Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 132 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Low-cost sensors are helping communities find gaps in air quality data

Diana Kruzman

June 24, 2022 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Belmont County, Ohio

A group of Belmont County residents, supported by universities and nonprofits, installed portable air sensors that test for pollution using laser beams and measure the local air quality near fracking sites. The sensors help residents understand when the air quality was unsafe and showed gaps in county monitoring data.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A dose of climate optimism from Va. collaborative

Elizabeth McGowan

May 19, 2022 |

Energy News Network |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlottesville, Virginia

The Community Climate Collaborative is working to wean local businesses from fossil fuels. 16 members of the Green Business Alliance pledged last spring to cut their carbon pollution by 45% by the end of 2025. The Alliance is more than halfway there — already achieving a 28% reduction.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How to recycle the unrecyclable

Kai Steinecke

February 11, 2022 |

Deutsche Welle (DW) |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Germany

A chemical recycling plant in Germany is taking old tires and turning them back into their original components. From there, those materials can be used in the production of insulation, steel, and oil. The gas that is discharged during the process is also used to power the whole plant. Other plants around the world are also exploring how to take plastic waste and chemically recycle it instead of burning it, so there are less carbon emissions.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Burning Sugar Cane Pollutes Communities of Color in Florida. Brazil Shows There's Another Way.

Nadia Sussman

December 29, 2021 |

ProPublica |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Brazil

In Brazil, the world's largest producer of sugar cane, industry leaders have found a way to harvest the crop without sugar cane burning. Sugar cane burning is harmful to the environment and nearby residents. After complaints and regulations, producers invested in technology that allows them to cut the cane without burning it. This is a contrast to South Florida, despite producing less sugar cane than Brazil, producers in the state continue the practice.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Paris shows how to make public housing greener and more habitable at the same time

Colin Kinniburgh

September 29, 2021 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: France, Paris

Old and neglected housing contributes to climate change because it runs on fossil fuels. In New York, outdated heating systems waste two-thirds of energy. The New York City Housing Authority is not only trying to create better, safer, livable affordable housing, but also cleaner and more sustainable housing. While the city is just beginning to explore how to do that, other cities, like Paris, have already begun the work of updating old buildings that are used for affordable housing and can offer a model for American cities.

Read More
Go to Original Story
RGGI, behind the rhetoric: What we know about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Rachel McDevitt

September 14, 2021 |

StateImpact Pennsylvania |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

A regional cap-and-trade program in the northeast United States has reduced carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and led to overall job gains in the economy. Up to 50 percent of the region’s CO2 reductions are attributable to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative program and nine of the states participating report training more than 8,000 workers.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Virginia project helps low-income homeowners ditch fossil fuels

Elizabeth McGowan

August 30, 2021 |

Energy News Network |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlottesville, Virginia

Two organizations partnered to help eight low-income households convert their homes to become all-electric in Virginia. It entailed replacing fossil-fuel based heating and cooling systems like stoves and water coolers with electric ones. Some of the households saw a reduction in their utility bills. Organizers estimate that over the course of 20 years the changes will result in the households avoiding the emission of over 2 million pounds of carbon dioxide.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Ex-Miners Turn Toxic Land into Lavender Farms

Emily Harger

August 18, 2021 |

Business Insider |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, West Virginia

Appalachian Botanical Company, or ABCo, owns a lavender farm that rests on a retired coal mine. The farm aims to restore the land and soil by growing lavender. Coal companies are legally obliged to restore the land they have mined, known as reclamation. ABCo is part of the reclamation. However, they also want to restore the community, it employs former coal miners and recovering addicts to harvest, pick, distill, and package the flowers. The farm grew two-fold since its inception.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Cleaning up Cambodia's kitchens could curb deforestation, climate change

Marissa Carruthers

June 22, 2021 |

Mongabay |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Cambodia

In Cambodia 2.5 million people use stoves fueled by forest biomass; charcoal and wood. The emissions caused by using biomass are extremely harmful not only to people but also to the environment. The emissions caused by biomass globally are equal to those of the aviation industry. To counter the problem, several organizations and companies are providing alternatives for Cambodian families like electric stoves. One company, Khmer Green Charcoal, created stoves that run on “clean” charcoal made from coconut shells. More than 6,500 households across the country have made the transition.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A ski company built a power plant fueled by methane. It's a success, but can it be replicated?

Annie Gowen

May 28, 2021 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Somerset, Colorado

A ski company and oil and gas executive were able to work out a deal to turn the Elk Creek Mine into a power plant that puts out 24 million kilowatt hours a year and prevents hundreds of billions of methane each year from escaping into the atmosphere. The plant hasn’t made a profit yet for its investors and regulatory red tape could make it difficult to implement in other places, but officials say the plant has been successful and could be a way to combat climate change.

Read More
Go to Original Story