Topic: Carbon intensity of fuels and energy sources. Determine (to the best of your ability) the cost of fuels used in the city/region. How are these calculated?
Examine the question of climate and energy use in your city:

How many cooling degree-days and heating degree days are there?
Compare values between Lexington and Mexico City

Earthtrends Country Reports

Topic: Compare economic output and standard of living in the two cities.
Is GMP (Gross Metropolitan Product) a useful value? What and how much is produced in the two cities?

Income inequality: An alternative measure would be to look at carbon output versus Income. Determine the income in the two cities, income inequality. To what degree is carbon intensity linked to income?

ecn3_2005.pdf

Housing:

for2_2005.pdf

ene2_2005.pdf

Earthtrends Country Reports

Metropolitan Area’s urban form:

Transport_Greenhouse.pdf

Google Earth Images

Urban Maps: University of Texas Map Library

Transportation:

Transport_Greenhouse.pdf

pop5_2004.pdf

Earthtrends Country Reports

Electricity and other energy prices: what is the data on fuel prices used for residental activities (heating, cooking)?

What data on residential consumption? What is per person Residential consumption of the varied fuels. Develop a fuels budget.

Population density, number of persons per acre of developable land in the metropolitan area

Housing density, number of housing units per acre of developable land in the metropolitan area.

Single versus multi-hub cities: describe the urban form, how does this effect energy utilization?

Determine the impact of personal automobile use. How many VTM (vehicle transport miles) are used per person?

Type of fuel used.

Transport_Greenhouse.pdf

Housing type and form. How do people live? Types of houses and impact upon energy utilization.

Job density, number of jobs per acre of developable land in the metropolitan area.

Population concentration: measures the extent to which persons are evenly distributed across the metro area. Do a qualitative analysis of the urban form.

Mass Transit Effect and/or Trucking and Transport:

how many people use mass transit (excluding automobiles) in the city, what type of mass transit exists, what type of fuel is used, what areas are served by mass transit?

Alternatively, what means are used to move freight in the respective urban areas?