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Cities Are Cool

Posted by Clark Williams-Derry

05/03/2006 06:20 PM

Urban dwellers are easier on the climate.

Cool images from the Center for Neighborhood Technology show that people who live in dense urban areas -- downtown San Francisco, the denser parts of LA, or the Chicago city core -- emit less climate-warming emissions from cars and trucks. See for yourself:

I'm showing San Francisco above because it's closest to the Northwest, but I think the Chicago map is coolest..

The simple explanation for the pattern is that people who live in denser neighborhoods -- places where stores, services, and jobs tend to be a short drive away, or even within walking distance -- simply drive less. City dwellers also tend to drive smaller cars, which helps, too -- see, e.g., this pdf.

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Comments

Posted by Arie v. 05/07/2006 11:57 PM

I hate to say it, but I wish I could afford to stay in a "cool" zone. It would be interesting to overlay this with affordability data.

Posted by tom 05/08/2006 02:43 PM

Arie V.: I don't mean to make any assumptions about your situation, but affordability is very relative. I know a lot of people wealthier than me who say they cannot afford to live in the center core of Seattle. But I live and own downtown -- in a 650 sq. ft. condo, without a car, and I don't have children. It is not simply a matter of personal wealth -- it is also a matter of priorities and how willing you are to make certain sacrifices (in exchange for the benefits) to live in a "cool zone".