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Illegal logging in Malawi: can clean cooking stoves save its forests?

Nathalie Bertrams Ingrid Gercama

February 23, 2017 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Malawi, Mount Mulanje, Lilongwe

In much of Malawi, the electrical grid is highly unreliable and the cost of fuels like petroleum prohibitive, forcing most families to rely on the black market for illegally-sourced charcoal and leading to heavy deforestation. But some NGOs are tackling the issue with a grassroots approach: rather than relying on the army to punish illegal logging, they are helping women provide cleaner, more efficient cookstoves to their communities - reducing the amount of fuel burned as well as toxic smoke from open fires.

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Mumbai church turns tonnes of waste flowers to eco-friendly cooking fuel

Akash Sakaria

February 20, 2017 |

Hindustan Times |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: India, Mumbai

After seeing prayer flowers wasted week after week, one church in Mumbai, India, implemented a new biologically-sustainable solution. The church now creates its own biogas, reducing waste and creatively producing energy alternatives.

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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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Experimental City: How Rotterdam Became A World Leader In Sustainable Urban Design

Adele Peters

December 05, 2016 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Rotterdam

Rotterdam, a port city once at the center of trade and commerce, is now threatened by climate change. The city has responded to this threat by totally transforming itself into a hub for sustainable design. It embraces crazy, environmentally friendly solutions. From a floating dairy farm to a home enclosed in a greenhouse to basketball courts that soak up rainwater, Rotterdam has established itself as a leader in sustainable urban design. By 2025, the city plans to be completely climate-proof.

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World's first city to power its water needs with sewage energy

Kata Karáth

December 01, 2016 |

New Scientist |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Aarhus

With climate change an ever-increasing threat, one city in Denmark is helping to inspire hope through the successful implementation of a self-sustaining treatment plant that provides fresh water to the local community using only energy produced from the waste and sewage it filters. Other cities are now looking to replicate the model.

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Kenya embraces solar to meet energy needs

Andrew Wasike

November 25, 2016 |

Deutsche Welle (DW) |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Kenya

In order to meet the needs of the country, Kenya is slowly moving away from costly and environmentally damaging energy sources to solar powered energy. Farmers and medical clinics alike are seeing the benefit both from a financial and practical standpoint, as they embrace solar installations that help them do business even better.

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For fossil fuel-reliant towns, a solar alternative grows

Lyndsey Gilpin

November 15, 2016 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Delta, Colorado

A local energy cooperative in Colorado, Delta Montrose Electric Association, is spurring economic development through renewable energy. The program has allowed Delta County to diversify energy sources, and has become a tool for economic revitalization.

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Stored Snow Makes A Great Alternative To Summer Air Conditioning

Charlie Sorrel

November 04, 2016 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Sweden, Stockholm

In Sweden, snow is used as a cooling solution that replaces air conditioning. This is a more environmentally friendly solution for places where the climate permits such as Canada. The key is to store the snow and use it when the climate is hot.

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A Renewable Energy Revolution in Small-Town America

Nicolas Pollock Deborah Fallows James Fallows

November 03, 2016 |

The Atlantic |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Spearville, Kansas

Small towns across America are leading the shift towards renewable energy. Part of a series called "American Futures", this video visits Kansas, Pennsylvania, and California to learn more about green initiatives in biofuel, wind, and solar power. Although each solution is different, each are a new way of generating income for the residents of the towns and often comes with societal acceptance as well.

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