University of Vermont

Gund Institute for Ecological Economics

UVM author argues energy waste will economically tax cities

University of Vermont faculty member Austin Troy. / Photo courtesy of Susanna Kerest.

Energy prices are likely to rise over the long haul. This means that those cities with the higher consumption levels will "be at a competitive disadvantage in the relentless international struggle to remain economically vital."

That’s the theme of UVM Associate Professor Austin Troy's new book, "The Very Hungry City." Professor Troy studies how dozens of cities around the world use "energy to heat and cool buildings, to move goods and people, and to provide water. He points out the excesses and the innovative approaches. His style is accessible and non-academic, combining analysis and anecdote in an engaging text sprinkled, as it happens, with references to not-very-urban Vermont."

"Troy's book is distinct from other energy/climate books of the last few years, he said, "because it looks specifically at the intersection of cities and energy. Unlike many books that focus on the environmental virtues of reducing energy use or carbon footprint, this book’s argument is largely economic — namely that cities that are energy-hungry will be less economically competitive as energy gets more expensive.""

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