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For #EarthDay 
, a quick thread.
We don't always talk about it this way, but housing and zoning are issues of climate and environmental justice.
Here's why
, a quick thread.We don't always talk about it this way, but housing and zoning are issues of climate and environmental justice.
Here's why
Simply put, single-family homes are worse for the environment than higher-density housing like #MissingMiddle.
A big reason is carbon emissions. Not only does low-density housing use energy less efficiently, but zoning exclusively for single-family homes increases car-reliance.
A big reason is carbon emissions. Not only does low-density housing use energy less efficiently, but zoning exclusively for single-family homes increases car-reliance.
This map from @CoolClimateNw is household carbon emissions in the DMV.
Notice how DC and its immediate suburbs have lower household emissions? That's chiefly because of higher-density development that conserves energy & facilitates the use of public transit, biking, or walking.
Notice how DC and its immediate suburbs have lower household emissions? That's chiefly because of higher-density development that conserves energy & facilitates the use of public transit, biking, or walking.
Another negative consequence of low-density zoning is that it takes more land to produce less housing.
Instead of allowing for multi-family housing in existing neighborhoods, single-family zoning sprawls into previously untouched areas, where the natural landscape is torn down.
Instead of allowing for multi-family housing in existing neighborhoods, single-family zoning sprawls into previously untouched areas, where the natural landscape is torn down.
Where we allow for affordable housing also has huge implications for environmental justice.
Ex: research shows that black & brown neighborhoods bear the weight of pollution.
But exclusionary zoning makes finding a home in a better neighborhood tough. https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-05-24/asthma-air-pollution-rates-higher-in-historically-redlined-neighborhoods
Ex: research shows that black & brown neighborhoods bear the weight of pollution.
But exclusionary zoning makes finding a home in a better neighborhood tough. https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-05-24/asthma-air-pollution-rates-higher-in-historically-redlined-neighborhoods
The bottom line is that it's near *impossible* to solve the climate crisis if we don't prioritize housing + transit the same way we do other parts of the economy.
If we embrace density, we can lower emissions, strengthen public transit and supply the affordable housing we need.
If we embrace density, we can lower emissions, strengthen public transit and supply the affordable housing we need.
