Archive for the Business & Economics Category
Coronavirus’s Impact on Municipal Budgets
The impact of the coronavirus is devastating, with budgetary consequences that state and local governments will face for years to come. Much as the Great Recession did, the pandemic will overwhelm many sub-national budgets; many cities are still recovering from the recession more than a decade later. The pandemic has severely reduced tax revenues while forcing increased spending to deal with the health crisis. Cities often do not have many options to address budget shortfalls and must make difficult choices–either raise revenue or cut spending. Infrastructure is often on the “cut spending” list. According to the Congressional Budget Office, of […]
Reassessing Higher-Ed Sustainability Goals in the Age of COVID-19
As the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to force U.S. colleges and universities to operate remotely, many of these campuses have been using the closures to analyze their sustainability goals and long-term energy needs. With far less foot traffic around campus and utility demands lower than a typical year, the past few months have allowed campuses to gain traction on new sustainability projects. “It takes time to get momentum, and once you get it, you need to keep going,”[1] Paul Kempf, assistant vice president of utilities and maintenance at the University of Notre Dame said. Schools like Loyola Marymount University (LMU) are […]
Water Costs on the Rise Across the U.S.
In a recent study conducted by Circle of Blue, a worldwide water information and collaboration center, it was made apparent that water and sewer rates are surging across the United States at an alarming rate. Overall, both water and sewer rates have increased by more than 30 percent in just the past decade while some cities, such as Baltimore, have more than doubled in that same time. The trend of snowballing rate increases stems from the aging conveyance infrastructure underneath each city. Water utility providers are coming to the realization that the rebuilding or improvements needed for their infrastructure will […]
What is the Value of Water?
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted people to rethink safety and public health priorities throughout the world. Some that are typically at the forefront of peoples’ minds, like safe drinking water, become even more important as we face a situation that puts everyone at risk. The Value of Water Campaign poll recently conducted confirmed this idea. In March of this year, American voters responded that infrastructure investment should be a top priority, with 84% of the more than 1,000 people polled responding that they want leadership to invest in water infrastructure. In the five years that the poll has been organized, […]
Aging Infrastructure Grabs the Spotlight in Houston
In late February, Houston health officials ordered a mandatory boil water notice for the entire city’s freshwater system after a historic break in a water main pipe that provides 50% of Houston’s water left drivers stranded on a flooded freeway awaiting rescue. Along with the large-scale flooding that occurred, restaurants were ordered to shut down immediately, schools halted their day-to-day operations, and businesses were forced to close. The University of Houston and Texas Southern University closed for consecutive days as the entirety of the Harris County courts were shuttered. Schools within the Houston Independent School District were also closed for an […]