“The graph in Figure 5-1, based on research in the New York metro region, shows that the carbon footprint of a suburban single-family home is about three times larger than that of urban multifamily dwellings in neighborhoods where residents can walk to shops, schools, and transit. Even residents of “green” energy-efficient single-family houses who use energy-efficient cars produce roughly twice the carbon emissions of those living in smaller urban town houses or apartments close to buses or trains. The big problem, not surprisingly, is caused by longer commutes in single occupancy vehicles. Fortunately for the planet, the housing market is shifting in the direction of lower carbon, denser living alternatives, particularly where transit options are available (Badger 2011).”