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The Detroit Success Story Visible From Space

Erick Trickey

May 18, 2017 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

In just three years, Detroit carried out an ambitious $185 million project to re-illuminate the city's 88,000 streetlights, half of which were dark, with new energy-efficient LED lights. Through its new Public Lighting Authority, the city used an innovative funding scheme to pay for the lights even in the midst of municipal bankruptcy. After the lights went up, residents felt safer, and businesses felt a noticeable bump.

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Keeping it cool: Malaysia looks to district energy systems.

Feng Zengkun

May 17, 2017 |

Eco-Business |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Malaysia, Sedenak, Johor

A collaborative effort among the United Nations' District Energy in Cities Initiative, the Malaysian government, and various private partners has raised awareness and facilitated planning in Malaysia's rapidly developing southern state of Johor for a "District Energy System": a single heating and cooling network which decreases energy consumption by converting waste heat from large power stations. Because of this intervention, Iskandar is projected to decrease its energy use by almost 40% -- all while saving money on energy costs, recycling heat energy, and contributing to the nation's goals under the international Paris Accord.

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How A Man With No Coding Experience Built An App That's Bringing Solar Power To Yemen

Adele Peters

May 08, 2017 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Yemen

The civil war in Yemen caused the electrical grid to fail and left many in the country without reliable access to electricity. As Yemenis tried to implement solar power, many were finding the process difficult with nowhere to turn for answers. Anwar Al-Haddad couldn't find a solution for this growing problem, so he invented an app, despite a lack of coding knowledge, by using another app that had been invented in the Silicon Valley.

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Northern Lights: Large-Scale Solar Power Is Spreading Across the U.S.

Cheryl Katz

March 23, 2017 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Once largely confined to the desert Southwest, solar power is making its way across the United States. Due to decreasing prices in installations, coupled with government incentives and increasing knowledge of energy harvesting capabilities, solar has recently found its way into places such as Idaho, Maine, Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, and Nebraska - with places like Georgia and Florida are looking to expand. Despite the pushback from the newest presidential administration, even cynics of the solar power movement are declaring it the most viable option.

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Renewables roadshow: how the 'nonna effect' got Darebin's pensioners signing up to solar

Michael Slezak

March 22, 2017 |

The Guardian |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Australia, Darebin, Victoria

Although solar installations have been on the rise, it's often those that could most benefit from this renewable energy source that can't access it. The Darebin City Council in Australia recognized this challenge faced by very low-income households, and began what is now known as the Solar Saver program. Although it initially began as a way to help these families cut electricity costs, it is now focused on making solar more accessible by providing no cost installations and a 10-year payment plan that ultimately helps the families cut costs.

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Solar air heating in factories reduces carbon emissions

Jency Samuel

March 10, 2017 |

India Climate Dialogue |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Theni

Businesses across India are using a practice called solar air heating to produce electricity and energy more efficiently. The process – which uses black, rooftop surfaces to capture heat under a glass panel that’s then carried through forced air and pipelines – has shown to save time and money in its effectiveness and ability to reduce traditional energy consumption.

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The future will be battery-powered

Amelia Urry

February 21, 2017 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

There is an ongoing competition to improve batteries as a method of energy storage that is environmentally conscious. Intense research on batteries is ongoing, including the development of the "saltwater battery', in order to improve their reliability, storage abilities and safety.

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How Nepal got the electricity flowing

Bikash Sangraula

January 16, 2017 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nepal, Kathmandu

Over the last seven years, Nepal's electricity use has remained under the control of the Nepal Electrical Authority (NEA), a monopoly that has been illegally supplying electricity to certain industries 24/7 leaving the public in darkness during blackout hours. Due to the ingenuity of Kul Man Ghising, the electricity has been redistributed and can be utilized for up to 20 hours per day in consistent and publicly known time blocks. It is possible that in the coming years, 24 hours of electricity a day will be available to all in Nepal.

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How To Make Hydropower More Environmentally Friendly

Matt Weiser

December 20, 2016 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dover, Delaware

Dams make for complex and often controversial infrastructure. While hydropower generated from large dam projects is currently providing the bulk of the planet's renewable energy, dams can also cause major environmental and social damage by interrupting animal migrations, displacing indigenous communities, and collecting toxins. A number of solutions are being implemented, however, to address the various issues caused by dams, to help make them a more eco-friendly and viable source of clean energy.

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Stockholm's Ingenious Plan to Recycle Old Christmas Trees

Feargus O'Sullivan

December 20, 2016 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Sweden, Stockholm

In Stockholm, old Christmas trees are being converted into biochar. When integrated into the city's highly-efficient power grid, the project has been wildly successful--not only in improving soil, but also in retaining groundwater, greening the city, and lowering carbon emissions. For this reason, officials as far away as California have been eying the plan with interest.

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