Woodpecker
Colombia is one of the world's largest producers of coffee, and yet also one of the most economically disadvantaged. According to research by the national statistic center DANE, 35% of the population in Columbia lives in monetary poverty, compared to an estimated 11% in the U.S., according to census data. This has led to a housing insecurity issue throughout the country, one which construction company Woodpecker is working hard to solve.
<p><a href="https://woodpecker.com.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Woodpecker</a>, a startup in Bogota, Colombia, uses coffee husks to manufacture lightweight, prefabricated buildings for home and classroom use. They combine the coffee husk with recycled plastic to create a more durable and environmentally-conscious material for building. This not only reduces waste from coffee farms that would inevitably end up in the landfills but helps to execute a swift, simple construction that anyone can do. The DIY structure of the Woodpecker buildings was integral to their mission of providing low-income housing for Colombia's impoverished areas. </p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="32470a0d09765608475c07ea3f20a423"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rXz8sisOeW4?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>The idea for these pre-fabricated tiny homes began with entrepreneur Alejandro Franco, now CEO of Woodpecker. He said in an interview with <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90604018/now-your-coffee-habit-can-help-build-houses" target="_blank">Fast Company</a>, "We saw that there was a huge necessity for a lightweight construction system for housing and classrooms in rural and isolated places where traditional construction systems cannot go — like bricks, cement, and concrete."</p><p>"Coffee husk was selected because it's stronger and drier than the other fibers," explained Franco in the interview. This special <a href="https://woodpecker.com.co/que-es-wpc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wood plastic composite (WPC)</a> material is also self-extinguishing, pest-resistant, and is built to withstand moisture, making it a safe alternative for low-income housing. The standardized plastic parts clip together on a steel frame for simplistic installation. Their large-scale production and use of recycled and waste materials allow Woodpecker tiny homes to be sold for as little as <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90606479/google-food-ordering-flights-shared-searches-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$4,500 each</a>. </p><p>Because of the low price point and simple installation, the Colombian government reached out to Woodpecker to help locals recover after Hurricane Iota in November of 2020. The government used Woodpecker housing to swiftly provide shelter for displaced citizens when they could not be transported elsewhere. </p><p>"The system worked perfectly considering that there was no energy supply, the soil was muddy, the airport damaged, no food, etc. — all the problems that you can imagine," Franco said in the Fast Company interview. Without this solution, many Columbian locals would have been without shelter. On the Colombian island of Providencia, an <a href="https://peopleenespanol.com/chica/hurricane-iota-central-america/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">estimated 98%</a> of the infrastructure was damaged. </p><p>Woodpecker's plan to reduce the strain of housing insecurity in Colombia is proving successful thus far. They have already sold <a href="https://woodpecker.com.co/nosotros/" target="_blank">2,600 homes</a>, and are planning to expand in the near future. To see Woodpecker's impact firsthand you can <a href="https://woodpecker.com.co/galeria/" target="_blank">visit their online gallery</a>.</p><p><em>Savannah Hasty is an environmental writer with more than six years of experience and has written thousands of articles for clients around the world. Her work focuses on environmental news, lifestyle content, and copywriting for sustainable brands. Savannah lives on the sunny coast of Florida and is inspired by this to play an active role in the preservation of the state's marine life and natural ecosystems.</em><br></p>
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Nzambi Matee told reporters she was "tired of being on the sidelines," and decided to create a solution of her own for commercial plastic waste. Gjenge Makers Ltd.
Nzambi Matee is an entrepreneur with an incredible goal -- to turn plastic destined for the landfill into sustainable, strong building material. Her company, Gjenge Makers, uses the plastic waste of commercial facilities to create bricks that can withstand twice the weight threshold of concrete.
<p>Gjenge Makers is based in Nairobi, Kenya, where plastic waste pollution has become a <a href="https://theintercept.com/2020/04/19/africa-plastic-waste-kenya-ethiopia/" target="_blank">severe problem</a>. A <a href="https://lrrd.cipav.org.co/lrrd30/11/clang30182.html" target="_blank">study</a> supported by the <a href="https://www.nema.go.ke/" target="_blank">National Environmental Management Agency</a> (NEMA) found that more than 50% of cattle near urban areas in Kenya had plastic in their stomachs. To combat this issue, the Kenyan government <a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/kenya-announces-breakthrough-ban-plastic-bags" target="_blank">outlawed the use</a> of plastic bags in 2017, and imposed a ban on all single-use plastic in protected natural areas last year. However, these bans only address the issue of consumer single-use plastic. Commercial waste is still a deep-seated <a href="https://www.rd.com/article/kenya-plastic-bag-ban/" target="_blank">problem</a> within the country.</p><p>Nzambi Matee <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-environment-recycling/kenyan-recycles-plastic-waste-into-bricks-stronger-than-concrete-idUSKBN2A211N" target="_blank">told reporters</a> she was "tired of being on the sidelines," and decided to create a solution of her own for commercial plastic waste. With a career in materials engineering, she was able to design a brick made of recycled plastic and sand, compressed and heated to create a strong and sustainable alternative to concrete. The fibrous structure of the plastic makes it not only more lightweight but also less brittle than concrete. </p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="30defee8576f58ba0b3d8996ba9a55ce"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QbZKP4UAtL8?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>"Our product is almost five to seven times stronger than concrete," Matee <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-environment-recycling/kenyan-recycles-plastic-waste-into-bricks-stronger-than-concrete-idUSKBN2A211N" target="_blank">told Reuters</a> about the current line of Gjenge Makers pavers and bricks. While she purchases some plastic from recycling companies, she also receives free shipments of plastic waste from local packaging factories. Currently, the Gjenge Makers factory can produce up to 1,500 bricks each day, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-environment-recycling/kenyan-recycles-plastic-waste-into-bricks-stronger-than-concrete-idUSKBN2A211N" target="_blank">Reuters</a>. </p>
<p>The company offers pavers for residential and commercial uses. The heavy-duty 60 mm paver is strong enough to be used for parking lots and roads, while the 30 mm light-duty paver can be used for household patios and walkways. The light-duty paver is twice the strength of concrete and comes in a variety of colors.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2OTI5My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzY4NTc1MH0.MzS3hZtGuJNCfLtQCS53LQuPFy3LyczHVyWOCJsHcXc/img.jpg?width=980" id="bdcbe" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d090f0615b8f45eb014f02b5e049667c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1920" data-height="1000" />
Gjenge Makers Ltd.
