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 […]
Solar job training increases opportunities for veterans
Earlier this year, the first class of military trainees graduated from the US Energy Department’s solar job training program. In partnership with the SunShot training initiative, the pilot program will prepare 200 veterans at three military bases for careers as installers, sales representatives, and inspectors in the solar industry and allow them to interview with […]
Shorter work week brings better health and more fulfilling daily lives
There are many articles out there discussing shorter, more flexible work weeks, including a post from the New Economics Foundation that details multiple benefits of straying from the standard 40 hour work week. In addition to alleviating work travel and rush hour traffic, a change in work hours brings benefits such as more productive, less […]
Obama’s solar plan builds assets in communities with federally subsidized housing
In July, the Obama Administration rolled out a new initiative to install 300MW of solar power in federally subsidized housing communities by 2020 and expand solar opportunities for renters and those with inadequate roof space on their homes through community solar installations. The initiative also makes provisions for job training and education in the solar […]
Mixed use neighborhoods boost health, reduce emissions
Since most suburbs were designed for cars, with wide streets and no sidewalks, residents are missing out on opportunities to add movement to their daily routine. An article in CBCNews discusses “obesegenic” environments and how living in them causes us to gain weight and lose life years to heart disease and other illnesses. Even simple […]
Whole-Systems Thinking on Climate – Signs of an Emerging Trend
What do the US EPA, a leading medical journal, and the Pope have in common? They all are calling for action on climate change to help address other problems, such as inequality, poor health, and environmental degradation. Within one week in June, we saw the release of three influential documents on the co-benefits of climate […]
Fight Climate Change, Ill-Health and Inequity with the Same Dollar
There’s a big systems win to be found at the intersection of public health and urban design. There’s an even bigger win to be had by adding climate change and social justice to the picture. Doctors and public health officials are beginning to talk about urban design as determinant of health, and this way of […]