<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for On green building, urban development, and reviving rural America]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Biodiversivist http://www.grist.org/article/interview-with-alex-steffen-part-two/ Wed, 31 Aug 2005 07:00:11 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/interview-with-alex-steffen-part-two/1 Downerism? Not find it in Wikipedia... yet

That was a very enjoyable article. I still suspect that small farms and buying local will remain commercially uncompetitive, although very appealing ideas, like living by a lake in a log cabin warmed by a wood stove.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Help acquire and protect ecological hotspots, give to a conservation organization: http://www.saveourbiodiversity.com

]]> Downerism? Not find it in Wikipedia... yet

That was a very enjoyable article. I still suspect that small farms and buying local will remain commercially uncompetitive, although very appealing ideas, like living by a lake in a log cabin warmed by a wood stove.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Help acquire and protect ecological hotspots, give to a conservation organization: http://www.saveourbiodiversity.com

]]> Comment #2 by bookerly http://www.grist.org/article/interview-with-alex-steffen-part-two/ Thu, 01 Sep 2005 07:12:34 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/interview-with-alex-steffen-part-two/2 The economics of sprawl


    Good interview, and a lot of good information.  One thing environmentalists often ignore is the extent to which economics encourage sprawl.  People who live in energy inefficient suburbs are often homeowners.  Many of those who live in energy efficient cities are tenants.

     There is nothing wrong with homeownership (please don't think I am trying to attack it!).  But we should note that tenants don't get the tax breaks (or subsidies) that homeowners do.  All other things being equal (which they are not), we are using the tax system to encourage sprawl.

     We don't have to "take away" homeowners tax breaks.  But imagine the impact if we gave tax breaks, credits, or some form of similar subsidy to renters and others who live in dense urban areas.  There are many ways this could be done.  The goal would be to level the economic advantage playing field between single family ownership in the suburbs and renting in the cities.  (Those who live in cities and own, of course, already get the advantages).  

     An economic incentive to "live green" should certainly be part of the solution.

]]> The economics of sprawl


    Good interview, and a lot of good information.  One thing environmentalists often ignore is the extent to which economics encourage sprawl.  People who live in energy inefficient suburbs are often homeowners.  Many of those who live in energy efficient cities are tenants.

     There is nothing wrong with homeownership (please don't think I am trying to attack it!).  But we should note that tenants don't get the tax breaks (or subsidies) that homeowners do.  All other things being equal (which they are not), we are using the tax system to encourage sprawl.

     We don't have to "take away" homeowners tax breaks.  But imagine the impact if we gave tax breaks, credits, or some form of similar subsidy to renters and others who live in dense urban areas.  There are many ways this could be done.  The goal would be to level the economic advantage playing field between single family ownership in the suburbs and renting in the cities.  (Those who live in cities and own, of course, already get the advantages).  

     An economic incentive to "live green" should certainly be part of the solution.

]]> Comment #3 by sukumar http://www.grist.org/article/interview-with-alex-steffen-part-two/ Sun, 04 Sep 2005 14:35:55 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/interview-with-alex-steffen-part-two/3 Buying local

Buying local will very likely get quite competitive when gas is $10 a gallon!

]]> Buying local

Buying local will very likely get quite competitive when gas is $10 a gallon!

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