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<a href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500318617">Grow</a>,
(Airs Tuesday, May 20th at 9pm Eastern & Pacific, 30 minutes) is
the next episode in the <a href="http://www.sundancechannel.com">Sundance
Channel's</a> "<a
href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/series/thegreen_bigideas_2">Big
Ideas For a Small Planet</a>" series.<br>
<br>
Featuring three examples of ways to increase urban green space, <a
href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500318617">Grow</a> begins
with green roofs in the Bronx, featuring the South Bronx municipal
courthouse, and an individual home owner's green roof being installed. <a
href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500318617">Grow</a> gives a
thorough reasoning for doing green roofs, and covers many of the
benefits such roofing methods create, including tripling the life of
the roofing material and significantly reducing heat load on the
building.<br>
<br>
Next, <a href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500318617">Grow</a>
moves into xeriscaping, the art of using local native plant life to
replace the traditional lawn in order to drastically reduce watering
needs and increase habitat area for local species of bird and insect
life. Focusing mostly on Phoenix, Arizona and touching lightly on
California, this segment lays out a powerful case for rethinking
suburban landscapes.<br>
<br>
Finally, instant parks are featured, springing up in twenty minutes all
across the country. The sheer joy of urbanites able to wiggle their
bare toes in the grass is uplifting, and there are some statistical
reasons that you'll want to know about for your own sake in this
segment.<br>
<br>
For an uplifting and hopeful dose of greenery, tune into <a
href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500318617">Grow</a>
tomorrow night at 9pm.<br>
<br>
----------------------------------------<br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500318643">Transport</a>
follows the following Tuesday, May 29th, at 9pm Eastern & Pacific.
(Run time 30 minutes) <br>
<br>
Following the three example format, <a
href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500318643">Transport</a>
leads off with the New York City transportation district's
multiple-method approach to increasing transportation efficiency and
reducing energy consumption, emissions, and congestion. Bicycle lane
improvements, interconnection, and increases is a major portion of the
plan, followed closely by bus rapid transit lanes, increased commuter
rail, and far more.<br>
<br>
The next, and I think most uplifting segment, features bicycling
efforts in Portland, Oregon and Boise, Idaho. Especially in Portland,
bicycles are a major factor in sustainable transportation, increased
fitness, lowered stress, and best of all, community spirit. Featuring
numerous bicycling events and conveniences, Portland bikers actually
talk to each other as they ride, a stark contrast to my experiences on
Chicago mass-transit, where people kind of freak out if you say
"hello." <br>
<br>
Finally, <a href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500318643">Transport</a>
takes a ride into the future, with the development process of the City
Car, an all-electric, stackable vehicle for lease. This vehicle concept
just plain makes a ton of sense, and when implemented, will greatly
reduce carbon emissions for short urban trips. <br>
<br>
I've seen studies that indicate we could power 75% of the current U.S.
vehicle fleet with electricity produced by power plants idling over
night and not add a single extra plant or burn any extra fuel. Given
City Car's range and battery duration, a lot of these cars could charge
at night and take advantage of wated night-time electrical production.
Although this point isn't mentioned in <a
href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500318643">Transport</a>,
it is logical that this would be a net positive result of using this
concept.<br>
<br>
In all, <a href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500318643">Transport</a>
gives a great hope for the future of urban transportation and overall
well-being of those who live and commute around American cities.<br>
<br>
Tune in next Tuesday at 9pm.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Dan Stafford<br>
Publisher,<br>
<a href="http://www.whizzyrds.com/Windblog.html">The Great Lakes Zephyr
- Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal</a><br>
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