I have to weigh in, in response to this anonymous comment, posted on New Year’s Day:
Why on earth do we want to pave over everything and make everyone live in big, huge cities? I lived in Chicago for years, and it was a nightmare. In the summer there is a measurable heat bloom in major cities because they lack enough green area to handle direct sunlight. All of the pavement and concrete just absorb sunlight and create a residual heat.
Just outside the city in the suburbs it is measurably cooler because sunlight is more naturally distributed with backyards and more trees.
This rush to force everyone into massive cities is not healthy.
Argh! I wish more people understood this reality: In a big urban area, the more people who live out in the suburbs, the more acres of land get plowed up, trees uprooted and green area destroyed to build their new neighborhoods.
Do people who say they really, really love trees bother to think about all the trees (and wildlife) that died to build their subdivision?
I’m not saying everyone should be forced to live in cities. You couldn’t make that happen even if you were stupid enough to try. But with good planning city living need not be “nightmare.”
Local government should provide enough green areas. Parks, greenways, street trees and green rooftops can make a big difference. Make city living more attractive – with parks and trees and safe neighborhoods and all the rest – and you’ll keep a lot of farmland and woods from getting paved over out in the ‘burbs.
I say this as someone with a front and a back yard that I enjoy. I love to garden. I fully understand why people like houses with yards. But we should stop kidding ourselves that it’s more environmentally benign.