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How a laundry room revolutionized a New Jersey high school

Jeff Glor

March 26, 2019 |

CBS News |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Newark, New Jersey

After high school principle Akbar Cook realized that students weren't coming to school because they were embarrassed about wearing dirty clothing, he created a school laundry room with 5 commercial-grade washers and dryers. He also started a program called Lights On that leaves the school open in the evenings on Friday's to offer a recreational space with warm meals for students who have working parents or have to take care of siblings. Grateful students say that Mr. Cook had a big impact on the school and the neighborhood.

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As oil trains roll into Portland, city residents keep watch

Carl Segerstrom

March 13, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

In Portland, Oregon, a group of activists have come together to be the eyes for their community when it comes to oil train shipments. There is a surprising lack of transparency when it comes to moving crude oil by train, and the state has yet to implement monitoring standards. Because of this, activists work in shifts to be informal watchdogs for their city, making sure the public is as informed as possible even with the lack of official information.

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The Key to Nebraska's Water Conservation Success

Mark Funkhouser

March 01, 2019 |

Governing |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Lincoln, Nebraska

As the Ogallala Aquifer’s water level has declined in many states across the High Plains region of the U.S., Nebraska has almost fully maintained its water level by relying on National Resource Districts (NRDs). NRDs “develop integrated management plans for surface water and groundwater,” and its sustainable practices offer a model of how sustainable water management can thrive with local governance.

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Cities without sewers

Chelsea Wald

February 28, 2019 |

Rethink |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Haiti, Cap-Haïtien

A nonprofit in Haiti called SOIL with a business arm called EkoLakay is bringing back the old-fashioned idea of a container-based sanitation system. Customers rent toilets with containers in them, use them, and return them to EkoLakay to then be converted into highly nutritious compost. Piloted in 2011, the program has been successful serving more than 1,000 households (growing by 40 every month) with a staff of 58 mostly local workers. They attribute their success to using "applied resilience thinking", having many actors at different levels, and constantly adapting to new solutions and knowledge.

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You can now ski on top of a $670 million power plant in Copenhagen

Akshat Rathi

February 27, 2019 |

Quartz |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Copenhagen

Amager Bakke is a powerplant in Copenhagen that is designed to get residents of the city engaged in a conversation about where waste goes, all while burning up to 400,000 tons of waste a year, powering 60,000 homes, and heating 160,000 homes. In 2013 the local plant was redesigned to burn the city's waste and encourage interaction by building a ski slope atop the plant, a hiking trail, and an elevator that introduces education about waste management. Amager Bakke is still new and experimental, so its long-term success is still unclear, and it is not completely emission-free yet.

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With no upfront costs, this innovative financing tool makes energy efficiency affordable to all

Nate Berg

February 26, 2019 |

Ensia |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Aulander, North Carolina

North Carolina’s Roanoke Electric Cooperative is helping members bring down energy costs. Because the energy costs in this area is due to a lack of energy efficiency, the cooperative offers tariffed on-billing to help homes offset expenses like insulation and new heat pumps. The tariffed on-billing uses federal loans to pay for said expenses, and then the customer pays the tariff charge in their bill – which ends up being lower because of the energy efficient upgrades.

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When public restrooms fail, rent them out as churches?

Anthony Langat

February 14, 2019 |

Devex |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Kibera, Nairobi

On World Toilet Day in 2014, the Kenyan government promised to build 180 public toilets in an ambitious move to combat the issue of public sanitation. The program went well once the keys were handed off to the National Youth Service of Kenya as a means of income, but issues quickly arose that could not be resolved because of a lack of further funds. The youth has since transformed their toilets into a rental space for local churches, such as Christ Miracle Church for All Nations in Laini Saba.

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Putting the sun in Sunshine State? Florida's about-face on solar power

Eva Botkin-Kowacki

February 11, 2019 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Miami, Florida

“We’re in the midst of one of the largest solar expansions in the country,” says Alys Daly, a spokesperson for Florida Power and Light, the largest utility provider in the state of Florida. This statement represents a shift in which Florida has seized on decreasing costs of solar power and is working to increase its capacity tenfold. Power companies are helping residents save costs in an environmentally conscious way.

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FGCU's geothermal air conditioner reduces impact on the environment

Jaryd Brady

February 06, 2019 |

Changing Florida |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University utilizes a cooling plant that serves as the primary air-conditioning unit for multiple buildings on campus. This plant uses geothermal energy, which compared with traditional air conditioning units, has less of an impact on the environment and saves the university money on its power bill. FGCU currently has 146 total thermal storage tanks producing over 23,000 tons of cooling capacity for its academic buildings.

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Africa Embraces an $8 Billion Solar Market for Going Off-Grid

Sophia Akram

February 04, 2019 |

OZY |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

Many African "off-grid" countries, where as many as 80 percent of populations lack reliable access to electricity, are turning to a low-cost, environmentally friendly model: solar-powered, pay-as-you-go LEDs. Cheaper and more eco-friendly than alternatives like kerosene or diesel fuel, the LEDs like the one M-KOPA make boast 600,000 customers across East Africa. The technology has the sharp reduction in solar panel and battery cost to thank for increased access.

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