The Guardian
1 October 2015
Text / 800-1500 Words
Chatsworth, California, United States
The term circular economy refers to the cycle or reusability, and is an ambitious but realistic goal for many companies to take part in. However, until recently, many lacked the education and technology to implement this concept. Several organizations across the United States are working towards this goal by committing to zero waste, changing business models and educating their staff on the importance of understanding waste.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/crowd-funding-clean-energy
David Bornstein
The New York Times
6 March 2013
Text / 1500-3000 Words
In Oakland, a company created an online crowdfunding platform that allows users to earn interest by financing clean energy projects and gives people with good social intentions a direct line of action. Across the world, there is a growing movement toward people-powered clean energy.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/in-urban-jungles-green-roofs-bring-relief-from-above
Tina Rosenberg
The New York Times
23 May 2012
Text / 1500-3000 Words
New York City black tar roofs cause a number of environmental problems, including air pollution, heat absorption that raises energy consumption, and storm water runoff in the sewer system. Efforts to turn these old roofs into green spaces cool the buildings, enable the containment of more rainfall, reduce sewer discharge, generate energy, and absorb carbon emissions. New York City has a pilot program offering financial help for green roofs.
http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2014/08/06/growing-a-solution-to-californias-groundwater-crisis
Peyton Fleming
National Geographic
6 August 2014
Text / 800-1500 Words
Due to drought and water shortage in California's Central Coast, community members collaborate with local government to create better water usage systems from runoff and to recycle waste water in order to irrigate crops.
http://nextcity.org/features/view/hot-crowded-and-smart-san-antonio-water-system-drought
Sarah Goodyear
Next City
22 July 2013
Text / Over 3000 Words
For the past three years, water levels in the San Antonio Edwards Aquifer have decreased to uncomfortable levels and drought periods may continue as the population booms. The San Antonio Water System organization has set up rules to limit water use and has recycled water for conservation frugal innovation.
http://thetyee.ca/News/2014/10/17/Sustainability-Definition-Changed-Law
Geoff Dembicki
The Tyee
17 October 2014
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Hawaii private school students were taught about ecological sustainability, but public school students were not. After losing a school essay contest about sustainability, a high school student convinced Hawaii’s legislature to pass a resolution requiring that every student learn the meaning of the concept. Due to this student’s advocacy, the state is also piloting a program to install solar panels on its public schools to teach children how to be more self-sustaining.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/out-of-indias-trash-heaps-more-than-a-shred-of-dignity
Sarika Bansal
The New York Times
12 June 2013
Text / 800-1500 Words
Throughout India, wastepickers – people who scour landfills for garbage they can sell to recyclers – live at the bottom of society. But the city of Pune did something radical: with the help of a collective, they did away with expensive garbage trucks, and now all household garbage is collected by wastepickers with pushcarts. Pune saves millions of dollars each year and recycles more – and the wastepickers have decent wages and social standing. The concept is now spreading globally.
http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-08-26/aleppo-cell-phones-are-helping-some-desperate-syrians-find-clean-water
Joyce Hackel
Public Radio International (PRI)
26 August 2015
Radio / 5-15 Minutes
In war zones, people have a difficult time finding clean water and safe areas to inhabit. Social media, smart phones, and technology applications are aiding in people’s survival. In Aleppo, Syria, the International Committee of the Red Cross posted a map on Facebook to show alternative sources of clean drinking water that reached approximately 140,000 people.
https://medium.com/bright/in-colorado-teaching-to-a-changing-climate-831b81a32358
Mary Slosson
Bright Magazine
2 June 2015
Text / 800-1500 Words
Colorado has had challenges teaching climate change to elementary and secondary school students because of political divisiveness. Regional advocacy groups and professionals manage to teach climate change through engaging field trips, filmmaking, and outdoor learning.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/in-india-latrines-are-truly-lifesavers
Vivekananda Nemana
Ankita Rao
The New York Times
13 November 2014
Text / 1500-3000 Words
India has had a problem in which 620 million people openly defecate outdoors, causing harm to hygiene, sanitation, food, and water resources. The president of India funded an initiative to build public toilets for the people in his country, but the people did not use them because of old traditions and behaviors. The Total Sanitation Campaign is slowly changing villagers’ minds by having local leadership persuade those who resist the toilets by holding community activities and creating special committees to maintain the sanitation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/23/realestate/recycled-kitchens-salvaged-splendor.html
Tim McKeough
The New York Times
21 August 2015
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Renovating and furnishing a home can be hugely expensive. Homeowners who are renovating on a budget, and want to do so in a way that is evironmentally friendly, can find recycled luxury kitchens and other lightly used fixtures at stores like Green Demolitions.
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