<p>The factory is only in its beginning stages, but it has already <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-environment-recycling/kenyan-recycles-plastic-waste-into-bricks-stronger-than-concrete-idUSKBN2A211N">recycled 20 tons</a> of plastic since 2017 and created 120 jobs in Nairobi. In addition, Gjenge bricks are also one of the more affordable options on the market. They cost approximately $7.70 per square meter, as opposed to <a href="https://www.remodelingcalculator.org/concrete-calculator/" target="_blank">$98 per square yard</a> for concrete produced in the U.S.</p> <p>However, it hasn't been an easy road. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbZKP4UAtL8&feature=emb_title" target="_blank">Matee says</a> about the founding of her company, "I jumped in, off a cliff without even a parachute. I was building it as I was falling down. But isn't that how great things are done?" </p> <p>With entrepreneurs like Matee, there is a beacon of hope for the worldwide plastic pollution crisis. To learn more about Gjenge Makers process and impact, you can visit their <a href="https://gjenge.co.ke/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH7ahGR28JP4Gy47CGhCZTg/featured" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube channel</a>. Or, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/stop-plastic-pollution-2649324134.html">read this</a> to learn more about ways you can help fight against plastic pollution in your community. </p>From Your Site Articles
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Like many other plant-based foods and products, CBD oil is one dietary supplement where "organic" labels are very important to consumers. However, there are little to no regulations within the hemp industry when it comes to deeming a product as organic, which makes it increasingly difficult for shoppers to find the best CBD oil products available on the market.
<p>Here you can learn about the importance of organic hemp oil, why it's better for the environment, and which CBD companies actually make trustworthy products with sustainable farming processes. origins which weigh heavily on many consumers who want to buy a product that's produced in the best way possible for not only themselves to ingest, but for the environment as well through sustainable farming methods. </p><h2>What Is CBD Oil?</h2><p>First things first, CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it's a cannabinoid found within cannabis sativa plants. This plant compound is believed to have many potential benefits, and it is primarily derived from hemp plants via a CO2 extraction process. </p><p>Since CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis plants), this means that CBD won't make you feel high like marijuana, which has much higher levels of THC that causes psychoactive effects. Instead, the effects of CBD are much more subtle and promote a general sense of calm and relaxation in most users.</p><h2>What Makes a CBD Oil Organic?</h2><p>In terms of organic labels, perhaps the most important (and prominent) certification comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This government organization has been labeling foods as "organic" for many years, but what exactly does this certification entail? Essentially, a label indicating that a product is "USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" means that at least 95% of the ingredients are obtained from organic sources.</p><p>For a crop to be considered organic by the USDA, it must be grown without the use of industrial solvents, irradiation, genetic engineering (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, or chemical fertilizer. Instead, farmers rely on natural substances and <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mechanical, physical, or biologically based farming</a> techniques to cultivate healthy and organic crops.</p><p>Before the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, no hemp-derived products could be dubbed as "certified organic" since the hemp plant and its extracts were still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. However, it's still difficult for CBD companies to obtain a USDA certified organic label for their products due to the legal grey area that still surrounds CBD extracts. </p><p>Because of these challenges, and due to the fact that industrial hemp has only recently become an agricultural crop, very few CBD oils are USDA certified organic. Rather, many CBD products contain hemp extracts from plants that were grown in organic conditions but may not be federally certified.</p><h2>What are the Best Organic CBD Oil Brands?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p><em><br></em>
<h2>Why Organic Hemp Oil Matters</h2><p>Hemp is a unique plant, not only for its rich cannabinoid content, but also for its ability to absorb a wide variety of components in soil. But this trait poses great risks when it comes to the creation of CBD products derived from hemp.</p><p>Because hemp has a high capacity for compound uptake, this means that the plants can retain <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/industry/lab-test-results/" target="_blank">harmful chemicals like pesticides</a>, heavy metals, and other residual solvents. This is especially true when it comes to synthetic chemicals that are more toxic to humans, and difficult to remove once they have been absorbed by the hemp plant.</p><p>Organic farming practices help reduce the risk of hemp crops absorbing harsh chemicals that may later end up in CBD oil after extraction. When you're taking CBD as a wellness supplement to help alleviate your symptoms or improve your overall well-being, the last thing you want is to ingest compounds that might negatively outweigh the benefits of CBD. This is an important reason to look for third party lab test results when shopping for CBD products since these certificates of analysis can show the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of a hemp extract, as well as test results that search for the presence of any residual solvents.</p><p>In addition to creating a better end product, organic farming practices are also better for the environment. Sustainable and organic farming methods may <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy</a>. The use of natural pest deterrents as opposed to chemical pesticides is also better for nearby animal populations and ecosystems.</p><h3>Organic vs. Natural</h3><p>While there are only a select few companies offering certified organic ingredients in their products, almost every brand in the CBD market creates "natural" products. The term "all-natural" or "plant-based" does not mean that a product is organic, and since hemp oil is a natural derivative of hemp plants, these products are often referred to as all-natural. However, there are some synthetic CBD oils that should be avoided because they are chemically constructed and may produce unwanted side effects that are not caused by naturally derived CBD extracts.</p><h2>What are the Benefits of Organic CBD Oil?</h2><p>There's a long list of potential CBD oil health benefits, and some of the most common wellness advantages include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank">Chronic pain relief</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/" target="_blank">Anti-anxiety effects</a></li><li>Better sleep</li><li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201901/cbd-oil-mental-health-should-you-take-it-too" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Improvements in mood</a></li><li>Internal balance and regulation</li></ul><p>When dealing with pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and mental health struggles, it can be hard to find sufficient treatment options. The use of certain prescriptions can cause unwanted side effects, yet they are often the only solution for patients with these medical conditions. In search of other therapies, people have started to flock towards CBD oil as an alternative remedy for a variety of conditions. However, it should be noted that CBD products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and you should seek your doctor's advice before using CBD if you have a serious medical condition.</p><h2>Look at the Labels Before You Buy CBD Oil</h2><p>When you go online to buy CBD oil, you'll quickly realize there is an overwhelming number of brands that are saturating the market. It can be difficult to determine which products are truly as good as they make themselves out to be. Always look for up-to-date third-party lab tests so you know you are getting a great product, and don't hesitate to contact the brand if you have any additional questions. And if you're intent on purchasing 100% organic CBD oil, it's best to look for certified products or brands that are held to strict regulatory standards.</p><p><strong>Melena Gurganus </strong>is the Reviews Editor at EcoWatch. She is passionate health and wellness and her writing aims to help others find products they can trust. Her work has been featured in publications such as Health, Shape, Huffington Post, Cannabis Business Times, and Bustle.<br></p>
