

Why Flood Infrastructure Adaptation Spending Will Have to Rapidly Increase

Why Flood Infrastructure Adaptation Spending Will Have to Rapidly Increase

07/22/21

“Why will flood infrastructure spending have to rapidly increase in the wake of recent climate impacts?”

Flooding impacts from climate change are already greatly apparent, whether it be in Detroit, Germany, or China. To prevent further loss of life and well-being, funding for protective measures is going to have to rapidly expand. This is Why Flood Infrastructure Adaptation Spending Will Have to Rapidly Increase.

Flood Insurance Rate Maps

Flood Insurance Rate Maps

Flood Insurance Rate Maps

07/21/21

“How can we visualize flood insurance rates?”

Flood risks vary across geographic areas due to a multitude of factors. Resultantly, flood insurance rates will also vary according to quantified risk. This is why Flood Insurance Rate Maps are so important.

Image credit planning.smcgov.org

Why Water Storage Tanks Stabilize Water Utility Operations

Why Water Storage Tanks Stabilize Water Utility Operations

Why Water Storage Tanks Stabilize Water Utility Operations

07/16/21

“Why do water storage tanks stabilize water utility operations?”

Water utilities take water from sources to endpoints. However, sometimes consumer demand is too much for the sources to handle all at once. So how could we use our engineering mindsets to solve this problem? Well, what if we were to have some sort of storage medium, like a tank, to deliver water at a later point? Well, this is exactly what happens, and is Why Water Storage Tanks Stabilize Water Utility Operations.

Why Housing Markets in Areas Less Prone to Extreme Heat Waves May Become More Expensive Because of Climate Change

Why Housing Markets in Areas Less Prone to Extreme Heat Waves May Become More Expensive Because of Climate Change

Why Housing Markets in Areas Less Prone to Extreme Heat Waves May Become More Expensive Because of Climate Change

07/15/21

“Why will places with cooler climates become more expensive to live in?”

Temperatures all over the world are going to become hotter because of climate change. However, places with cooler climates will be less drastically-affected on a year-round basis. Even though these areas will still be subject to deadly heat waves, their perception of safety will drive demand to live there and therefore increase prices. This is Why Housing Markets in Areas Less Prone to Extreme Heat Waves May Become More Expensive Because of Climate Change.