Sonny, "Living Closer to Work for a More Sustainable World"

Sonny
Living Closer to Work for a More Sustainable World

In California, there has been recent political hype as to how to address the 2006 global warming law which requires California to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Many have looked to producing cleaner fuels, and more fuel-efficient cars. Today, politicians are taking a closer look at urban planning. A report done by Urban Land Institute, determined that with suburbs continuing to flourish, gas emissions may worsen by the influx of commuters. The Urban Land Institute has suggested that neighborhoods be planned to accommodate walking, reducing the need for vehicles. Compact growth neighborhoods would comprise of homes, and businesses which employ the local homeowners, in a close proximity. This has raised much debate in the political sector as many bills are now being proposed to limit the amount of funding to roads that are greatly traveled such as highways, and putting that money into rewarding compact growth neighborhoods.

There are many easy adjustments that we can do today to help create a better more sustainable world. This starts in our current homes. The EPA recommends using fluorescent Energy Star bulbs in all fixtures, this in itself if done in every American home drastically prevents greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA also recommends purchasing Energy Star appliances and electronics which are inspected to ensure they are energy efficient. They also encourage home owners to heat and cool their homes wisely, as to not waste electricity when it comes to air conditioning or natural gas when it comes to heating. As always they continue to preach the three “r’s” reduce, reuse, recycle. Students too away from college can also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA urges students to get involved in their school’s energy use by advocating cleaner ways of obtaining electricity for example solar panels.

Unknown terms: There weren’t any that I was familiar with.

I personally feel that it’s to late to successfully plan compact neighborhoods. I’d like to see an increase in public transportation availability with fuel-efficient buses, and electric subways or even the new magnetically run trains (mag-lev) in place of electric subway. I think compact neighborhoods would lead to greater social divide, for example all the high-end jobs and neighborhoods would be grouped as one, and those who have lower-end jobs would be subject to lower-end neighborhoods. This could potentially increase crime rates.

Roosevelt, Margot; “To go green, live closer to work,” Los Angeles Times California Inland Empire Edition; Friday, September 21, 2007.

U.S Environmental Protection Agency, "Climate Change, What You Can Do," 4 October, 2007.http://epa.gov/climatechange/index