Spruce
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjI3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTM2NzgzOX0.axY0HjeqRctJsR_KmDLctzDpUBLBN-oNIdqaXDb4caQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="774be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8379f35b1ca8a86d0e61b7d4bfc8b46e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="spruce organic cbd oil" data-width="710" data-height="959" /><p>As one of the best brands in the business, Spruce CBD is well-known for its potent CBD oils that feature many additional beneficial phytocannabinoids. This brand works with two family-owned, sustainably focused farms in the USA (one located in Kentucky and one in North Carolina) to create its organic, small product batches. The max potency Spruce CBD oil contains 2400mg of full-spectrum CBD extract, but the brand also offers a lower strength tincture with 750mg of CBD in total.</p>
$89
CBDistillery
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjkzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTU4OTM4Nn0.ypRdeDSBcE87slYrFfVrRwtJ2qGIK6FD5jBB4pndTMo/img.jpg?width=980" id="b473b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9930b53c9d58cb49774640a61c3e3e75" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="cbdistillery cbd oil" data-width="1244" data-height="1244" /><p>All of the products from CBDistillery are <a href="https://ushempauthority.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. Hemp Authority Certified</a>, and for good reason. The company only uses non-GMO and pesticide-free industrial hemp that's grown organically on Colorado farms. Its hemp oils are some of the most affordable CBD products on the market, yet they still maintain a high standard of quality. CBDistillery has a wide variety of CBD potencies across its product line (ranging from 500mg to 5000mg per bottle) and offers both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils to give customers a completely thc-free option.</p>
$35
FAB CBD
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIyNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDIwOTEyMn0.MlTjz096FJ0ev_-soK7_Z-FeQeJczWoeh9Qi9SSkHsY/img.jpg?width=980" id="04b26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="76aa4862f44603242e318982acea6646" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="fab cbd oil" data-width="800" data-height="800" /><p>For an organic CBD oil that has it all, FAB CBD offers plenty of variety for any type of consumer. All of its products are made with zero pesticides and extracted from organically grown Colorado industrial hemp. FAB CBD oil comes in five all-natural flavors (mint, vanilla, berry, citrus, and natural) and is also available in four strengths (300, 600, 1200, and 2400mg per bottle).</p>
$39
NuLeaf Naturals
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzExNTgyMX0.D6qMGYllKTsVhEkQ-L_GzpDHVu60a-tJKcio7M1Ssmc/img.jpg?width=980" id="94e4a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3609a52479675730893a45a82a03c71d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="nuleaf naturals organic cbd oil" data-width="600" data-height="600" /><p>As an industry-leading brand, it comes as no surprise that NuLeaf Naturals sources its CBD extract from organic hemp plants grown on licensed farms in Colorado. The comany's CBD oils only contain two ingredients: USDA certified organic hemp seed oil and full spectrum hemp extract.</p><p>NuLeaf Naturals uses one proprietary CBD oil formula for all of its products, so you will get the same CBD potency in each tincture (60mg per mL), but can purchase different bottle sizes depending on how much you intend to use.</p>
$38.50
Charlotte's Web
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjk3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzQ0NjM4N30.SaQ85SK10-MWjN3PwHo2RqpiUBdjhD0IRnHKTqKaU7Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="84700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2174067dcc0c4094be25b3472ce08c8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="charlottes web cbd oil" data-width="1244" data-height="1244" /><p>Perhaps one of the most well-known brands in the CBD landscape, Charlotte's Web has been growing sustainable hemp plants for several years. The company is currently in the process of achieving official USDA Organic Certification, but it already practices organic and sustainable cultivation techniques to enhance the overall health of the soil and the hemp plants themselves, which creates some of the highest quality CBD extracts. Charlotte's Web offers CBD oils in a range of different concentration options, and some even come in a few flavor options such as chocolate mint, orange blossom, and lemon twist.</p>
$60
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This Floating Village in Amsterdam Could Help Tackle City-Density and Sea-Level Challenges
04 February
Popular
Amsterdam's floating neighborhood of Schoonschip is home to 105 residents who live in 46 homes on 30 water plots. Schoonschip / Isabel Nabuurs
By Victoria Masterson
- Living on water is a reality for more than 100 people in Amsterdam's Schoonschip neighborhood.
- It has 46 sustainable homes across 30 water plots.
- Population density and climate change is increasing interest in alternative accommodation options, including opening up underground spaces.
<p>With cities running out of space and rising sea levels predicted to put<a href="https://www.c40.org/other/the-future-we-don-t-want-staying-afloat-the-urban-response-to-sea-level-rise" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> 800 million city dwellers at risk by 2050</a>, more of us may have to get used to living on water.</p><p>One nation adapting to this challenge is the Netherlands, where more than a quarter of the country already lies below sea level.</p><p>In Amsterdam, the capital city, residents and architects have created a visionary floating neighborhood called <a href="https://schoonschipamsterdam.org/#wat-is-schoonschip" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Schoonschip</a> — Dutch for "clean ship."</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU5NzY1My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MTI2MTkxN30.o-7s3zN1y8DLIy0QF5S-CPh2ZV2ZtOyXGg1cnT7UuCA/img.jpg?width=980" id="3a424" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="aa4b19b284104afb423a4d0ae0872b5e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="6720" data-height="4480" />
This is what the floating houses look like. Schoonschip / Isabel Nabuurs
<p>"Since urban areas struggle with high density, we should make better use of the space on the water," says project architect, <a href="http://www.spaceandmatter.nl/schoonschip" target="_blank">Space&Matter</a>.</p><p>"With Schoonschip we want to set the example, and show how living on water can be a great and better alternative for people and our planet."</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU5NzY1NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMDY4NTI2Nn0.6OuQNVJYWLk-e37m-WH3SINbibbmkiLuVFrNneYhtkg/img.jpg?width=980" id="980f9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7933c6f04f43bb75daa5f71f04747042" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="3543" data-height="1623" />
Schoonschip / Isabel Nabuurs
<p>The project is small in size — just more than 100 residents live in 46 homes on 30 arks floating — but it's also designed to be self-sufficient, with minimal impact on nature.</p><p>Solar panels and heat pumps provide heating. Wastewater from toilets and showers is converted back into energy and many residents also have a green roof, where they can grow their own food.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU5NzY2MS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDUyNDY2MX0.1X1ESjM4BzNYHDwCaKSP_wD-EpqDTSjwuecW9-NBI2s/img.png?width=980" id="665c7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5e00d242cac743d5720af2b0143c696f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="996" data-height="700" />
