Digital Energy Net

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is an urban planning and design approach that clusters jobs, housing and amenities around public transit stations to encourage compact urban growth and reduce dependence on cars for transportation purposes; as well as reduce congestion, air pollution and energy consumption. TODs have the potential to revitalize neighborhoods, foster economic development and enhance…

Sustainable urban infrastructure refers to engineered facilities and utilities designed for sustainability purposes, with focus areas including energy, water, metabolism, e-city connectivity and urban resilience as key areas of consideration. Building with nature can reduce both costs and environmental impacts of infrastructure while offering numerous other advantages. For instance, Fargo-Moorhead’s project to divert floodwaters is…

Sustainable development (SD) refers to human activities that make use of renewable natural resources while avoiding pollution or any permanent losses to the environment, while also encouraging inclusive governance practices that are more accountable and transparent. Brundtland Commission report, Our Common Future, defines sustainable development as meeting current needs without undermining future generations’ ability to…

Energy efficiency reduces emissions from fossil fuel use, encourages renewable energy deployment by lowering demand and making renewables more cost-effective, helps avoid power interruptions, improves people’s lives by cutting utility bills and decreasing financial insecurity, and contributes to economic stability. Energy efficiency can benefit both your wallet and the wider economy; additionally, it helps protect…

City leaders are quickly realizing the potential of smart technology to put transportation, traffic alerts, health services, and community news directly in citizens’ hands. Not only can this innovative approach save costs while simultaneously meeting growing population demands more efficiently. Community members should have input when purchasing technologies that may encroach upon privacy or civil…

Smart grids are electricity networks that use digital technology to manage energy transport more effectively and decrease power outage impacts for their consumers. They aim to reduce power outages while offering increased reliability to consumers. Integration of renewable energies such as wind or solar into an energy system; connection of electric vehicles (EVs) and home-based…

Urban mobility refers to all movements within a city used by its citizens to reach their daily destinations, from personal commuting movements and touristic travel routes, touristic attraction visits and distribution networks in order to meet supply and demand demands. Traffic-clogged cities, high air pollution levels and spiralling transport costs are an everyday reality in…

Energy storage provides an important service by helping balance electricity supply and demand to lower both costs and emissions. It’s especially beneficial in communities located far from the main power grid such as islands or microgrids. Stores of energy include pumped hydro (lifting water), batteries (chemical reactions), thermal (heat storage) and flywheels; with each method…

Land use planning involves the determination of how best to use an area’s resources, with the intention of creating a healthy, sustainable environment where people can work, play and live comfortably. Without proper land use planning, developers and construction companies run the risk of mismanaging resources, not to mention it being time-consuming and costly to…

If you are planning an addition or raising chickens in the backyard, it is essential that you become familiar with local zoning laws. While they can seem intimidatingly complex at first, these regulations actually govern everything from property values and project viability. Zoning regulations strictly outline which businesses may locate within each zone based on…