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Land Use and its Implications

THE U-S IS AN AUTO-DEPENDENT SOCIETY, BUT RESIDENTS IN COMPACT COMMUNITIES DON’T HAVE TO DRIVE NEARLY AS MUCH.  WE’RE MIXING WORK AND PLEASURE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

THE MILES DRIVEN IN THE U-S HAVE RISEN THREE TIMES AS FAST AS THE POPULATION, AND THOSE MILES ARE A MAJOR CAUSE OF URBAN POLLUTION AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

REID EWING OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR SMART GROWTH SAYS THAT IN ORDER TO CUT OUR EMISSIONS ENOUGH TO REACH CLIMATE STABILIZATION, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO REDUCE OUR TRAVEL.  HE COMPARES OUR CLIMATE GOALS TO A STOOL.

EWING: YOU HAVE THREE LEGS ON THAT STOOL. YOU’VE GOT VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY AND THE CARBON CONTENT OF FUELS AND THE THIRD LEG IS JUST HOW MUCH DRIVING WE DO.

EWING SAYS ONE WAY TO CURB OUR COMMUTES IS TO ENCOURAGE MIXED-USE BUILDING THAT PUTS OUR HOMES CLOSE TO WORK, SCHOOL, AND SHOPPING.  BUT REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE, EWING SUGGESTS FINDING WAYS TO ECONOMIZE ON TRAVEL.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

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