Could churches be prime locations for EV charging stations? One company thinks so.

Students at Catholic University of America in a net-zero design course are analyzing church structures and making suggestions for green improvements to address the climate crisis, reduce carbon emissions and support the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ mission to conserve energy and protect the planet. Though in its early days, the course has proven beneficial for U.S. dioceses, and students say it’s impacted the way they see architecture and design, and how it can have implications tied to the environment.

Environmental groups and policymakers around the world are softening their stances against nuclear power in the face of today’s climate and energy realities. As the second-largest source of carbon-free electricity, nuclear power can have several advantages. In the U.S. alone, the use of nuclear power in 2020 prevented more than 471 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions – the equivalent of removing 100 million cars from the road.

In Boston, climate activists with HEET, a nonprofit that develops neighborhood-scale geothermal systems, worked closely with gas utility executives to find a solution to gas leaks and transition to cleaner energy sources. Making the case for switching to geothermal energy comes with its challenges, but their collaboration and advocacy led to the signing of legislation allowing gas utilities to provide geothermal heating and cooling as an alternative to gas throughout their service areas.

Germany-based Vulcan Energy combines lithium extraction with geothermal energy production to make geothermal more financially feasible. It pulls the lithium directly from the hot water that's used to generate power and heat for local communities and sells it to be used for electric car batteries.

The Clean Cooking Stove Entrepreneurship project offers two-week training programs to teach women how to practice safer, cleaner cooking practices as opposed to the dangerous open-fire cooking methods they’re most familiar with. Women who complete the training then return to their communities to advocate for and educate others on these new skills. Since starting in 2016, more than 9,000 women have received clean cooking education and access to stoves to practice these more sustainable cooking practices.

The Denver-based Triple Bottom Line Foundation funds projects to retrofit low-income, multi-family properties that house underserved groups. The projects include energy-efficiency upgrades, solar power installations, and weatherization upgrades among others.

In an effort to reduce fossil fuel use and environmental impact, some locals are opting for solar power to reduce household energy emissions. Home heating and cooling alone is responsible for 441 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, but a single acre of solar panels can save between 121 and 138 metric tons of carbon emissions each year.

The Community Climate Collaborative is working to wean local businesses from fossil fuels. 16 members of the Green Business Alliance pledged last spring to cut their carbon pollution by 45% by the end of 2025. The Alliance is more than halfway there — already achieving a 28% reduction.

Electric buses will be hitting Virginia’s busiest transit corridor as a result of the implementation of the Transportation and Climate Initiative. The plan aims to reduce carbon emissions, create a sustainable economy, and invest in underserved communities.

Climate Perks is a program that encourages employees to avoid air travel and choose lower carbon-options for their personal travel. It is part of a trend of initiatives from businesses that incentivize slower travel as part of company policies or by offering extra vacation days. Despite slow adoption at Naturesave, another leader in encouraging green travel, environmentally-focused business leaders are hopeful for increased adoption as flight shame and climate change continue to be essential issues for young people.