In Britain, a plan to reforest land scarred by derelict mine pits, quarries, coal workings, and other industrial wreckage has been successful for both the local environment and for human communities. More than 8.5 million native trees have been planted amidst 500 abandoned industrial sites in the past 25 years, and hundreds of miles of […]
Tokyo’s living curtains reduce temperatures and save energy
Tokyo residents and businesses have begun planting climbing plants to shade their buildings. The plants provide valuable shade and cooling from water evaporation, helping to lower temperatures and electricity consumption. In addition to energy savings, some plants have been selected to provide food, such as the goya vegetables from Kyocera’s green curtains that provide food […]
SunFarmer Brings Solar Power to Schools, Farms, & Hospitals
SunFarmer is a nonprofit that provides solar energy to off-grid communities in developing countries. They launch locally-run solar companies tailored to each region, and help clients through the financial, quality assurance, and maintenance aspects of acquiring solar power. Sunfarmer has brought solar power to dozens of off-grid health facilities, farms, schools, and community centers, particularly […]
College transforms football field to provide crops and jobs
Nine years ago, Paul Quinn College in Dallas transformed its football field into an organic farm. This historically black college was struggling with financial issues, extremely low graduation rates, and a losing, expensive football program. The We over Me farm allows students to pay tuition and gain valuable work experience. It produces 20,000 lbs of […]
Preserving Trees & Livelihoods in the Chocó Rainforest
A group of farmers in the Chocó Rainforest in Ecuador is preserving trees from being felled for lumber and banana and palm oil production. Their association, Socio Escondido, is instead growing cacao, which is easy to grow and transport and collects a price premium for being grown organically. It can be grown alongside native trees […]
Solar Sister Empowers Women and Delivers Clean Energy in Africa
Solar Sister works to both empower women and bring solar energy to remote parts of Africa by recruiting, training, and supporting women in establishing their own clean energy businesses. The Solar Sister entrepreneurs sell and deliver solar lighting and clean cookstoves to their communities, which increases their income and business skills and gives them greater […]
Rainwater harvesting supplies water and income in Kenya
With guidance from the Africa Sand Dam Foundation, villages in Kenya’s Makueni County are creating rain catchment systems to take action against drought. People in the Kikumbulyu village built rock catchment systems for rainwater, which divert water into large concrete tanks. The catchment systems required community collaboration during the planning and building process, and they […]
Bringing Nature Into Schools Increases Student Learning and Well-Being
School facilities with natural features and eco-friendly designs are not just good for the environment, but also for educational outcomes. Classrooms that have plants and natural light show improved learning scores in math, science, and spelling. Natural features in classrooms also reduce stress levels and improve student concentration and behavior. Green roofs, school gardens, and […]
The Collective Leadership Institute Builds Capacity for Multisolving
The Collective Leadership Institute is a nonprofit based in Germany and South Africa whose work helps others build capacity for multisolving. Their goal is to foster collective leadership, in particular toward fulfilling the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. They work with leaders in the private sector, public sector, and civil society in Europe, Asia, Africa, […]
BlocPower Finances Energy Efficiency in Underserved Communities
A startup called BlocPower is providing financing for energy efficiency upgrades to small businesses and organizations in underserved communities with aging, inefficient buildings. Small businesses, especially those located in low income communities, typically find it difficult to gain financing for energy upgrades, so BlocPower bundles those businesses into a larger and more diversified group to […]