Using green banks to solve America’s affordable housing crisis – and climate change at the same time

Massachusetts is establishing the first US green bank dedicated to sustainable affordable housing. Three experts in climate finance explain why better housing can help rein in global warming.

Seth Owusu-Mante, Research Fellow in International Development, Tufts University • conversation
July 18, 2023 ~10 min

Empty office spaces can be converted to residential buildings – but it won't be affordable

With many employers switching to remote work, two engineering experts explain the feasibility of converting office buildings to residential spaces.

Leah Mo, Assistant Professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University • conversation
July 14, 2023 ~9 min


How small wealthy suburbs contribute to regional housing problems

Small suburbs have a track record of blocking new housing. Two urban policy experts explain why that’s a problem and what metro areas could do about it.

Nicholas J. Marantz, Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy, University of California, Irvine • conversation
July 10, 2023 ~11 min

Right-to-charge laws bring the promise of EVs to apartments, condos and rentals

Illinois passed the latest law requiring new apartment buildings to be wired for EV chargers. Now apartment communities are figuring out the best ways to make shared charging work for everyone.

Eleftheria Kontou, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • conversation
June 27, 2023 ~8 min

When homes flood, who retreats and to where? We mapped thousands of FEMA buyouts and found distance and race play a role

Two disaster response experts mapped who gets FEMA buyouts and where they go.

Zheye (Jay) Wang, Senior Spatial Research Analyst, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University • conversation
June 15, 2023 ~9 min

When homes flood, who retreats and to where? We mapped thousands of buyouts and found the average move is only 7 miles, and race plays a role

Two disaster response experts mapped who gets FEMA buyouts and where they go. It turns out, they don’t go far.

Zheye (Jay) Wang, Senior Spatial Research Analyst, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University • conversation
June 15, 2023 ~9 min

J-PAL North America announces six new evaluation incubator partners to catalyze research on pressing social issues

The research center will support two nonprofits and four government agencies in designing randomized evaluations on housing stability, procedural justice, transportation, income assistance, and more.

Laina Sonterblum | J-PAL North America • mit
April 28, 2023 ~6 min

Atlanta's BeltLine shows how urban parks can drive 'green gentrification' if cities don't think about affordable housing at the start

A longtime critic of Atlanta’s BeltLine explains how the popular network of parks has increased inequality in the city and driven out lower-income residents.

Dan Immergluck, Professor of Urban Studies, Georgia State University • conversation
Jan. 25, 2023 ~10 min


House in Pompeii Provides Look at Life in Ancient Roman City

VOA Learning English • voa
Jan. 16, 2023 ~4 min

Insulation only provides short-term reduction in household gas consumption, study of UK housing suggests

First study to look at long-term effect of insulation finds fall in gas consumption per household was small, with all energy savings disappearing by the fourth

Cambridge University News • cambridge
Jan. 1, 2023 ~8 min

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