Solar electricity systems that are portable and able to be securely packed are reducing thefts in off-grid communities in Africa. While theft of solar panels is a common problem, innovative …
Planting Forests on Derelict Industrial Sites Revives the Land & Its People
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. …
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 …
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 …
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, …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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, …
Conserving water also saves energy and carbon emissions
One silver lining to the ongoing drought in California is that the water conservation measures undertaken by the state have also saved energy and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Los Angeles …
How To Create Good Jobs at Fair Wages – And Help the Climate
Transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy is a way to both mitigate climate change and create jobs. We are collecting resources to spread the word and help this process benefit as many …
From Empty Homes to Green Space & Flood Prevention in Detroit
In Detroit, abandoned homes are being turned into "bioretention" rain gardens. These gardens soak up storm runoff, which reduces the flow of sewage into nearby rivers and lowers the risk of street …