The floating Dutch community of Schoonschip is designed to be self-sustaining, including generating its own energy. Schoonschip / Metabolic
Life on Water
<p>Floating communities aren't new — they've been around for generations in some parts of the world. Examples include the <a href="http://www.natgeotraveller.in/the-floating-islands-of-perus-lake-titicaca/" target="_blank">Uros people</a>, who live on floating reed islands in Lake Titicaca, Peru, and the<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/bajau-sea-nomads-diving-evolution-spleen/558359/" target="_blank"> Bajau people of Southeast Asia</a>, who live on small houseboats off the coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.</p><p>In more recent times, interest in water living has grown as the world seeks solutions to the twin pressures of population density and climate change causing sea levels to rise.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU5NzY3MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjQ4MDAwOX0.2-4_REiu57h72td1Nz9s5S7cJEAaICWEcy9p78mDjdo/img.jpg?width=980" id="38254" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="44d67f48c47a2e95306fe873361dde6f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="6720" data-height="4480" />
Schoonschip / Isabel Nabuurs
<p>Projects elsewhere in the world include <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/flooding-homes-sea-levels-rising-floating-ocean-grimshaw/" target="_blank">modular water dwellings</a> being developed by British architect firm Grimshaw and Dutch manufacturer Concrete Valley.</p><p>These sit on a floating pontoon structure that rises with the water level to keep the home safe in the event of a tidal surge or flooding.</p><p>"With a growing global population and an increase of people living in cities, high land values are causing a shortage of affordable housing in urban areas," the designers say.</p><p>While in Denmark, end-of-life shipping containers have been used to create floating student accommodation in a design by architect firm <a href="https://www.urbanrigger.com/" target="_blank">Urban Rigger.</a></p>Twin Challenges
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU5NzY3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MzM5ODkwMn0.Ceu0kKdBN3WstLM7mktaXrJvRIdSr4CJCjB4zv_wsxk/img.jpg?width=980" id="967a7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="edf0b732f91576a681118457a6a79aff" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="6720" data-height="4480" /><p>More than 570 low-lying coastal cities will be threatened by sea-level rises of at least half a meter, by 2050, according to <a href="https://www.c40.org/other/the-future-we-don-t-want-staying-afloat-the-urban-response-to-sea-level-rise" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">C40 Cities</a>, a network dedicated to finding climate change solutions.</p><p>But the problem extends far beyond cities, to island nations, including <a href="https://collections.unu.edu/eserv/UNU:5903/Online_No_20_Kiribati_Report_161207.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kiribati in the Pacific</a>, where 81% of households had been affected by sea-level rise in the decade between 2006 and 2016. Here, migration is considered the main solution.</p><p>As people move to cities to live and work, almost 70% of the world's population is expected to be <a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">living in urban areas by 2050</a>, up from 55% currently.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU5NzY4MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxOTU3Mzk0OH0.bRRtEqD00c56dJ_FuhjYjbHrZyDNw4WGJtDYvzpdYOQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="82339" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3d4d929b0f248ad0698d402877802824" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="3543" data-height="2362" /><p>Many cities are <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cities-future-solutions-insight-idUSKBN1WV10Z" target="_blank">looking underground</a> to find more space. For example, Finland's capital<a href="https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/underground-helsinki" target="_blank"> Helsinki has created a host of underground facilities</a> including sports venues and an emergency shelter, while Montreal in Canada has an '<a href="https://montrealundergroundcity.com/" target="_blank">underground city</a>' including shops and hotels beneath its streets.</p><p>UN-Habitat, the United Nations program for human settlements and sustainable urban development, estimates that<a href="https://unhabitat.org/topic/housing" target="_blank"> by 2030, three billion people</a>, about 40% of the world's population, will need access to adequate housing. This translates into a demand for 96,000 new affordable and accessible housing units every day.</p><p>Building homes on the water and underground could be part of the solution.</p><p><em>Reposted with permission from the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/02/netherlands-floating-village-schoonschip-density/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a>. </em></p>
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Cities Can Help Migrating Birds on Their Way By Planting More Trees and Turning Lights Off at Night
16 January
Animals
By Frank La Sorte and Kyle Horton
Millions of birds travel between their breeding and wintering grounds during spring and autumn migration, creating one of the greatest spectacles of the natural world. These journeys often span incredible distances. For example, the Blackpoll warbler, which weighs less than half an ounce, may travel up to 1,500 miles between its nesting grounds in Canada and its wintering grounds in the Caribbean and South America.
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ1OTYwNy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzM0MTg3OH0.nNQfbJ7kSW-dhYN2fzUsXifK_9BZ0m-DgJ_O48NaMzk/img.png?width=980" id="17556" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="62e2bb2642ac5ed6921afa9f11210d6c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1000" data-height="697" />
Blackpoll warbler abundance in breeding, non-breeding and migration seasons. Cornell Lab of Ornithology / CC BY-ND
<p>For many species, these journeys take place at night, when skies typically are calmer and predators are less active. Scientists do not have a good understanding yet of how birds navigate effectively at night over long distances.</p><p><span></span>We study bird migration and how it is being affected by factors ranging from <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=S04C3UMAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">climate change</a> to <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pPk38-8AAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">artificial light at night</a>. In a recent study, we used millions of bird observations by citizen scientists to document the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116085" target="_blank">occurrence of migratory bird species in 333 U.S. cities</a> during the winter, spring, summer and autumn.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ1OTYxMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMzk5NjQ2OX0.wgZKuxg3PNrZY0fvQEfZwX6kKXWapi0OEegDeQOL0ZI/img.jpg?width=980" id="d5433" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0c08ac2b38d68da1788b356a5841f0f9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1000" data-height="604" />
Blackpoll warbler. PJTurgeon / Wikipedia
<p>We used this information to determine how the number of migratory bird species varies based on each city's level of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/light-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">light pollution</a> – brightening of the night sky caused by artificial light sources, such as buildings and streetlights. We also explored how species numbers vary based on the quantity of tree canopy cover and impervious surface, such as concrete and asphalt, within each city. Our findings show that cities can help migrating birds by planting more trees and reducing light pollution, especially during spring and autumn migration.</p>Declining Bird Populations
