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Sustainable housing via 3D printing, foam addresses housing crisis, climate change

Troy Hill Jessica Herrera

August 11, 2022 |

Cronkite News - Arizona PBS |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Phoenix, Arizona

Strata International Group is building homes out of foam and concrete. It's a practice that is gaining traction because when these materials are used, the homes are set to last for upwards of 300 years. It also requires a less energy-intensive construction process — creating big cost savings amid supply chain issues and inflation and also benefiting the environment.

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'Let's Try Something New' Meets the National Housing Squeeze

Erika Bolstad

July 18, 2022 |

Stateline |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boise, Idaho

The Boise nonprofit, LEAP, builds affordable housing with innovative approaches, including using donated land held in trust and solar panels to keep utility costs low. The creative approach to land ownership and the use of alternative construction techniques and materials help more people afford homes in a fast-growing metro area.

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Flip Your Strip gaining traction, leading to removal of water-guzzling turf

Tim Vandenack

July 16, 2022 |

Standard-Examiner |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington Terrace, Utah

In order to use less water in drought-ridden Utah, many residents are replacing their grassy park strips with vegetation and rocks that don’t need as much irrigation. As part of the “Flip Your Strip” initiative, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District provides participants with money per square foot of grass removed. While the program is new, this idea has been tried and tested in California, where studies have shown that it is making an impact.

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New England Program Helps Low-Income Communities Join the Green Energy Revolution

Hadassah Patterson

May 05, 2022 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Hampshire

Revision Energy is bringing affordable solar energy to residents of New Hampshire. Nonprofits and investors have joined forces to bring environmentally-friendly energy to homes at a price that is cheaper than traditional energy. Investors are able to reap the solar tax credit.

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Kenya embraces green building technology

Duncan Lukoye David Owino Juma Majanga

April 28, 2022 |

DIRAJ |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

As building developers in Kenya design new structures that are more environmentally friendly and sustainable, they can look to the Garden City Mall in Nairobi as a successful example. This mixed-use development with shopping, residential, and office spaces uses solar energy, which helps cut energy costs by over 30 million shillings each year. The mall also was the first in the region to receive an international green building certification.

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What Is the Future of America's Greenest Town?

Anne Kniggendorf

April 19, 2022 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Greensburg, Kansas

After a tornado devastated Greensburg, Kansas, the town decided to use the disaster as an opportunity to become more environmentally sustainable. For example, they built a new school out of recycled wood and it was powered with geothermal heat. While the maintenance of these sustainable features can be tricky, this shift to a greener town can be a case study for others looking to make the transition.

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Oregon Is Turning Sewage into an Endless Supply of Green Energy

Britany Robinson

March 17, 2022 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Clackamas county, Oregon

A wastewater treatment plant in Oregon not only cleans water that is released into the local river, but it also creates fertilizer that is sent to farmers to use on non-food crops and it produces renewable power from methane. The green energy created at the plant heats five buildings on the site and produces half of the energy the facility uses. This kind of co-generation system is growing in other places in the United States, China, Brazil, and Norway.

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Could modular housing be a quick fix for the affordability crisis?

Josh Sherman

February 22, 2022 |

TVO |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Cambridge, Ontario

Ontario’s lack of housing supply has inspired the construction of modular housing: repurposed shipping containers that people now call home. Shipping containers can be converted into homes faster than traditional homes can be built. The approach is saving time and is meant to eventually bring down the soaring cost of housing.

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Q&A: Jessica Davis of Rebuilders Xchange, a hub for salvaged building materials

Marc Lefkowitz

February 01, 2022 |

The Land |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

Salvaged building materials are staying out of the landfill as a result of this circular economy initiative. Rebuilders Xchange is taking tubs, sinks, hardwood floors, and any other constructions materials to reuse and resell. They also offer services to repair and refit materials into new spaces.

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How Cleveland is salvaging old buildings to create a new circular economy

Marc Lefkowitz

February 01, 2022 |

The Land |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

Developers in Cleveland are salvaging building parts that can be reused in other construction projects. The sustainable initiative known as deconstructing helps reduce carbon footprints and helps avoid the “high social and environmental costs of dumping demolition material in landfills.”

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