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India Increases Effort to Harness Biomass Energy

Amy Yee

October 08, 2013 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Punjab

With 60 percent of India's population relying on agriculture for living, the country faces a dire challenge of what to do with accumulated agricultural waste. Instead of burning it, as they traditionally would do, they are harnessing biomass energy that directly supplies the country's electrical grid.

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Out of India's Trash Heaps, More Than a Shred of Dignity

Sarika Bansal

June 12, 2013 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Pune, Maharashtra

Throughout India, wastepickers – people who scour landfills for garbage they can sell to recyclers – live at the bottom of society. But the city of Pune did something radical: with the help of a collective, they did away with expensive garbage trucks, and now all household garbage is collected by wastepickers with pushcarts. Pune saves millions of dollars each year and recycles more – and the wastepickers have decent wages and social standing. The concept is now spreading globally.

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Conservation Pays Off for Bangladeshi Factories

Amy Yee

March 21, 2013 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Bangladesh

Saving money while conserving water and electricity is a win-win for the textile industry in Bangladesh. After a joint effort to improve the mechanics and upgrade the factories, the industry saw a savings of 1.2 million cubic meters of water, 16 million cubic meters of gas and 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

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Turning Rural Indians Into Water Entrepreneurs

Whitney Pastorek

November 01, 2012 |

FastCompany |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India

In rural communities throughout India, having access to clean water does not always come easy. Sarvajal, originally a non-profit experiment, believes that water insecurity is a solvable issue, however. By helping those living in the rural communities take ownership through entrepreneurship, common sense, and the patience to reinvent old systems with more efficient technology, the group has achieved the ability to distribute small reverse-osmosis filtration plants and Water ATMs throughout the northwestern Indian states.

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Fighting Crime With Architecture in Medellín, Colombia

Michael Kimmelman

May 18, 2012 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Colombia, Medellín

Medellin, Colombia has looked to architecture to help combat its high homicide rate and other problems. Over the past few decades there have been massive public architecture development, transit improvements, creation of public spaces that have all contributed to renewing this city.

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Armed With Data, Fighting More Than Crime

Tina Rosenberg

May 02, 2012 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

CitiStat has show great success in cities like Baltimore, where it has improved city services' efficiency (removing snow, fixing potholes, etc.). Many cities use Stat programs, but Baltimore has been a particular case of success. Looking at how it implemented its CitiStat program holds lessons for other cities.

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Biogas Offers Poor Countries a Cleaner, Safer Fuel

Amy Yee

October 25, 2011 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nepal

In developing countries, environmentally friendly and practicality don't always go hand-in-hand. Biogas are changing that. With biogas technology, methane is derived from the feces of humans and animals and is used in place of traditional fuel which improves sanitation across these regions and is a benefit for the environment.

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Reno Site Offers Comparison Shopping for Home Wind Turbines

Maria Gallucci

March 28, 2011 |

Inside Climate News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Reno, Nevada

In a campaign to boost community interest in and use of urban wind power, city officials in Reno, Nevada, are helping consumers take the guesswork out of buying home turbines. Through an online consumer guide called the Green Energy Dashboard, potential buyers are able to track power output and durability of different turbines and determine which would be most efficient for their community.

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Can Democracy Work in Chicago?

Deanna Isaacs

September 16, 2010 |

The Chicago Reader |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

A Chicago Alderman experimented with participatory budgeting, where residents decide how some of their tax money will be spent, by allowing 49th Ward residents to determine how to spend $1.3 million in the district. Residents selected 14 projects, including commissioning murals, creating a dog park and community gardens, purchasing solar-powered garbage compactors, and repaving streets. All projects are moving forward. Over 200 mural proposals were received, which the Alderman’s office narrowed down to 24 choices for community members to vote on. 12 will be funded by the city with stipends for the artists.

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