<p>Urban areas contain numerous dangers for migratory birds. The biggest threat is the risk of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1650/CONDOR-13-090.1" target="_blank">colliding with buildings or communication towers</a>. Many migratory bird populations have <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw1313" target="_blank">declined over the past 50 years</a>, and it is possible that light pollution from cities is contributing to these losses.</p><p>Scientists widely agree that light pollution can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1708574114" target="_blank">severely disorient migratory birds</a> and make it hard for them to navigate. Studies have shown that birds will cluster around brightly lit structures, much like insects flying around a porch light at night. Cities are the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2029" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">primary source of light pollution for migratory birds</a>, and these species tend to be more abundant within cities <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gcb.13792" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">during migration</a>, especially in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103892" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">city parks</a>.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ1OTYyNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0Nzk5NTUwOH0.h8aA9ZJUJvLbHP82CVZAOkYcY54eljqMy4rrMaunO9M/img.jpg?width=980" id="608a8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3da85b14a1c03abfd4f95c00439fb36e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1000" data-height="640" />
Composite image of the continental U.S. at night from satellite photos. NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Suomi NPP VIIRS data from Miguel Román, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
The Power of Citizen Science
<p>It's not easy to observe and document bird migration, especially for species that migrate at night. The main challenge is that many of these species are very small, which limits scientists' ability to use electronic tracking devices.</p><p>With the growth of the internet and other information technologies, new data resources are becoming available that are making it possible to overcome some of these challenges. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-07106-5" target="_blank">Citizen science initiatives</a> in which volunteers use online portals to enter their observations of the natural world have become an important resource for researchers.</p><p>One such initiative, <a href="https://ebird.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">eBird</a>, allows bird-watchers around the globe to share their observations from any location and time. This has produced one of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.04632" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">largest ecological citizen-science databases in the world</a>. To date, eBird contains over 922 million bird observations compiled by over 617,000 participants.</p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="59e33da8efe0bf60f7bda00b06e1f4e2"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/StF19Qdgqn0?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><em>Large clusters of birds (blue and green splotches) captured by weather radar during spring migration, April-May 2019.</em></p>
Light Pollution Both Attracts and Repels Migratory Birds
<p>Migratory bird species have evolved to use certain migration routes and types of habitat, such as forests, grasslands or marshes. While humans may enjoy seeing migratory birds appear in urban areas, it's generally not good for bird populations. In addition to the many hazards that exist in urban areas, cities typically lack the food resources and cover that birds need during migration or when raising their young. As scientists, we're concerned when we see evidence that migratory birds are being drawn away from their traditional migration routes and natural habitats.</p><p>Through our analysis of eBird data, we found that cities contained the greatest numbers of migratory bird species during spring and autumn migration. Higher levels of light pollution were associated with more species during migration – evidence that light pollution attracts migratory birds to cities across the U.S. This is cause for concern, as it shows that the influence of light pollution on migratory behavior is strong enough to increase the number of species that would normally be found in urban areas.</p><p>In contrast, we found that higher levels of light pollution were associated with fewer migratory bird species during the summer and winter. This is likely due to the scarcity of suitable habitat in cities, such as large forest patches, in combination with the adverse affects of light pollution on bird behavior and health. In addition, during these seasons, migratory birds are active only during the day and their populations are largely stationary, creating few opportunities for light pollution to attract them to urban areas.</p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="19d2d2bc77cd31e4374fd12cdadbe4bf"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/08ET47-b13o?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><em><strong></strong>Darkening skies at night during migration season makes it easier for birds to navigate.</em></p>
Trees and Pavement
<p>We found that tree canopy cover was associated with more migratory bird species during spring migration and the summer. Trees provide important habitat for migratory birds during migration and the breeding season, so the presence of trees can have a strong effect on the number of migratory bird species that occur in cities.</p><p>Finally, we found that higher levels of impervious surface were associated with more migratory bird species during the winter. This result is somewhat surprising. It could be a product of the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heatislands" target="_blank">urban heat island effect</a> – the fact that structures and paved surfaces in cities absorb and reemit more of the sun's heat than natural surfaces. Replacing vegetation with buildings, roads and parking lots can therefore make cities significantly warmer than surrounding lands. This effect could reduce cold stress on birds and increase food resources, such as insect populations, during the winter.</p><p>Our research adds to our understanding of how conditions in cities can both help and hurt migratory bird populations. We hope that our findings will inform urban planning initiatives and strategies to reduce the harmful effects of cities on migratory birds through such measures as <a href="https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa/index.cfm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">planting more trees</a> and initiating <a href="https://aeroecolab.com/uslights" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lights-out programs</a>. Efforts to make it easier for migratory birds to complete their incredible journeys will help maintain their populations into the future.</p><p><em><span style="background-color: initial;"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/frank-la-sorte-1191494" target="_blank">Frank La Sorte</a> is a r</span>esearch associate at the </em><em>Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kyle-horton-1191498" target="_blank">Kyle Horton</a> is an assistant professor of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the Colorado State University.</em></p><p><em></em><em>Disclosure statement: Frank La Sorte receives funding from The Wolf Creek Charitable Foundation and the National Science Foundation (DBI-1939187). K</em><em>yle Horton does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</em></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/cities-can-help-migrating-birds-on-their-way-by-planting-more-trees-and-turning-lights-off-at-night-152573" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
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This Boston Hospital Is Feeding Patients Through Its Rooftop Farm
09 September 2019
Health + Wellness
Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm - Featured Project
Carrie Golden believes the only reason she's diabetes free is because she has access to fresh, locally grown food.
A few years after the Boston resident was diagnosed with prediabetes, she was referred to Boston Medical Center's Preventative Food Pantry as someone who is food insecure. The food pantry is a free food resource for low-income patients.
