This story was originally published by Reasons to be Cheerful
Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Let us know what you think at [email protected].
Footloose and car-free
Here at RTBC, we’ve reported several times over the years on the dream of the car-free city. In one neighborhood in Tempe, Arizona, that dream is a reality. Culdesac Tempe has faced criticism (some of which has since been retracted), but according to a story in Dwell shared by Audience Engagement Manager Sophie Pitt, residents are loving the lifestyle.
Sophie says:
This car-free neighborhood in Arizona is drawing residents in with the promise of a healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle. It sounds so peaceful!
Cork it
It’s no secret that construction is an environmentally costly business. As Peter Yeung reported in last week’s RTBC story on a sustainable deconstruction technique, “Raw material extraction, manufacturing and construction account for up to 12 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and over 35 percent of the total waste generated in Europe.” One option for a more sustainable building material, according to a story from the Guardian shared by Editorial Director Rebecca Worby: cork!
Becca says:
I had no idea that cork was becoming a popular building material. Apparently it’s great for insulation.
What else we’re reading
UK scientist wins prize for invention that could help avert ‘phosphogeddon’ — shared by Sophie Pitt from the Guardian
A colony of beavers saved the Czech government $1.2 million — shared by Contributing Editor Peter Yeung from @thatgoodnewsgirl on Instagram
Reintroducing wolves could ‘expand woodland areas and reduce CO2’ — shared by Sophie Pitt from Forestry Journal
In other news…
Last week, we published the final story in A Patient Is a Person, our series on whole-person health. This last story explores the movement to make communities more accessible for people with dementia, from food-related murals in Singapore to dementia-inclusive park design in Calgary.
Catch up on all the stories in the series here.
The post What We’re Reading: A Car-Free Neighborhood Finds Its Footing appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.
