RAND energy and environmental analyses help contextualize the effects of existing and proposed energy policies on the environment. Building on a long history of policy research, RAND helps balance the need for environmental protections and economic development.
REPORT
Considers proposals to augment the existing flood-damage protection system in New Orleans with “nonstructural” risk mitigation programs focused on single-family homes.
MULTIMEDIA
In this April 12, 2010, Congressional Briefing, Ambassador Charles Ries discusses lessons the United States could learn from the experiences of the European Union and Australia in driving energy efficiency in the building sector.
PERIODICAL
Features discuss energy strategies for Israel, the economic recession, and Iran's leadership; other items discuss the KC-10 fleet, air pollution and hospital costs, no-fault insurance, silica litigation, poverty reduction, and political polarization.
REPORT
Three essays explore the implicit private costs of improving vehicle fuel efficiencies, the private benefits and social impacts of electric vehicles, and the implications of a large-scale adoption of electric vehicles for transportation finance.
NEWS RELEASE
California's dirty air caused more than $193 million in hospital-based medical care from 2005 to 2007 as people sought help for problems such as asthma and pneumonia that are triggered by elevated pollution levels.
REPORT
California's dirty air caused more than $193 million in hospital-based medical care from 2005 to 2007 as people sought help for problems such as asthma and pneumonia that are triggered by elevated pollution levels.
COMMENTARY
Previous efforts by the international community to stabilize Haiti have met with little or only short-term success. This time, following the earthquake, the U.S. response could actually leverage the response and recovery opportunities into a broader international plan, write Agnes Gereben Schaefer and Anita Chandra.
RESEARCH BRIEF
Examines how California's failure to meet federal air quality standards has affected hospitalizations and insurers' costs.
REPORT
In testimony presented before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, James Dobbins discusses the current international disaster relief operation in Haiti and how it is affected by a preexisting post-conflict reconstruction mission, which he considers ultimately more important.
REPORT
Given the experiences of industry and communities, many Army installations have started to develop and implement installation sustainability plans, which document long-range plans addressing mission, community, and environmental issues developed through a strategic planning process.
RESEARCH BRIEF
The Displaced New Orleans Residents Pilot Study shows that it is possible to study this hard-to-survey population to determine rates of return and mental illness among residents who experienced Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.
COMMENTARY
While traffic congestion plagues many cities, Los Angeles stands apart, routinely ranking first for both total and per-capita congestion delay, with an estimate annual cost at close to $10 billion, writes Paul Sorensen.
REPORT
Assesses the effectiveness of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) in improving relationships among its members.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
This study uses data from the monthly Current Population Survey to examine the short- and longer-term effects of Hurricane Katrina on the labor market outcomes of prime-age individuals in the most affected states--Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi--and for evacuees in any state. The authors determine there is a role for self-employment as part of post-disaster labor market recovery, especially for evacuees who did not return,…
JOURNAL ARTICLE
New Orleans school children participated in an assessment and field trial of two interventions 15 months after Hurricane Katrina.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Assesses how park characteristics and demographic factors are associated with park use.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
This report accompanies the Calculating Uncertainty in Biomass Emissions model, version 1.0 (CUBE 1.0), and provides explanation of model content and use. It is intended to complement extensive documentation contained in the model itself. CUBE 1.0, available for download on the NETL website, determines the life cycle GHG emissions of biomass feedstocks from planting the biomass to delivery to the bioenergy plant gate…
JOURNAL ARTICLE
The authors explore the limits of current knowledge about grid electricity in LCA and carbon footprinting for the U.S. electrical grid, and show that differences in standards, protocols, and reporting organizations can lead to important differences in estimates of CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions factors.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
There is little evidence of an association between short- or long-term exposure to particulate matter air pollution and venous thromboembolism; and no evidence that hormone therapy is modifing such a link.
PERIODICAL
Features focus on stabilization missions, grade retention, health financing, and RAND's president; other items discuss the European Union, sodium, health insurance, retail medical clinics, energy efficiency, disaster recovery, and alcohol pricing.
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