<p>"You become diabetic because when you don't have good food to eat, you eat whatever you can to survive," Golden says. "Because of the healthy food I get from the pantry… I've learned how to eat."</p><p>Three years ago, the hospital launched a rooftop farm to grow fresh produce for the pantry. The farm has produced 6,000 pounds of food a year, with 3,500 pounds slated for the pantry. The rest of its produce goes to the hospital's cafeteria, patients, a teaching kitchen and an in-house portable farmers market.</p><p>The hospital joined a handful of medical facilities across the country that have started growing food on their roofs. The initiative is the first hospital-based farm in Massachusetts and the largest rooftop farm in Boston. The facility's 2,658-square-foot garden houses more than 25 crops, organically grown in a milk crate system.</p><p>"Food is medicine. That's why we're doing what we're doing," says David Maffeo, the hospital's senior director of support services. "Most urban environments are food deserts. It's hard to get <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/local-food" rel="noopener noreferrer">locally grown food</a> and I think it's something that we owe to our patients and our community."</p><p>Lindsay Allen, a farmer who has been managing the rooftop oasis since its inception, says her farm's produce is being used for preventative care as well as in reactive care. She says 72 percent of the hospital's patients are considered underserved, and likely don't have access to healthy, local <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/organic" rel="noopener noreferrer">organic</a> food.</p><p>What people put in their bodies has a direct link to their health she says, adding that hospitals have a responsibility to give their patients better food.</p><p>"I generally feel that hospital food is pretty terrible and gross, which I always find ironic since that's where we are sick and at our most vulnerable and we need to be nourished," she says.</p><p>In addition to running the farm, Allen teaches a number of farming workshops to educate patients, employees and their families on how to grow their own food. The hospital's teaching kitchen employs a number of food technicians and dieticians who offer their expertise to patients on how they can make meals with the local produce they're given.</p><p>This is part of the medical center's objective to not only give patients good food, but also provide them the tools to lead a healthy life.</p><p>Golden, who has used the pantry for the last three years, says the experience has changed the way she looks at food.</p><p>"I've gone many days with nothing to eat, so I know what that feels like when you get something like the food pantry that gives you what you need to stay healthy," she says. "I appreciate all the people that put their heart into working in the garden. If only they knew how we really need them."</p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://modernfarmer.com/2019/09/how-one-boston-hospital-is-feeding-patients-through-its-rooftop-farm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Modern Farmer</a>.</em></p>
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"As mayors of the world's great cities we recognize our responsibility to ensure every building, whether historic or brand new, helps deliver a sustainable future for our citizens" - Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Pixabay
The world's most iconic skylines are going green. Nineteen city leaders from the C40 coalition signed the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration on Thursday to ensure all new buildings operate with a neutral carbon footprint by 2030.
The mayors of Copenhagen, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York City, Newburyport, Paris, Portland, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Monica, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tshwane, Vancouver and Washington, DC also pledged to ensure all buildings in the cities—old or new—will meet net-zero carbon standards by 2050, according to a press release. The cities are home to 130 million people combined.
<p>
Buildings are often a city's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions due to
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels">fossil fuels</a> being used for heat, hot water and other energy needs. <a href="http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=86&t=1" target="_blank">About 39 percent</a> of the total energy consumption in the U.S. comes from the residential and commercial sectors. In megacities such as London, Los Angeles and Paris, buildings account for more than 70 percent of their overall emissions. These structures are not only driving <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate change</a>, but the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/air-pollution">air pollution</a> emitted from the buildings is also a public health concern.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/teslas-massive-gigafactory-will-be-net-zero-energy-powered-by-100-rene-1882120175.html" target="_blank">Net-zero buildings</a>, however, are <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/stanford-professors-new-zero-net-energy-home-sets-the-standard-for-gre-1891181313.html">incredibly energy-efficient</a> and meet any remaining energy needs from <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy" target="_blank">renewable energy</a> sources. Not only are these green buildings environmentally and socially beneficial, but they also offer economic benefits, such as cost savings on utility bills for tenants and higher property value for owners.
</p><p>
"Combating climate change is a moral necessity, an environmental imperative, and an economic opportunity—and Los Angeles is proud to be a leader in creating our clean energy future," said Mayor Eric Garcetti in statement. "By pledging to reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings, cities are moving us another step closer to the goals of the Paris Agreement–and the promise of lower emissions, less pollution, and more renewable energy innovation."
</p><p>
The pledges were made ahead of the
<a href="http://globalclimateactionsummit.org/" target="_blank">Global Climate Action Summit</a> in San Francisco next month and align with the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/paris-agreement" target="_blank">Paris agreement</a> goal of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
</p><p>
<span></span>"Delivering on the commitments made today will require a united effort, as city governments do not have direct control over all the buildings in a city. This commitment includes a pledge to work together with state and regional governments and the private sector to drive this transformation, and calls on national governments for equal action," the press release stated.
</p><p>
As part of the commitment, the cities will develop a roadmap to reach net-zero carbon buildings as well as a suite of supporting incentives and programs. Each year, they will release a report on their progress towards meeting their targets.
</p><p>
"Paris is home to some of the world's most beautiful and iconic buildings. As mayors of the world's great cities we recognize our responsibility to ensure every building, whether historic or brand new, helps deliver a sustainable future for our citizens," said Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, in a statement. "With this commitment cities are getting the job done, concretely delivering on the Paris Agreement and building better cities for generations to come. One more time, the future is taking place in cities."</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="cbdf7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="P0CPWB1576662710"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="872082676362211328" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">[email protected]: World Can Reach 'Net Zero' Emissions by 2060 to Meet #Paris #Climate Goals https://t.co/SrsMCYTuWz @mzjacobson @billmckibben @BillNye</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/872082676362211328">1496755687.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Vertical farms have been touted as a way to feed a rapidly urbanizing world population (I've waxed poetic about them myself.) Critics of the trending technology, however, contend that these energy-intensive hubs are too costly and perhaps impractical to maintain.
Sure, the naysayers have a point, but what if vertical farms did more than just feed mouths? In Stockholm, Sweden, the Plantagon CityFarm located in the basement of the iconic DN-Skrapan building in the Kungsholmen district has a whole other purpose besides nourishing the office workers on site—the farm also recycles its heat to warm the offices above.
<p style="">
The underground farm, which will start production early next year, stores the heat emitted by the LEDs used to grow veggies and then reuses that energy to heat the property. This stroke of genius allows the venture to pay nothing in rent.
</p><p style="">
"[The building owner] agreed to give us a free lease for three years, so we don't pay one single Swedish kroner for the room," Plantagon cofounder Hans Hassle told
<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/40503488/this-underground-urban-farm-also-heats-the-building-above-it" target="_blank">FastCompany</a>. "This is the challenge, very often, for urban farmers: If you really want to grow things in the city, you have to find new business models that actually make the food not too expensive in the end."
</p><p>
FastCompany reported that the system will save the office building 700,000 kilowatt-hours of energy a year, roughly worth three times as much as the previous tenant of the space had paid in rent.
</p><p style="">
Notably, the office building and the farm will work together symbiotically. "The CityFarm under the DN-Skrapan will provide its surplus heat to the offices and in exchange [receive] CO2 from the people who work there," the developers said.
</p><p>
The farm is expected to produce 100 kilograms of fresh vegetables daily and, like many other indoor farming ventures, it recycles most of its water and does not need to use any herbicides or pesticides.
</p><p style="">
The Swedish company has a goal of opening a total of ten such facilities in the Stockholm area by 2020, and it has started a
<a href="https://www.fundedbyme.com/en/campaign/8246/plantagon-international-ab-3/?type=e" target="_blank">crowdfunding campaign</a> for the planned expansion.
