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How To Make Hydropower More Environmentally Friendly

Matt Weiser

December 20, 2016 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dover, Delaware

Dams make for complex and often controversial infrastructure. While hydropower generated from large dam projects is currently providing the bulk of the planet's renewable energy, dams can also cause major environmental and social damage by interrupting animal migrations, displacing indigenous communities, and collecting toxins. A number of solutions are being implemented, however, to address the various issues caused by dams, to help make them a more eco-friendly and viable source of clean energy.

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Experimental City: How Rotterdam Became A World Leader In Sustainable Urban Design

Adele Peters

December 05, 2016 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Rotterdam

Rotterdam, a port city once at the center of trade and commerce, is now threatened by climate change. The city has responded to this threat by totally transforming itself into a hub for sustainable design. It embraces crazy, environmentally friendly solutions. From a floating dairy farm to a home enclosed in a greenhouse to basketball courts that soak up rainwater, Rotterdam has established itself as a leader in sustainable urban design. By 2025, the city plans to be completely climate-proof.

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World's first city to power its water needs with sewage energy

Kata Karáth

December 01, 2016 |

New Scientist |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Aarhus

With climate change an ever-increasing threat, one city in Denmark is helping to inspire hope through the successful implementation of a self-sustaining treatment plant that provides fresh water to the local community using only energy produced from the waste and sewage it filters. Other cities are now looking to replicate the model.

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Kenya embraces solar to meet energy needs

Andrew Wasike

November 25, 2016 |

Deutsche Welle (DW) |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Kenya

In order to meet the needs of the country, Kenya is slowly moving away from costly and environmentally damaging energy sources to solar powered energy. Farmers and medical clinics alike are seeing the benefit both from a financial and practical standpoint, as they embrace solar installations that help them do business even better.

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For fossil fuel-reliant towns, a solar alternative grows

Lyndsey Gilpin

November 15, 2016 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Delta, Colorado

A local energy cooperative in Colorado, Delta Montrose Electric Association, is spurring economic development through renewable energy. The program has allowed Delta County to diversify energy sources, and has become a tool for economic revitalization.

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A Renewable Energy Revolution in Small-Town America

Nicolas Pollock, Deborah Fallows, James Fallows

November 03, 2016 |

The Atlantic |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Spearville, Kansas

Small towns across America are leading the shift towards renewable energy. Part of a series called "American Futures", this video visits Kansas, Pennsylvania, and California to learn more about green initiatives in biofuel, wind, and solar power. Although each solution is different, each are a new way of generating income for the residents of the towns and often comes with societal acceptance as well.

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There's No Business Like Snow Business

Marlene Cimons

October 28, 2016 |

Popular Science |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan, Tokyo

Instead of treating fallen snow as waste, several countries are using it as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel for cooling and air conditioning applications. Countries like Japan and Sweden collect snow and use snow cooling systems during warmer months.

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Massive new solar plot marks big changes in rural Minnesota

Elizabeth Dunbar

October 19, 2016 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, North Branch, Minnesota

A new solar array called North Star in the Twin Cities will soon produce enough energy to power more than 20,000 homes. The project allows landowners to evolve beyond a deteriorating farming industry while maintaining native prairie plants under and around the panels for bees and other pollinators. The project is part of the state's 15-year energy plan to reduce carbon emissions by 60 percent and generate a third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

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This little town decided to go green. And they did it without the government.

Ally Hirschlag

October 16, 2016 |

Upworthy |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: England, Ashton Hayes

Ashton Hayes- a small town in England- adopted a Carbon Neutrality mission, meaning they hoped to produce as much energy as they consumed. Over the past 10 years they have reduced their emissions by 40%, attributing their success to the resulting neighbourhood cohesion, dedication, and it being a public decision as opposed to one made or implemented by politicians.

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Building upgrades give downtown St. Paul smaller energy footprint

Elizabeth Dunbar

October 11, 2016 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, St. Paul, Minnesota

Madison Equities is investing in significant efficiency upgrades to a number of buildings in downtown St. Paul, overhauling their energy systems in an upgrade driven in part by tenants' interest in energy efficiency and in part as a major effort to shrink the city's carbon footprint and save on long-term operating costs. The the timeline for the St. Paul project was impressive and shows what's possible, not just for the planet but for a company's bottom line.

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