Living Lab

Heat Mapping and Urban Planning

Peggy Smedley and Kirstin Dow, professor, Dept. of Geography at University of South Carolina, talk about how heat mapping might improve urban planning. She says our cities are working in so many different ways to be more livable and healthier spaces. They also discuss: Building new greenways and bicycle paths in Columbia, S.C. How new…
Heat Mapping and Our Work

Peggy Smedley and Kirstin Dow, professor, Dept. of Geography at University of South Carolina, talk about how heat mapping might improve work. She talks about how heat mapping can help begin with work strategies and thinking about exposure over the long term at work. They also discuss: How to avoid accidents in extreme temperatures. How…
Heating Mapping and Our Health

Peggy Smedley and Kirstin Dow, professor, Dept. of Geography at University of South Carolina, talk about how heat mapping might help improve health. She says heat is the one hazard our cities have done the least planning around. They also discuss: How heat mapping can impact the livability of cities. The variables that change our…

Project Sustainability

Connected Home

During the next decade energy-efficiency will only increase in importance as we continue to build sustainability in homes, as EVs (electric vehicles) become more prevalent and as homeowners become more knowledgeable. The homeowner will play a greater role in managing energy usage/consumption through data analytics, transparency, and energy efficient homes. Simply, connected everything through AI (artificial intelligence) and voice-activated solutions will change the way we consume and manage energy usage in communities and neighborhoods.

Since the Clean Air Act of the 1970s there has been a dramatic reduction of particulate matter in the atmosphere by as much as 70%. But while the U.S. has taken a good first step in reducing overall air pollution, we’ve done a poor job of equity in our communities.

There are many reasons that must be addressed for the poor air quality and localized exposures to hazardous air pollutants in many urban and rural areas that are a significant health risk children and older adults. While these issues need to be addressed at the federal level and local levels) and addressing these hot spots (industrial corridors, highways, and more), there is more we can do to help existing homeowners and dwellers contribute as well.