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The Future of Housing Is Now. What Sustainable Homes Look Like

Chris Peak

November 02, 2015 |

NationSwell |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Urbana, Illinois

Passive houses can generate more energy than they consume but are expensive to build. Non-profits across the nation are getting low income families into these types of renewable homes with state subsidies and volunteer work.

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Urban farming takes root in Hartford

John Stearns

November 02, 2015 |

Hartford Business Journal |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Hartford, Connecticut

To take advantage of empty buildings and vacant lots, the city of Hartford, Connecticut has begun taking the initiative of utilizing the spaces for urban farms and food-related businesses.

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From the roof to the living room, startups tackle urban farming

Rupa Shenoy

October 22, 2015 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Farmland is expensive and scarce in urban areas. In Boston Higher Ground Farm uses green roofs to grow its produce and Grove Lab has designed a cabinet for people to grow their vegetables indoors.

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Cities are finally treating water as a resource, not a nuisance

Erica Gies

September 05, 2015 |

Vox |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Cities across the world, suffering from increased threats of floods and droughts due to climate change, are finding new ways to manage water, such as reclaiming natural waterways and increasing on spot water absorption.

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[Re]moving urban highways

Irina Zhorov

August 20, 2015 |

WHYY |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

As city leaders reconsider their urban spaces—and particularly, urban waterfronts—through the lens of a post-industrial economy and renewed urbanism, moving urban highways has become more of a priority. Urban planners have shut many of them down and built in their stead parks.

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Climate change crusade goes local

Doug Struck

August 09, 2015 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Miami Beach, Florida

Around the globe, countries have taken actions that have helped reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of renewable energy. Although the state of Florida feels the effects of climate change, its state representatives have not produced policy addressing it. Local policy makers and organizers have made the biggest difference in the state.

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Low-Cost Schools Are Being Built Out Of Sand In Jordan Refugee Camps

Joseph Erbentraut

July 31, 2015 |

The Huffington Post |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Jordan, Za'atari

The living conditions in refugee camps in the Middle East are very poor. Architects are piloting the Re:Build construction system that utilizes materials in the natural environment to construct homes, schools, and clinics. The system engages refugees in the process of building so that they can take ownership of their success and develop skills to integrate in returning to their home country.

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How Australians survived a 13-year drought by going low-tech

Todd Woody

June 23, 2015 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Australia, Melbourne

In the face of a prolonged drought, residents of Melbourne, Australia, cut water consumption in half by capturing rainwater and using efficient toilets and washing machines.

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Urban Farming

Paolo Patrizi

June 18, 2015 |

Maptia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan, Tokyo

A growing number of people in the famously crowded Tokyo metropolis are becoming ‘city farmers’, planting crops atop tall buildings or deep underground. In an age of detrimental climate change, urban cultivation and green roof agriculture will soon be necessary as food, water and energy resources become scarcer.

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How Detroit Taught Itself to Demolish Vacant Houses Safely

Cassie Owens

June 12, 2015 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

To develop new demolition standards, the Detroit Building Authority brought together a best practices working group that met biweekly. Under the new system, a pre-demolition review takes place to, among other things, plan out what will be recycled or salvaged. When an excavator claws through a building, a water truck or fire hose has to be dousing the structure to inhibit the reach of particulate matter—limiting the environmental and health impacts.

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