“We can’t afford to have waste be just waste.” That's the thinking behind an innovative new project in Washington, DC that generates power from the treatment of sewage waste. The thermal hydrolysis …
Urban Trees Improve Health, Reduce Crime
Planting trees in urban areas and neighborhoods provides many benefits for the environment and local community. Urban greenery is not only beautiful, but also lowers stress, pollution, noise, and heat …
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 …
Solar Pumps in India Save Water, Increase Farmers’ Income
In Gujarat and elsewhere in India, the Consultative Group for International Agriculture Research's program on climate change, agriculture, and food security is replacing diesel-powered water pumps …
Efficient transportation cuts carbon and reduces poverty
An article in the New York Times discusses a recent study at Harvard on how reliable, efficient transportation is more influential than crime, test scores, or a two-parent family in determining …
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 …
Restoring coastal habitats provides jobs, resilience, and clean water
Restoring mangroves, marshes, dunes, reefs, and other coastal habitats can bring many benefits, beyond clean water and coastal protection. A study from 2013 found that 50 NOAA projects, funded with …
In Denmark, buying “less fresh” reduces food waste and saves emissions
A recent NPR article discusses how consumers in Denmark currently throw away 25 percent less food than they did 5 years ago, an average of 104 pounds per person per year compared to 273 pounds per …
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 …
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 …
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 …