</p><p>
<span></span>"The reason for a crowdfunding campaign is that we believe that people that care about the future of cities, food production and the health of our planet should be given the opportunity to be a part of the solution," <a href="http://urbanagnews.com/blog/plantagon-is-building-10-underground-city-farms-in-stockholm/" target="_blank">said</a> Owe Pettersson, CEO of Plantagon International. "To us, it is important to create and expand together, showing that we are a movement for healthy sustainable food. Together, we can make a difference for safe food production in cities—now and in the future."
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BbCj6ttlh0j/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
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Green roof of the Denver Environmental Protection Agency. Denver Green Roof Initiative
Denver is the latest city to mandate rooftop gardens or solar installations on new, large buildings, joining San Francisco, New York, Paris, London and other cities around the world with similar green roof measures, the Associated Press reported.
The Colorado capital ranks third in the nation for highest heat island and eighth in the nation for worst ozone/particulate pollution, according to the Denver Green Roof Initiative, a grassroots group that advocated for the city's green roof ordinance, Initiative 300.
<p>Although the official tally is not in, the ballot initiative had 54 percent approval as of Thursday, signaling that the measure is headed towards victory. The vote will be certified on Nov. 24.</p><p>Initiative 300 creates a new building code that requires green roofs or solar panels for most buildings 25,000 square feet or larger that are constructed after Jan. 1, 2018. </p><p>The Associated Press noted that the measure is more stringent than other green roof mandates, as it requires many existing buildings to be retrofitted with green roofs when the old roof wears out. Older buildings that cannot support the load of a green roof can get an exemption.<br></p><p>"These required building improvements would significantly reduce long term operating costs by lowering energy consumption and increasing the longevity of a roof," the Denver Green Roof Initiative <a href="http://www.denvergreenroof.org/2017/10/23/to-the-people/" target="_blank">stated</a> on its campaign website. "A green roof lasts 2-3 times as long as a traditional roof because the waterproofing membrane is protected from damage by the elements and workers by covering it with a growing medium and plants."</p><p>The measure did not have an easy road to passage. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock opposed the initiative over worries that it could drive up the costs of construction projects. Also, several Denver businesses <a href="http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/11/08/green-roof-initiative-denver/" target="_blank">spent $250,000</a> in an advertising push against the plan. </p><p><span></span>Department of Community Planning and Development spokeswoman Andrea Burns told the <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/05/denver-rooftop-garden-heat-island-effect/" target="_blank">Denver Post</a> in March that the department would prefer to give architects and engineers "the flexibility to design a roofing system that works best for their needs and their budgets."</p><p>Following the vote, however, Burns conceded to <a href="http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/11/08/green-roof-initiative-denver/" target="_blank">CBS4</a> that "it will be a little bit of work in the next few weeks, but green roofs are already possible in Denver. It's just a matter of making those agreements that are part of Initiative 300 work with our system now. We're going to make this work for the people of Denver." </p><p>The Denver Green Roof Initiative admits that green roofs cost about $15 more per square feet than a traditional black roof but pointed out that the green roof will pay for itself in about six years. <br></p><p>"Even though the extra cost would be offset in as soon as 6.2 years, most developers choose not to incorporate them because they build the building then sell it," the group <a href="http://www.denvergreenroof.org/the-project/" target="_blank">said</a>. "They don't see those energy and storm-water savings. They don't save the money from roof longevity. Yet they are still able to sell the building for more money with these improvements!! We believe that the developers of Denver could be doing more to negate their footprint in our beautiful city. We believe green roofs are the answer."</p><p>The initiative was <a href="http://www.denvergreenroof.org/endorsements/" target="_blank">endorsed</a> by several green builders and environmental groups. </p><p>"Initiative I-300 will contribute to improving Denver's air quality, increasing the energy efficiency of its buildings, mitigating the urban heat island effect, managing storm water runoff, and creating habitat for pollinators and other insects," said Lauren Petrie, <a href="https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/state/colorado" target="_blank">Food & Water Watch</a>'s Rocky Mountain Region Director. "We are dedicated to a more sustainable future in Denver and believe that passing this green roof initiative will be a vehicle for asserting our human desire for cleaner air and water, and cooler urban temperatures. </p><p>The Denver Green Roof Initiative stressed in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/denvergreenroof/" target="_blank">Facebook post Friday</a> that even though Initiative 300 passed, there are still "tremendous hurdles to overcome due to push back from those in power."<br><span></span></p><p>"This is a battle won against climate but the war doesn't stop here," the post stated. "We must all get active and fight for our values, because we are stronger together. Thanks again for the overwhelming support. The citizens of Denver have a healthier, more sustainable future because of YOU!"<br></p>
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Tesla/Electrek
Many people might balk at the idea of living in a home that's the size of a treehouse, but Tesla, Inc. just created a tiny house fit for its larger-than-life CEO, Elon Musk.
The Tesla Tiny House is currently being towed on the back of a Model X around Australia to exhibit the company's products and to teach the public how to generate, store and use renewable energy for their own home, according to Electrek.
<p>
"We want to bring the Tesla Tiny House to you, so you can fully experience what it means to be self-powered," the company said.
</p><p>
Musk touted about the company's latest showcase on Twitter:</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="46d1b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="E4DAQY1553274952"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="897232757629173760" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Tesla Powerwalls can support houses of any size, but the cool thing is we can tow this house around with a Model X! https://t.co/MmQl8BPetY</div> — Elon Musk (@Elon Musk)<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/statuses/897232757629173760">1502751933.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
The Tesla boss then commented, "I want one too!" after a fan tweeted, "Sign me up for a tesla tiny house"</p><p>
The 100 percent renewable energy-powered abode measures approximately 20 x 7 x 13 feet in size with an exterior clad in locally sourced, chemical-free sustainable wood. </p><p>Naturally, the house features a slew of Tesla products, including solar panels (but not Tesla's
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tesla-solar-roof-2468676709.html">solar roof tiles</a>) and the <a href="https://www.tesla.com/powerwall" target="_blank">Powerwall</a>, the company's at-home battery with a built-in inverter.
</p><p>
The company provided some more details about the interior of the small space to Electrek:
</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">
"Powered by 100% renewable energy via a 2 kW solar system and Powerwall, Tiny House contains a mobile design studio and configurator which can calculate how your home can generate clean energy from the sun using solar panels, storing it in Powerwall to use throughout the day and night, which can all be
<a href="https://electrek.co/2017/04/20/tesla-powerwall-solar-app/" target="_blank">monitored and controlled by the Tesla app</a>."
