Population+-+The+fight+for+Space,+Resources+and+the+American+Dream

= Population: =

and the American Dream
Chris Aram 09/13/2011

Problem:
The population is growing at a staggering rate, and as such we’re also bound by a finite area in which humanity can occupy. This creates a sustainability problem, in terms of resources & space. The problem is self perpetuating however, as population booms, the need for more resources increases.

The Unsustainable Path:
Food being the primary factor here, allows for increased consumption, and increased growth, the more we produce the more we consume, the bigger we grow. We’ve seen this happen with the advent of technology, the more food is plentiful, population grows. As the population grows, the food requirements increase; requiring further advancement in acquiring new sustenance. This is the perpetual cycle of population dynamics.

The Earth is finite, in terms of space and resources. At this level of consumption, space will become scarce, as well as the resources we rely on to function in normal society. One word: Vertical. The horizontal growth is something that cannot be sustained. The energy requirements for sustaining a growth pattern that’s

The Urban World:
Close and concise, the urban world is compact in comparison to what it houses. In David Owen’s Green Metropolis he points out the very efficiencies that the urban lifestyle can offer. The compactness is something that big cities offers cannot be found anywhere else.

NYC Population Density is incredible in comparison to many other cities and NY as a whole.

Based on the 2010 Census Results: New York State: Total Population: 18,378,102; Density: 408.7/sq mi New York City: Total Population: 8,175,133; Density: 27,532/sq mi Manhattan: Total Population: 1,585,873; Density: 70,951sq mi

These numbers are astronomical in comparison to the rest of the country. Even in regard to New York State. The density of New York City is 67 times that of New York State.

David Owen States:

//“Manhattan’s density is approximately 67,000 people per square mile, or more than eight hundred times that of the nation as a whole and roughly thirty times that of Los Angeles.”//

Manhattan is even more dense than the entirety of NYC. Latest figures indicate approx. 70,000 people per square mile. This is incredibly efficient making NYC is one of the greenest locations on Earth. The carbon footprint is relatively low in comparison to the number of people that reside within the heart of the city. This efficiency comes from less waste, less space and shared resources. Reliance on public transportation removes the automobile from the vast majority of those in NYC.

Owen calls attention to a particularly interesting scenario:

//"If you moved eight million people like us, along with our dwellings, possessions, vehicles and current rates of energy use, water use and waste production, into a space of New York City, our profligacy would be impossible to miss...//

//...Conversely if you made all eight million New Yorkers live at the density of my town, they would require a space equivalent to the land area of the six New England State plus Delaware and New Jersey.”//

He points out the inefficiencies of suburban life, especially in regard to materialistic possessions and energy use. But more surprising is when the opposite is applied. Moving the population of NYC to the suburban lifestyle would occupy more space than what is currently available.

Solutions:
Urbanization may not be the complete solution, but its efficiencies are. The solution might unfold over time as the price of energy increases, and the need for more a more sustainable lifestyle becomes more apparent to the general public. Reliance on public transportation as well as a shift to reduce material possessions and reduce and compact our communities can help aid such a transition. Horizontal growth is limited; however combining the vertical element helps attain better and more sustainable growth.

References:
Mackun, Paul. United States. Population Distribution and Change: 2000 to 2010. , 2011. Web. 13 Sep 2011. < [|http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/][|c2010br-01.pdf] >.

New York. U.S. Census Bureau Delivers New York's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for. , 2010. Web. 13 Sep 2011. < [] >

Owen, David. Green Metropolis. New York: Penguin Group, 2009. eBook.

Images:
http://imageonion.com/photos/ http://postandbeamliving.com/page/14/?archives-list&archives-type=cats http://www.nickomargolies.com/big/2009/09/suburbia/ http://chicagoagentmagazine.com/nar-study-latest-in-affordable-housing-reports/ http://www.innkeepingblog.com/2010/07/unrest-in-nyc-about-bbs-a-lesson-for-innkeepers/ http://zoyaandthecity.tumblr.com/post/5224103138