Environment Archives - Millennial Cities

Use a Wetlands Map to Visualize the State of American Wetlands

by John GarnerEnvironment, Exclusive, Government, Tool Reviews January 31, 2022January 31, 2022No Comments

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the main federal organization responsible for providing the United States and its Trust Territories with geospatial data on wetlands and related aquatic environments. Similar to other federal agencies, the USFWS provides a stewardship of their data through the National Wetlands Inventory, making wetland information accessible to the …

Physical Space is Disappearing – That Should Worry Us More

by John GarnerEnvironment, Exclusive, Government, Housing, Justice, Opinion and Analysis January 28, 2022January 28, 2022No Comments

As human demands for convenience increase, so too does our appetite for physical space. And space, regardless of how much we think we have, is disappearing at an alarming rate, showing a human appetite that is not only irresponsible, but one that is entirely unsustainable and inherently selfish. Some of our choices, like development and …

Want to Start a Community Garden? Check out These Maps First

by John GarnerEnvironment, Exclusive, Lifestyle, Tool Reviews December 29, 2021December 29, 2021No Comments

Community gardens are collaborative projects where neighbors come together and grow fruits, vegetables, and other plants in an accessible and open-space environment. As a gathering space, not only do they strengthen and build community pride, but they allow others to visibly see what a healthy, urban environment of stewardship and cooperation really looks like. Traditionally, …

Vertical Farming Systems Are Promising, But One Really Stands Out

by John GarnerEnvironment, Exclusive October 17, 2021March 19, 2022No Comments

Picture yourself grocery shopping. You’re going about your business, doing your best to locate that oh-so-elusive snack that your significant other requested and then boom, out of nowhere, a big ole juicy tomato catches your eye. You pick it up, give it a nice look-over and throw it in your cart. But just before you …

10 Easy Ways to Save Water

by Stacey WalkerEnvironment, Exclusive, Lifestyle September 27, 2021September 27, 2021No Comments

If we look at the definition of water scarcity, we know that it essentially amounts to the lack of availability due to physical shortages and low supply access. It’s also inclusive of the inability of our institutions to facilitate an adequate supply of water due to underdeveloped infrastructure. But despite how daunting the situation may …

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SUHII or “Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity” is now Mapped for Every City in the World

by John GarnerEnvironment, Exclusive, Tool Reviews July 28, 2021July 28, 2021No Comments

SUHII, which stands for “Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity,” has been globally mapped by authors and creators T. Chakraborty and X. Lee with Yale University’s Center for Earth Observation. As the world is getting hotter, our urban areas are suffering the most, with highly developed neighborhoods sometimes climbing 15°F to 20°F hotter than their neighboring …

Biodiver City – Is It Really The Best Solution?

by John GarnerCulture, Environment, Exclusive, Government, Housing, Transportation July 10, 2021July 22, 2021No Comments

“Biodiver City” is a proposed project by the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) to create a small chain of biodiverse island habitats off the northwest coast of Malaysia to alleviate overcrowding on the country’s mainland. The Malaysian island of Penang, typically known for its beaches and food, is set to host this new project, where three …

Ex Situ Conservation: Is it better than In Situ Conservation?

by John GarnerEnvironment, Exclusive May 25, 2021July 22, 2021No Comments

Ex situ conservation and in situ conservation are two important strategies that are used to protect endangered animals and plants around the world. Yet, despite their similar-sounding names, they are fundamentally different in how they approach conservation. While both ex situ and in situ conservation are a means to protect endangered animal and plant species, …

Retention Pond vs Detention Pond: Which is Better for Stormwater

by John GarnerEnvironment, Exclusive May 10, 2021July 22, 2021No Comments

Retention Pond vs Detention Pond As our cities continue to grow, there is an increasing need to divert water. That’s because stormwater runoff — surface water that collects during a heavy rain event — is accumulating at an unprecedented pace. In a natural environment, rainwater is absorbed by vegetation and soil, allowing only a small …

Top 10 Federal Climate Change Organizations With Funding Opportunities

by John GarnerEnvironment, Exclusive, Government April 10, 2021July 22, 2021No Comments

Climate change organizations are out there, but they may look different than you think. That’s because most organizations don’t have the words “climate change” attached to them. This is especially true in our federal government, where funding opportunities are often absent the ‘buzzworthy’ label. But the truth of the matter is that many organizations do …