Floating Dutch neighbourhood — are smart grids a good idea? — why dismantle the planning act?

Here's a few interesting links for your reading pleasure. Have a good weekend everyone, and do leave your comments and feedback below. 

Architecture that adapts to a changing climate: floating neighbourhood in the Netherlands Treehugger

Floating neighbourhood at Ijburg, Amsterdam. Photo by Michael Edwards.

Do smart grids increase energy use, endanger the environment and harm public health? Energy Bulletin

How big is the 2011 oil price shock, and what is the relationship between the oil price rises and economic downturn? Financial Times

Conflicting stories over whether the heating system was working in the home of young mother who died of hypothermia in Ballymun, Dublin Irish Times

Here's some nifty Tokyo apartments I'm linking to for no apparent reason: Flickr

Interesting blog post speculating on the "deaths per watt produced" of nuclear, oil and coal power: Seth Godin

When is removing a major road a good idea? Infrastructurist

New glass windows with integrated solar PV: Jetson Green

New York's first passive house: Jetson Green

British government accused of giving in to construction lobby and abandoning plan for zero carbon homes Guardian

Excellent blog post from Rob Kitchin from NUI Maynooth on Fine Gael-Labour's plans to review the planning act and potentially remove ministerial oversight of council planning decisions that were introduced by John Gormley. Kitchin writes: "A cynic would suggest that the new Ministerial powers were unpopular at the local level because they were used to stop councillors undertaking excessive zoning and giving inappropriate permissions (the result of which led to way too much zoned land and an excess of housing, offices, hotels and retail space).  Local councillors and local TDs want such powers removed so they can get back to business as usual..." Ireland After Nama

Sustainable development vs historic preservation — a false dichotomy Treehugger

A look at public infrastructure bonds in the US — would something similar work here to help fund retrofit on a massive scale? Infrastructurist