Lloyd Alter

@lloydalter
934 Followers
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378 Posts
The Ontario Minister of Transportation takes "a leap of faith that I’ll be able to get to the office on time." I take a leap of faith about whether my family will get to work alive. Ontario Premier will have blood on his hands after he tears out Toronto's major bike lanes. https://lloydalter.substack.com/p/doug-ford-will-have-blood-on-his
Doug Ford will have blood on his hands if he rips out Toronto bike lanes

The Minister of Transportation takes a "a leap of faith that I’ll be able to get to the office on time." I take a leap of faith about whether my family will get to work alive.

Carbon Upfront!
Electric cars are wonderful things, and they may save the auto industry, but they won't save the climate; there are just too many of them. This is why we need a world with smaller, safer, but most importantly, fewer cars and more alternatives. https://lloydalter.substack.com/p/why-electric-cars-of-the-future-might
Why electric cars of the future might be smaller, safer, and fewer

The stars are finally aligning to end the era of the killer light truck.

Carbon Upfront!
I used to be preoccupied with the question of what mattered more: systemic change or personal responsibility. But today, in the US and Canada, the only thing that matters is political change. The conspiracists have taken over our roads; we have to stop them from taking over our governments. https://lloydalter.substack.com/p/forget-about-system-change-vs-individual
Forget about system change vs individual behaviour change; what matters now is political change.

Hannah Ritchie takes a shot at the question: do our individual actions make a difference? In this election season, it is all about individual action, and how we vote.

Carbon Upfront!

Donald Trump says there is a giant faucet that can be turned in a day to deliver water to California. This is not quite true, but Americans have been eyeing Canadian water for decades, and they have a plan.

https://lloydalter.substack.com/p/how-donald-trumps-giant-faucet-of

How Donald Trump's giant faucet of Canadian water will get turned on

Americans have been eyeing Canadian water for years. They have a plan.

Carbon Upfront!
There has been a strong negative reaction to Stan Cox's article in the New York Times about how he tries to reduce his use of air conditioning. Yes, AC is a necessity now in much of the world, but we still should try to design our cities and our homes to use as little of it as possible. https://lloydalter.substack.com/p/yes-air-conditioning-is-a-necessity
Yes, air conditioning is a necessity now.

But I think the reaction to Stan Cox's article is a bit harsh.

Carbon Upfront!
Writers, close your computers! Media, take the day off! The North American holiday actually has its roots in an 1872 newspaper strike in Toronto, a fight over toxic working conditions and long hours. https://lloydalter.substack.com/p/stop-the-presses-for-labor-day
Stop the Presses for Labor Day

Writers, close your computers! The North American holiday actually has its roots in a newspaper strike in Toronto, a fight over toxic working conditions.

Carbon Upfront!
Lindal Cedar Homes has updated Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian house designs and is selling kits. What immediately pops out is how faithful Lindal has been to the originals, and how good the originals actually were. https://lloydalter.substack.com/p/lindal-cedar-homes-gives-frank-lloyd
Lindal Cedar Homes gives Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian homes a second life

These are wonderful designs, "translated" for the modern world.

Carbon Upfront!
Yet another study confirms that taking the stairs extends lives. “Physical activity in the form of stair climbing is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.” It's why we have to design our stairs to be easy to find and nice to use, in buildings that work for everyone of all ages. https://lloydalter.substack.com/p/new-study-confirms-take-the-stairs
New study confirms: take the stairs and live longer

We need to change the way we design our buildings to make stairs easier to find and nicer to use.

Carbon Upfront!
According to The Wall Street Journal, wall-to-wall carpeting is making a comeback. "With its reputation rehabbed, against considerable odds, carpeting is once again finding its way into bedrooms, family rooms, dining rooms and even the occasional bathroom." I am sorry; it is as nasty and unhealthy as ever and should not be in our homes. https://lloydalter.substack.com/p/is-wall-to-wall-carpeting-really
Is wall to wall carpeting really making a comeback?

The WSJ is wrong about W2W. Designers should nip this trend in the bud

Carbon Upfront!
I have been yelling at my kids for 15 years to drink beer from bottles, not cans, because of the epoxy lining made with BPA. Now, a new study finds that boys born to moms with high Bisphenol A levels are up to 6 times more likely to have autism. But hey, convenience is more important than health. https://lloydalter.substack.com/p/new-study-finds-bisphenol-a-increases
New study finds Bisphenol A increases risk of autism

But just go have another beer or Coke, who cares?

Carbon Upfront!