Newsroom

May 4, 2011

A COG Forum brought together representatives from local governments, utilities, and electric vehicle suppliers to discuss how local governments in the region can plan for and encourage the use of electric vehicles. Falls Church Vice Mayor David Snyder and other forum participants were interviewed by News Channel 8 and WUSA9.

May 3, 2011

Despite the market demand for transit-oriented mixed-use development and the multiple studies that prove that location decisions have the greatest impact on a building’s environmental footprint Congress and certain federal agencies appear to be disregarding those significant pieces of information.

May 3, 2011

Stuart Freudberg, Director of COG’s Department of Environmental Programs, was invited by The Washington Post to participate in a live online Q&A on April 28 to discuss environmental issues and the progress metropolitan Washington is making in terms of sustainability.

Apr 29, 2011

President Obama wants to double America’s exports over the next few years. Given our massive trade deficit that’s probably a good goal. However there’s one thing we shouldn’t attempt to export: bad planning.

Apr 27, 2011

When most people think of green buildings they envision slick new buildings such as the National Association of Realtors building near Capitol Hill. Others might imagine more specific features like composting toilets and passive heating which can be found at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation headquarters. However some of the most sustainable green buildings bear few of these more glamorous green building hallmarks (advanced window glazing and shade louvers for example).

Apr 26, 2011

There is a vein of criticism of the urban planning field which argues that planners should get out of the way and stop trying to make people conform to what they perceive as the best land-use and transportation policies (i.e. mixed-use sustainable development near transit).

Apr 22, 2011

As Europe continues to innovate in the high-speed rail sector building ever quicker and more sustainable trains and prioritizing high-speed rail as the preferred method of travel across the continent the U.S. continues to stumble along with insufficient investment and low prioritization.

Apr 21, 2011

Christopher Leinberger planning guru and author of The Option of Urbanism: Investing in a New American Dream has a great post over at The New Republic taking aim at what he sees as a sometimes artificial divide between city and suburb . The key word is “sometimes.”

Apr 20, 2011

Last week MWCOG released a report on LEED certified green building from 2003 through 2009 in metro Washington. The report Green Building Trends demonstrates that LEED the U.S. Green Building Council’s voluntary certification program has had a significant impact upon the region’s long term sustainability by encouraging energy efficient and locationally efficient buildings.

Apr 19, 2011

Ken Archer has a very interesting post over at Greater Greater Washington on the need to bridge the gap between longtime residents of the District living in established lower-income neighborhoods and a growing group he refers to as “hipster urbanists” (in which he includes himself). The post is lengthy but well worth a read.