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Staying afloat: The Ethiopian venture determined to bring healthy water to all

Anna Patton

October 17, 2019 |

Pioneers Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Ethiopia, Addis Ababa

A company based in Addis Ababa makes water filtration systems that simultaneously help rural and urban dwellers have access to clean water as well as keep the entire supply chain within Ethiopia. Despite challenges faced by the company to make a profit, the business is determined to keep economic growth centered in local communities rather than outsource production.

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Facing unbearable heat, Qatar has begun to air-condition the outdoors

Steven Mufson

October 16, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Qatar, Doha

In Qatar, where temperatures have reached unbearably high degrees, an engineering professor at Qatar University has designed a way to provide air conditioning to the outdoors. Although the method is arguably not a solution for climate change and could actually have negative impacts, it is successfully allowing people in the country to be able to leave the their homes, which in turn benefits the economy of the country.

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A Vision For Floating Buildings, Minus the Libertarian Politics

Lindsey J. Smith

October 16, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

A floating prototype in the San Francisco bay - envisioned by researchers at California College of Art - is testing the sustainability and possibilities of the creation of floating buildings. The structure, which has successfully integrated with barnacles and other marine life, is one in a number of visions of floating communities that respond to the rapidly appearing effects of climate change on coastal communities.

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How a Silicon Valley Start-up Is Helping Police Get Smarter About Solving Gun Crimes

Alain Stephens

October 15, 2019 |

The Trace |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Forensic Logic, a Silicon Valley startup, has developed a database called the Law Enforcement Analysis Portal (LEAP) that collects, streamlines, and analyzes police data in one, centralized digital portal. With forensic and other law enforcement data often being fragmented and siloed, LEAP gives access to information otherwise unavailable to thousands of police departments.

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Our Zoo is Greener Than Your Zoo

Brianna Baker

October 15, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Zoo has created an in-house, vertical garden – housed in a shipping container provided by the nonprofit, CropBox – to grow food for the animals. So far, it has shown to be a more sustainable way of feeding the animals, producing 275 lbs of greens per month and using 70-90% less water than traditional farming. The garden is just one of the zoo’s newest sustainability initiatives, which include increasing energy efficiency, using solar-powered vehicles, and creating more trails and spaces for the animals.

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How solar ‘skin' helped an Indiana homeowner win a fight for rooftop panels

Kari Lydersen

October 15, 2019 |

Energy News Network |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Indianapolis, Indiana

After the homeowners association denied his request to install solar panels on his roof due to their aesthetic, Indianapolis-resident Joey Myles used SolarSkin to disguise the panels to look like asphalt shingles. The company Sistine Solar makes these films that coat solar panels in various images that can be used to blend in with roofs or other forms of artwork. The panels with skins only generate about 85 percent of energy as those without skins, but they can withstand extreme weather.

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Building for Real With Digital Blocks

Tina Rosenberg

October 15, 2019 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Sweden

To get input on city design plans from citizens without any technical knowledge, some city planners are turning to Minecraft, an easy-to-use computer game that allows users to build in a three dimensional environment. Useful for planning public spaces (rather than designing a building), Minecraft has been adopted by UN Habitat to plan everything from soccer fields in Nairobi to a riverbank in Kosovo.

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Do California Power Shutoffs Work? Hard to Know, Experts Say

Jonathan J. Cooper Jocelyn Gecker

October 14, 2019 |

Associated Press |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

As a proactive effort, California’s Pacific Gas & Electric Co. cut power in the hopes it would prevent wildfires that are often caused by power lines. It took a page from San Diego Gas & Electric who has been doing so for five years, along with increased spending on its weather predicting equipment. While the preventative measures are seemingly impactful, with a lacking comparative alternative, experts question its impact.

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Gun Investigators Cautiously Optimistic About New Fingerprint Technology

Ann Givens

October 11, 2019 |

The Trace |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: England, Loughborough

A collaboration between England’s Loughborough University, the UK’s Ministry of Defence, and a company called Foster + Freeman has led to a new technology that can pull fingerprints from shell casings. What was once a nearly impossible task, is showing promise, as police departments across the United States try out the new technology. That said, there are still some questions about its efficacy and ability to stand up as evidence in court.

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'A model of sustainable commerce': carbon footprint, grid concerns push SoCal weed industry to be more green

Melissa Daniels

October 10, 2019 |

Desert Sun |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Desert Hot Springs, California

California-based cannabis company, Canndescent, has taken many steps toward low-carbon sustainability in its operations. The company uses commercial-scale solar energy, reverse-mounted ceiling fans, and microburst irrigation systems as a way of demonstrating “a model of sustainable commerce.” As legalizing cannabis grows in popularity, other states and cities are looking toward sustainable practices to off-set the high-energy needed for such growth.

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