en-us Copyright Sightline Daily - all rights reserved newsfeeds@sightline.org newsfeeds@sightline.org Most recent Sustainable Living headlines from Sightline Daily, the Northwest news that matters http://daily.sightline.org Plone http://daily.sightline.org/logo.gif 427 69 While growth can be a burden to neighborhoods where plans are outdated or inadequate, it is also a chance to create a vibrant, livable urban environment. The challenge for all neighborhoods is to address the growth that is coming, and make certain it brings benefits to the community. Good transit service is a key component in ensuring thriving, livable neighborhoods. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008038020_fuseop08.html Environment Population Solutions Sustainable Living Washington 07/08/2008 Seattle Times With a working title of "Sustainable Communities of Southwest Washington," a group of builders, local land-use agencies and sustainability advocates met in Clark County to discuss green building. The group hopes to raise its profile over the next year with tours of "green" homes, monthly workshops for builders and a hot line staffed by experts with hands-on experience. http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/07/07062008_Group-coalesces-in-quest-for-meaning-of-sustainable-construction.cfm Sustainable Living Washington 07/06/2008 Vancouver Columbian As governments seek to cut carbon emissions through regulation and consumers react to rising fuel prices, automakers and designers are mapping out a new generation of lighter, sleeker vehicles that could give a radical new look to urban streets. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/business/worldbusiness/09greencar.html?ref=business Climate Environment Sprawl & Transportation Sustainable Living United States 07/08/2008 New York Times With gasoline approaching $4.50 a gallon, Washington State University researcher Jon Johnson finds himself in a scramble to extract ethanol from fast-growing poplar trees. It's a new field in the world of business and industry, but the search for fuel from hybrid poplars is far from new to Johnson, 55, of Puyallup. http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/07/07072008_Poplar-trees-hold-promise-for-fuel.cfm Energy Environment Sustainable Living Washington 07/07/2008 Vancouver Columbian Amtrak president and CEO Alexander Kummant is predicting at least 27 million passengers this year, which would break last year's record of 25.8 million. Editorial boards from Tampa to Lancaster to Duluth to Denver to Atlanta to Salt Lake City and many cities in between are calling for politicians to get on board for Amtrak. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/369844_jacksononline08.html Environment Sprawl & Transportation Sustainable Living United States 07/08/2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer Welcome to Railtown USA, where light rail and streetcar lines crisscross the metro area. The largest city in Oregon, Portland built one of the nation's first light rail lines in the mid-1980s, and since then has relentlessly expanded the system. Its three-line, 44-mile MAX light rail system is poised to expand by 50 percent in the next year and a half. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080707/NEWS09/807070354/1001/LOCALNEWSFRONT Environment Sprawl & Transportation Sustainable Living Oregon 07/07/2008 The Honolulu Advertiser There's a green sheen settling over colleges and universities. Experts who follow building trends agree that in the last decade, as fears of global warming grew and examples of eco-innovation spread online, campus greening morphed from a fad into mainstream phenomenon. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ecocollege7-2008jul07,0,2908946.story Environment Green Business Sustainable Living California United States 07/07/2008 Los Angeles Times A small group of Snohomish County farmers will soon receive federal funds to boost its ability to grow and store large quantities of crops for use in making biodiesel. The Sno/Sky Agriculture Alliance of Monroe will spend its $96,806 grant on constructing facilities for canola, mustard and other oilseed crops harvested by its six members. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080705/NEWS01/629787965#Grant.spurs.Monroe.farmers.groups.work.on.crops.for.biodiesel Energy Environment Food & Farms Sustainable Living Washington 07/07/2008 Everett Herald Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. is launching a green insurance option for homeowners that will allow people with conventional homes to rebuild to the latest environmental standards after a loss. The Novato-based company, a division of the Allianz Group, will start offering green home coverage to Californians on Aug. 1 as part of one of its regular policy packages. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/06/BUTT11JJOU.DTL Environment Sustainable Living California 07/06/2008 San Francisco Chronicle