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How Poop-Eating Worms Could Help Save Thousands Of Lives Each Year

Oliver Balch

January 16, 2019 |

The Huffington Post |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

The Bill Gates Foundation is currently funding a number of organizations that seek to solve the rate of open defecation by creating low-cost toilets that utilize the feces within them. One organization, called Sanergy, operates in 11 neighborhoods across Nairobi and uses a systems-based approach that takes into account financing and maintenance of the toilet as well as selling the waste as fertilizer. Another, called Tiger Toilets in India, uses a septic tank toilet that places worms within the drainage layer who then consume the feces and produce fertilizer to be used or sold.

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These startups are trying to reduce the massive carbon footprint of concrete

Adele Peters

January 14, 2019 |

FastCompany |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

A handful of sustainability-oriented startups are working with concrete companies around the world to reduce their carbon footprint. The concrete & cement industry is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions; however, with technologies that capture CO2 within solid concrete, some companies have been able to decrease their emissions, while improving efficiency in the process.

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Her clothes are keeping female construction workers, firefighters and paramedics safe

Parija Kavilanz

January 09, 2019 |

CNN |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Founded on addressing the lack of properly fitted workwear for women in the labor industry, SeeHerWork sells designed and tested products like gloves, safety vests, and backpacks specifically for women. In doing so, the company hopes to provide women with the safety, equipment, and confidence they need to do their jobs and stay safe.

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Has New York Found the Secret to Linking Retiring Farmers and Eager Upstarts?

Lisa Held

January 08, 2019 |

Civil Eats |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

Connecting new farmers to community partners facilitates the process of buying and selling land. In addition to linking buyers and sellers, the Hudson Valley Farmlink Network (HVFN) enrolls local organizations such as GrowNYC’s FARMroots program, the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Corporation, as well as micro lenders to make the sale of the land possible. The network increases the resources available to farmers in New York.

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Taiwan has one of the highest recycling rates in the world. Here's how that happened.

Marcello Rossi

December 18, 2018 |

Ensia |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Taiwan, Taipei

Taiwan, despite housing 23 million people on a densely populated island, claims one of the highest recycling and reuse rates in the world. The government has created incentives for private companies, which throw some catchy tunes in the mix. But whether or not a country recycles remains, largely, a question of willpower.

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Can new home building tech help solve the affordability crisis?

Adele Peters

December 12, 2018 |

FastCompany |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Vallejo, California

Development companies like FactoryOS have turned to industrial manufacturing and 3D printing in an attempt to hasten development timelines and reduce city and civilian costs. Construction crews build entire apartment units inside factories, then assemble the buildings "lego-style" on site to avoid weather and city delays.

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A Denver construction company's tech saved it lots of time and money. Then it shared with competitors — for free

Tamara Chuang

December 10, 2018 |

The Colorado Sun |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

PCL Construction is known in the construction industry for being innovative. Most recently, they have begun a push to integrate technology to modernize their company and the industry. By working with software engineers and app developers, the company has drastically improved efficiency. Not content to let the rest of the industry remain inefficient, PCL also decided to openly share its software.

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Keeping It Local

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

November 29, 2018 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In Philadelphia, a program based on a similar initiative in Cleveland is on its way to success. PAGE (Philadelphia Anchors for Growth & Equity) will direct spending from large institutions locally. Specifically, it will work with anchor institutions like the universities in town and fill gaps, like building a laundry facility that will create jobs and fill the need by places like Jefferson Health and Penn Medicine. Job creation is what will keep this organization and the city of Philadelphia going.

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How Temporary Tiny Homes Could Solve Dutch Cities' Housing Crises

Feargus O'Sullivan

November 26, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Rotterdam

While more permanent housing is built to meet demand in the Netherlands, the stopgap answer is to build “tiny homes.” Completely built in a factory, these tiny homes still provide all basic housing amenities. They will be laid out in clusters of four and in larger communities to overcome what some worry will be isolating for many people who have nowhere else to turn. As an interim solution, these tiny homes are perfect-but they aren’t built to last, so the goal is to get residents into more permanent housing.

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Denver Is Testing Housing Vouchers For Middle-Income Workers. Austin Will Be Watching.

Audrey McGlinchy

November 14, 2018 |

KUT |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

Housing voucher programs provide assistance to those who make too much to qualify for Section 8 housing, but whose wages can’t keep up with rent in their cities. Denver, Colorado, is addressing the financial burden of skyrocketing rents by providing middle-income earners such as teachers and healthcare workers with housing assistance. Funded through a public-private partnership, the two-year pilot program allows applicants to search online for landlords that have agreed to accept the vouchers.

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