As companies and individuals become ever-more cognizant of energy costs as they try to save money and help the environment, The Infrastructurist recently spoke with Dave Bartlett, IBM’s vice president of its Smarter Buildings division to get his take on Read more ›

• America’s big three automakers reported on Wednesday that their sales last year were the best since the financial crisis started, but they face increased challenges this year as more foreign competition enter the U.S. market. (NYT) (AP) • In Read more ›

• A state expert panel said in a report on Tuesday that it could not find funding sources to pay for California’s high-speed rail plan, estimated to cost $98.5 billion, and urged the state legislature to exercise caution in approving Read more ›

• On the day of the Iowa Caucuses, an article finds that while GOP presidential hopefuls are not big fans of government spending, candidates including Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul have voiced support in the past for a U.S. high-speed Read more ›

• A “person of interest” has finally been detained after more than 50 cars were set alight over the last few days in Los Angeles, in events that have set the city and its residents “on edge”. (NYT) (AP) (LAT) Read more ›

• Harvard Professor Ed Glaeser, well-known for touting the benefits of cities, argues in a new interview that living in them makes people healthier and happier, improves the environment, and provides countless economic opportunities for people to get richer. (TheEuropean-Magazine) Read more ›

• As air travel continues to grow, airports and security experts are looking to improve on today’s often-mocked security screening process by trying to make the system both more thorough and quicker for passengers to get to their gates. (NYT) Read more ›

• Even in a country as rich as the U.S., a team of Reuters journalists recently found that a growing number of children and families now make up the U.S. homeless population. “1.6 million children were living on the streets Read more ›

• As the nation continues to face economic distress, an in-depth New York Times Magazine article examines how one small city in Michigan has tried to revive its economic fortunes by embracing tourism and a major resort and golf development Read more ›

• With lackluster progress in international negotiations on halting climate change, an article examines the prospects, effectiveness and risks of various technological fixes in curbing global warming and greenhouse gases. (AP) • Both safety advocates and industry are not particularly Read more ›

• After a deadly plane crash was blamed partly on pilot fatigue, the FAA announced new work rules this week to try to ensure that passenger airplane pilots are given enough time to sleep, so they aren’t too tired to Read more ›

• The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Wednesday new limits on mercury emissions from oil- and coal-burning power plants and said the rules will save thousands of lives and bring other economic and health benefits. (NYT) (AP) • Police officers Read more ›

• Because of a tightening in lending standards by the Chinese government, the white-hot housing market in that country appears to be slowing down after years of record sales and high prices. (LATimes) (Bloomberg) • A small plane headed to Read more ›

• An article by New York Times reporter Nick Bilton says that there is little evidence that electronic use by passengers impairs the ability of pilots to fly their planes safely during take-offs and landings. (NYT) • Cornell University announced Read more ›

• A cool new infographic touts the myriad health and environmental benefits of biking to work. (HuffPost) • An opinion article looks at why building out a high-speed rail system in the U.S. is a good way to revitalize America’s Read more ›

• Federal officials testified in front of a House committee on Thursday to voice strong support of the California Central Valley high-speed rail project, which has come under criticism from Republicans and others for cost over-runs. (LAT) (McClatchy) (SFGate.com) • Read more ›

• Two recent op-ed articles in The New York Times look at the possible decline of the “fringe suburb” and how the location of offices can help combat suburban sprawl. (NYT) (NYT) • A blog post looks at the seeming Read more ›

• After numerous deadly accidents related to cell-phone use, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended on Tuesday that drivers be prohibited from texting or talking on their cellphones when they’re on the road. (AP) (NYT) • After a drunk couple Read more ›

• A cover story in the Washington City Paper takes a long look at the ways that Union Station in DC could be improved to better serve the needs of travelers. (WCP) • Canada has become the first nation to Read more ›

• Talks on climate change wrapped up in South Africa over the weekend with an agreement to work towards a new global treaty and establish a climate fund. But many warn that it’s too little, too late, and that major Read more ›