As of November 2021, in the United States the average vehicle transaction price (AVTP), vehicle price before any manufacturer incentives, was $46,329. That was for both gas and electric vehicles (EVs). If one was only looking at EVs, the AVTP was $56,437, a delta of $10,108. However, this doesn’t tell the entire story.
Read moreThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - Part 4
This article is the fourth we’ll be posting, exploring the various areas and sectors the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) bill aims to address through investment and funding. We discuss infrastructure related to electric vehicle charging stations, disaster resiliency and power infrastructure.
Read moreThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - Part 3
This article is the third we’ll be posting, exploring the various areas and sectors the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) bill aims to address through investment and funding. We discuss infrastructure related to airports, waterways, ports, railroads and safe streets.
Read moreThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - Part 2
This article is the second in a series we’ll be posting, exploring the various areas and sectors the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) bill aims to address through investment and funding. The topics addressed in this article focus on parts of the bill meant to help people reconnect with their communities or digitally connect through high-speed internet access. It also discusses some funding dedicated to improving the environment, and the public health benefits those changes could have.
Read moreThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - Part 1
Politics and civil engineering aren’t usually brought up in the same sentence, but it’s happening more often with the new, roughly $1.2 trillion dollar bill that advanced in the US Senate last Wednesday, July 28th, 2021. The bi-partisan bill, formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), includes significant funding for various types of infrastructure nationwide. If it passes, it will be the largest addition of federal money into the public works system in over 10 years. This would impact cities and states across the country, as well as the people living in those communities, and a variety of businesses and industries, like civil engineering.
Read moreWhat's in a Manhole?
We’ve all seen manholes on sidewalks or in roads, but how often do we appreciate what they’re used for. In this article, we’ll discuss manholes used to access sewer pipes, as well as their form, structure and purpose.
Read moreWhat is Micro-mobility?
In the last few years the rise of electric scooters, shareable bicycles (both electric and regular), etc. has been hard to ignore. These mobility services deemed ‘shared micro-mobility’, are changing the way we think about transportation and the infrastructure it uses. For one, they’re clearly popular. According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), there were 35 million micro-mobility trips taken in 2017 in the United States alone. In 2018, the number more than doubled with a total of 84 billion shared micro-mobility trips. Shared micro-mobility isn’t only popular in the US though, shared bicycles are the 3rd most popular mode of public transit in China, and there are scooter and shared bicycle companies on every continent.
Read moreUsing Greywater
Approximately 50-80% of residential wastewater is greywater, finding ways to reuse portions of it can reduce stress on water and wastewater treatment plants. Reusing greywater can provide a 30% reduction in water use for the average household, and an even bigger reduction on a commercial scale.
Read moreAssessing Your Own Water Quality
How do you know if the water you’re drinking is safe? How do you find more information about your local water supply? What should you do if you’re worried about lead in your drinking water?
While the stories about the drinking water in Flint and other cities can be worrisome, there are plenty of things to do if you’re concerned your water quality. We’ll explore various ways to learn more about your drinking water in this article.
Read moreThe Flint Water Crisis
The City of Flint, Michigan has been in the news for having high levels of lead in its drinking water. However this problem isn’t an isolated problem, it prevails in many other cities too, such as Sebring, Ohio, Brick Township, New Jersey and more. Typically, part of the problem is caused by old pipes, through which lead can leach into water. Though congress banned lead water pipes in 1986, millions are of older lines are still in use throughout the United States. Most often problems begin with a change in the water source or treatment process changes, which alter how the water interacts with the pipes, leaving them vulnerable to leaching. Additionally, funds and budgets for water treatment are getting tighter and tighter. According to the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, 17 states have cut drinking water budgets by more than 20%, 27 states have cut spending on full-time employees, and lastly federal officials have reduced drinking water grants.
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