‘Life changing': Collaborative effort brings free solar panels to low-income families in Greensboro

With the prices of solar technology dropping and the opportunity to save drastically on energy usage and costs, businesses and organizations across the country are investing more in solar infrastructure for their buildings and facilities. The Better Buildings Initiative of the US Department of Energy is helping by providing guidance and documenting effective approaches and financing for renewables installations - from hotels, to schools, to big box retail.

Central District, a historically black neighborhood in Seattle, is getting a makeover to better align it with its roots. Africatown is a nonprofit community land trust that is using its influence to bring Afrocentric design standards to the neighborhood as well as spurring economic development and construction of affordable housing. One real estate project includes a community mural, more gathering space for residents, and local government support.

Small towns located deep in the valleys of steep mountains, like Rjukan, Norway, and Viganella, Italy, can be cut off from sunlight for almost half a year but computer-controlled mirrors are helping to change that. The tailor-made, computer-driven motors on giant mirrors track sunlight throughout the day.

In India, the construction industry is the second largest employer. Without the ability to pay for child care, mothers are often forced to bring young children to construction sites. Mobile Crèches has started to set up child care facilities on-site, providing relief to parents and a safe education for students.

Depuis le début de la crise sanitaire, des centaines de milliers d'enfants auraient été « perdus » par leurs enseignants, d’après le ministre de l’Éducation. Malgré le manque d’équipements informatiques ou les difficultés des élèves à travailler à la maison, des professeurs, associations et bénévoles sont en partie parvenus à maintenir le lien.

Primera entrega sobre MASLAGO, una organización que trabaja por disminuir la sedimentación y contaminación del Lago de Anapás, que es una de las represas hidroeléctricas más importantes de Nicaragua, a través de la educación de los agricultores sobre la reforestación y eliminación de los monocultivos.

Las Ollas Comunes son comedores comunales que proporcionan almuerzo a los miembros de las comunidades aledañas de manera gratuita. Las ollas funcionan con el trabajo organizado y voluntario de las mujeres de las comunidades, quienes se aseguran de dividir los alimentos que logran recolectar, de manera equitativa.

The Flight of the Angel attraction has helped the area to create more jobs and improve the economy through tourism. In 2007, when the attraction opened, there were only two restaurants and two hotels in the city. But now, there are about 50 bed and breakfasts, eight restaurants and over 130,000 visitors annually.

Hawaiians are restoring fishponds to working order with tasks like fixing rock walls and removing pollution to reimplement land practices of the past into daily life. These ponds consist of a rock wall, a gate for midsized fish to enter, and things the fish feed on like algae and coral.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church's overnight parking program offers those who are temporarily unhoused a place to stay, typically by camping in their cars or RVs. Recently, the Church partnered with local social service agencies to add three semi-permanent housing huts to their parking lot. Residents staying in the hut have access to amenities in the Church, like a kitchen, and are welcome to stay as long as they need to until they decide to move into more permanent accommodations.