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 206 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

How Removing Asphalt Is Softening Our Cities

Lynn Freehill-Maye

February 18, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Cities around the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom are removing asphalt to make space for nature. From creating rain gardens that reduce flooding to planting flowers along the edges of alleyways, residents and public officials reimagine their communities with less asphalt and more grass.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Rooftop gardens: the coolest roofs around

Emily Loewinger

February 06, 2019 |

Changing Florida |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Naples, Florida

An ecologist is installing a rooftop garden on a home in Florida and early results suggest that the green roofs have helped moderate indoor temperatures. While the initial cost of these gardens can be high, these green rooftops can be beneficial for the environment and can even provide a longer lifespan for the roof.

Read More
Go to Original Story
FGCU's geothermal air conditioner reduces impact on the environment

Jaryd Brady

February 06, 2019 |

Changing Florida |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University utilizes a cooling plant that serves as the primary air-conditioning unit for multiple buildings on campus. This plant uses geothermal energy, which compared with traditional air conditioning units, has less of an impact on the environment and saves the university money on its power bill. FGCU currently has 146 total thermal storage tanks producing over 23,000 tons of cooling capacity for its academic buildings.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Green New Deal is already at work in one Portland neighborhood

Jessica Kutz

February 01, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

A community in Portland, Oregon piloted a sustainable housing initiative that looks a lot like a micro-scale of the touted Green New Deal. While the Cully neighborhood's local sustainability nonprofit, Verde, already trains and employees locals in the field of sustainable landscaping, the organization has bigger goals: building green affordable housing.

Read More
Go to Original Story
One Black Woman's Vision to Save Her Struggling Atlanta Neighborhood Through Greenspace

Brentin Mock

February 01, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Atlanta, Georgia

A new community center and greenspace are reviving a West Atlanta neighborhood by providing a safe space for children to play. Developers have also received suggestions from community members to expand the greenspace with new additions such as bird habitats, basketball courts, soccer fields, park lights, fountains, and a fully equipped playground.

Read More
Go to Original Story
After Hurricane Sandy, Hoboken rebuilt itself for climate change

Jesse Nichols

January 17, 2019 |

Grist |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Hoboken, New Jersey

After Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the city, Hoboken, New Jersey decided to rebuild the city with climate change and increased flood risks in mind, rather than returning to "normal." With the help of federal funding - and their relatively well-off tax base - Hoboken is joining other East Coast cities in building climate resilient cities.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How to reduce light pollution, an underestimated threat to our environment

Alisha McDarris

January 11, 2019 |

Popular Science |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Flagstaff, Arizona

There is so little artificial light in Flagstaff that you can see the Milky Way from downtown. The city has banned sweeping searchlights, required outdoor light to be shielded downwards, and switched illumination on all roadways and parking lots to low-pressure sodium lights. Annual “star parties” and other events keep residents committed to reducing light pollution, which has big impacts on human and animal health.

Read More
Go to Original Story
In India's Fast-Growing Cities, a Grassroots Effort to Save the Trees

Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar

January 08, 2019 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Mumbai

In booming cities across India, residents and nonprofits are fighting to save trees from rampant development. One protest in Delhi brought 1,500 citizens out, stalling a proposal to fell 14,000 trees in the city. And the Center for Environmental Research and Education in Mumbai plant's new trees with an unusually high survival rate of 90 percent. But to stem destruction, these groups must help city planners and politicians understand the many benefits that urban trees provide.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Dutch eco initiative halves energy bills in first UK homes

Adam Vaughan

January 07, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Nottingham, England

By piloting a Dutch initiative to make homes more energy efficient with new windows and solar panels in the United Kingdom, tenants are seeing their monthly energy bills decrease by almost half. More than 150 social housing homes in Nottingham are testing the “Energiesprong” approach, which has already seen success in the Netherlands.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Taiwan has one of the highest recycling rates in the world. Here's how that happened.

Marcello Rossi

December 18, 2018 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Taiwan, Taipei

Taiwan, despite housing 23 million people on a densely populated island, claims one of the highest recycling and reuse rates in the world. The government has created incentives for private companies, which throw some catchy tunes in the mix. But whether or not a country recycles remains, largely, a question of willpower.

Read More
Go to Original Story