Two recent titles from the American Planning Association warrant mention.

Planners And The Census: Census 2010, ACS, Factfinder, And Understanding Growth from the American Planning Association’s Planning Advisory Service provides insight into the increasingly popular American Community Survey and how planners can use statistics and data from the 2010 Census.

It also provides tools to help planners use the census to document past growth and project future growth.

The U.S. Bureau of the Census provides an array of free, high-quality data on population, housing, and other information essential to the work of planners. The information is accessible to anyone with an Internet connection, but insight into how the information is gathered and organized can make it much easier to navigate.

Planning for a New Energy and Climate Future, the culmination of a three-year research and education project on the integration of climate change and energy issues into planning practice, was prepared by APA in collaboration with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the University of North Carolina Asheville.

Planners have an important role to play in helping communities meet energy needs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and adapt to a changing climate. While most planners recognize the significance of these issues, they are still working to translate these imperatives into on-the-ground plans, actions, and regulations.

The report presents fundamental information about energy and climate change, provides a framework for how to integrate energy and climate into the planning process, and offers strategies for communities to address energy and climate across a variety of issues, including development patterns, transportation, and economic development.