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There's No Business Like Snow Business

Marlene Cimons

October 28, 2016 |

Popular Science |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan, Tokyo

Instead of treating fallen snow as waste, several countries are using it as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel for cooling and air conditioning applications. Countries like Japan and Sweden collect snow and use snow cooling systems during warmer months.

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Massive new solar plot marks big changes in rural Minnesota

Elizabeth Dunbar

October 19, 2016 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, North Branch, Minnesota

A new solar array called North Star in the Twin Cities will soon produce enough energy to power more than 20,000 homes. The project allows landowners to evolve beyond a deteriorating farming industry while maintaining native prairie plants under and around the panels for bees and other pollinators. The project is part of the state's 15-year energy plan to reduce carbon emissions by 60 percent and generate a third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

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This little town decided to go green. And they did it without the government.

Ally Hirschlag

October 16, 2016 |

Upworthy |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: England, Ashton Hayes

Ashton Hayes- a small town in England- adopted a Carbon Neutrality mission, meaning they hoped to produce as much energy as they consumed. Over the past 10 years they have reduced their emissions by 40%, attributing their success to the resulting neighbourhood cohesion, dedication, and it being a public decision as opposed to one made or implemented by politicians.

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Building upgrades give downtown St. Paul smaller energy footprint

Elizabeth Dunbar

October 11, 2016 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, St. Paul, Minnesota

Madison Equities is investing in significant efficiency upgrades to a number of buildings in downtown St. Paul, overhauling their energy systems in an upgrade driven in part by tenants' interest in energy efficiency and in part as a major effort to shrink the city's carbon footprint and save on long-term operating costs. The the timeline for the St. Paul project was impressive and shows what's possible, not just for the planet but for a company's bottom line.

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Grassroots And Grass: How Sacramento Became The Center Of Zero-Energy Housing

Griffin Hagle

September 29, 2016 |

FastCompany |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Sacramento, California

Strong building codes and a culture of energy innovation with roots in California’s cannabis country have quietly made Sacramento and its surrounding cities a model for advanced building practices that could slow its worst effects.

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Sustainability Pioneers 8: Going Fossil Free

Kirsi Jansa

September 28, 2016 |

Sustainability Pioneers |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Boulder, Colorado

In Boulder, CO, a group of concerned citizens and the city have been paving the way for the city of Boulder to be free of fossil fuel energy by 2030. Along the way, they are pressuring the state and the utility to go green with them, painting a bigger picture of how the utility industry is responding to climate change.

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Sustainability Pioneers 6: Rooftop Transition

Kirsi Jansa

September 28, 2016 |

Sustainability Pioneers |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Small scale solar, rooftop solar and solar gardens, have been a small player in the U.S. energy markets until now. The Solarize Allegheny project is working to bring new solar installations to the county, and families are working to transition to clean energy.

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The Other Housing Crisis: Finding a Home in Rural America

Melissa Hellmann

September 22, 2016 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

The national affordable housing crisis is creating challenges for rural areas. Low-income residents in rural towns struggle to find quality, affordable housing, and government subsidies for housing have decreased in recent years. However, two examples show potential. In Elkins, West Virginia, the Randolph Housing Authority helps people buy affordable homes that are funded by the USDA rural development division and built by a youth training program. In Woodland, California, agricultural workers are moving to Spring Lake, a growing community whose energy usage is net-zero.

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Camp shines light on solar energy for kids

Elizabeth Dunbar

August 22, 2016 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Novel solar projects are helping to make renewable energy more accessible and transparent for low income and minority communities in Minnesota. An interfaith cooperative provides families access to solar energy gardens regardless of income level or credit score, and a pilot program offers solar energy camp for children to learn about energy alternatives and careers in renewables.

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Free solar panels are coming to buildings across Brooklyn

Sam Anderson

August 02, 2016 |

Brokelyn |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

In Brownsville a campaign called Solarize is working to drum up support for solar panels and then install them for free. By doing so they create demand for solar energy in the neighborhood, provide cheaper electricity to residents, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

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