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'The Green Steel of the 21st Century'

Peter Yeung

November 14, 2022 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: China, Hong Kong

Bamboo is growing in popularity as a cheap, sustainable building option that can replace hardwoods and other common construction materials.

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A Building Material That Consumes CO2 Has Finally Come to the US

Peter Yeung

November 10, 2022 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Belgium

A building material made of hemp fibers, water, and clay or lime is a sustainable alternative to other options like concrete. Dubbed hempcrete, the product has many benefits including a very low carbon footprint, active sequestration of carbon dioxide, and using a sustainable, fast-growing crop as its base.

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To build for a warming planet, architects look to nature – and the past

Stephanie Hanes Whitney Eulich Nick Roll Dominique Soguel

September 14, 2022 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Mexico City

A global movement to localize the construction process, and design buildings for the climate they reside in, is bringing back practices like green roofs and using natural materials like mud and salt to keep people cool as the planet warms.

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Sacramento-area experiment could help merge a 'clean' future with viable neighborhoods

Casey Rafter

September 08, 2022 |

Sacramento Business Journal |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Sacramento, California

Green Means Go identifies central parts of cities called “Green Zones” and then makes efforts to increase infill housing where services already exist for residents and improve access to alternative, more “green" modes of transportation, and reduce commute times. Less vehicle commuting means fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Out of 28 local jurisdictions, 23 have already adopted Green Zones.

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

Sayaka Matsuoka

September 01, 2022 |

Triad City Beat |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Greensboro, North Carolina

A collaborative partnership among local and national organizations made it possible to install solar panels on 10 Greensboro homes for free. Because of this effort, many low-income families have seen a significant decrease in their energy bills and an increase in value of their homes. Although convincing people to install the panels was a challenge, organizers are now figuring out how to scale the initiative and make it sustainable in the longterm.

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Flood control goes green: How Houston is using nature to combat flooding

Katie Watkins

August 16, 2022 |

Houston Public Media |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Several areas in Texas are using public green spaces and nature preserves as ways to mitigate or reduce flooding. Exploration Green is one example of a project that reclaimed nature in an urban area by creating five ponds, each of which can hold up to 100 million gallons of floodwater while also supporting native plants, animals, and trails for hiking.

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'Ventilation Corridors' Funnel Cool Mountain Air Into Steamy Stuttgart

Michaela Haas

August 12, 2022 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Germany, Stuttgart

Stuttgart is using a “nature-based response” to climate change by leveraging earth-cooling tools already available in the natural world. The city has created a vast network of ventilation channels – green parkways and corridors of water and trees – designed to funnel cooler breezes into the city at night and naturally lower air temperatures.

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Sustainable housing via 3D printing, foam addresses housing crisis, climate change

Troy Hill Jessica Herrera

August 11, 2022 |

Cronkite News - Arizona PBS |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Phoenix, Arizona

Strata International Group is building homes out of foam and concrete. It's a practice that is gaining traction because when these materials are used, the homes are set to last for upwards of 300 years. It also requires a less energy-intensive construction process — creating big cost savings amid supply chain issues and inflation and also benefiting the environment.

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'Let's Try Something New' Meets the National Housing Squeeze

Erika Bolstad

July 18, 2022 |

Stateline |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boise, Idaho

The Boise nonprofit, LEAP, builds affordable housing with innovative approaches, including using donated land held in trust and solar panels to keep utility costs low. The creative approach to land ownership and the use of alternative construction techniques and materials help more people afford homes in a fast-growing metro area.

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Flip Your Strip gaining traction, leading to removal of water-guzzling turf

Tim Vandenack

July 16, 2022 |

Standard-Examiner |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington Terrace, Utah

In order to use less water in drought-ridden Utah, many residents are replacing their grassy park strips with vegetation and rocks that don’t need as much irrigation. As part of the “Flip Your Strip” initiative, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District provides participants with money per square foot of grass removed. While the program is new, this idea has been tried and tested in California, where studies have shown that it is making an impact.

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