</p><p>
Here are some other specifics of the Tesla Tiny House:
</p><ul class="ee-ul">
<li>Weight – 2 tonnes</li>
<li>Dimensions – 6m x 2.2m x 4m</li>
<li>Solar generation – 2kW PV system of 6 panels</li>
<li>Solar storage – 1 x Tesla Powerwall</li>
<li>Exterior – Clad in locally sourced, chemical-free, sustainable timber</li>
</ul><p>
Tesla collaborated with Australian sustainable architecture firm
<a href="http://www.archiblox.com.au/" target="_blank">Archiblox</a> on the rolling, prefabricated house. The firm posted an Instagram video of the display in Melbourne:</p><div id="ebc8d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="SCNLT91553274952"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXxWWtxl17R/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Archiblox on Instagram: “A massive thanks to Tesla for reaching out to Archiblox to collaborate on the Tesla Tiny House. Our two loves the thoughtful footprint by…”</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>
The Tesla Tiny House is currently touring around major Australian cities, but you can also request a tour for your own town via <a href="https://www.tesla.com/teslatinyhouse" target="_blank">this link</a>.</p><p>
"Our next stop could be in your town, tell us where you'd like to see us," Tesla said.
</p>
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Craftsman tiny house by Zyl Vardos. Abel Zyl / Shuttertstock
Late last year, the tiny house community celebrated a watershed moment—an official appendix in the 2018 version of the International Residential Code, the model building code used by most jurisdictions in the U.S.
"There are many things that are monumental in the adoption of tiny house construction codes by the IRC," cheered Thom Stanton, the CEO of small space developer, Timber Trails. "Among them, that architects, designers, builders, community developers and (maybe most importantly) zoning officials have a means of recognizing tiny houses as an official form of permissible dwelling."
<p>Although it will take a few years for local governments to formally adopt the new code, the appendix gave the tiny house movement something it had long sought: Legitimacy.</p><p><strong>What's a Tiny Home?</strong></p><p>Tiny homes are generally between 100 to 400 square feet and can be built on wheels or a permanent foundation. Some might deride these micro-homes as glorified trailers, but there's a lot to admire about the lifestyle. </p><p>The architectural and cultural phenomenon emerged after the 2007-2008 housing market collapse, as recession-scarred folks abandoned the McMansion fantasy and chose to significantly downsize. Proponents of tiny houses tout their cheaper costs, freedom from unnecessary material possessions and a smaller environmental footprint (<a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/tiny-houses-infographic/" target="_blank">see infographic</a>).</p><p>Frankly, some of these dwellings—like <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15808932" target="_blank">this</a> 240-square-foot, completely off-grid tiny house nestled in a Hawaiian rainforest paradise—make me want to leave it all behind too.</p><p>Enthusiasts also suggest that tiny homes could <a href="http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/tiny-house-village-portlands-homeless-find-dignity" target="_blank">address homelessness</a> and add affordable housing options in cities experiencing extensive gentrification and rising costs of living.</p><p>Portland, Oregon, for instance, needs tiny houses "to keep its own identity in place," Michelle Boyle, who lives in a tiny house in nearby Sherwood and hosts the <a href="http://tinyhousepodcast.com/episodes/s1e1-tiny-house-podcast-begins" target="_blank">Tiny House Podcast</a>, told <a href="http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/354859-234173-picture-tiny-houses-in-big-numbers" target="_blank">Portland Tribune</a>. </p><p>"In order to encourage diversity in your population, you have to encourage diversity in your housing stock," she added.</p><p>Indeed, Oregon's largest city has seen home prices <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/front-porch/index.ssf/2017/05/portland_home-price_increases.html" target="_blank">outpace</a> much of the nation. The median price of homes currently listed in Portland's metro area is $404,990, according to <a href="https://www.zillow.com/portland-metro-or_r394998/home-values/" target="_blank">Zillow</a>.</p><p>"There are people who Portland would love to have living in our city, but they can't afford it any more," local small-scale developer Eli Spevak told the Tribune.</p><p>Tiny homes are certainly cheaper than building or buying a "regular"-sized house because of their small size. Prices for tiny homes vary widely, but <a href="https://money.good.is/features/price-check-tiny-houses" target="_blank">GOOD Money</a> crunched the numbers and determined that a DIY tiny house costs between $20,000 to $30,000. Contracting a professional builder or buying a prefabricated unit ranges from $50,000 to $449,000 (like this luxurious 315-square-foot "<a href="https://www.aol.com/article/finance/2017/02/06/is-this-the-most-expensive-tiny-home-in-america/21708252/" target="_blank">mini mansion</a>" in Maryland).</p><p><strong>Why Go Tiny?</strong></p><p>Despite the proliferation of HGTV reality shows and documentaries on the topic, tiny house living is far from the norm. New American homes are actually bigger than ever. The typical single-family home in the U.S. is <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/07/lawns-census-bigger-homes-smaller-lots/489590/" target="_blank">roughly 2,500 square feet</a>, about 50 percent larger than in the late 1970s.</p><p>Some might find tiny living too small and even <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/five-people-who-abandoned-their-tiny-homes-2015-7" target="_blank">abandon ship</a>. The <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/12/the-health-risks-of-small-apartments/282150/" target="_blank">Atlantic</a> examined the psychological toll of living in New York City's first micro-apartments, which range from 260 to 360 square feet, and warned about possible claustrophobia and crowding-related stress for some residents.</p><p>"Sure, these micro-apartments may be fantastic for young professionals in their 20s," Dak Kopec, the director of design for human health at Boston Architectural College, said in the article. "But they definitely can be unhealthy for older people, say in their 30s and 40s, who face different stress factors that can make tight living conditions a problem."</p><p>Then there's the whole legal issue. Although these rules are slowly evolving (i.e., the new tiny house appendix), the country's decades-old zoning regulations and patchwork of building codes just won't allow you to wheel or construct a tiny house onto whatever empty lot you like and call it home.</p><p>There are two types of tinys with specific rules for each. First, there's the tiny house on a foundation, which is legally considered an Accessory Dwelling Unit. ADUs—small or tiny homes built on the same property of an existing home—are subject to local laws such as minimum square footage requirements and will probably require a permit to build.</p><p>The second type is the portable tiny house, or a tiny house on wheels, which is typically classified as a recreational vehicle (RV), meaning it could require licensing and registration at a state transportation department. <a href="http://minimotives.com/2014/06/25/where-can-you-park-a-tiny-house/" target="_blank">Legally parking</a> a tiny house on wheels is also a frequent issue that also varies by jurisdiction.</p><p>Because of all these rules, tiny housers sometimes live <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/tiny-houses-are-trendy-minimalist-and-often-illegal/" target="_blank">under the radar</a> and just cross their fingers that a nosy neighbor won't alert the authorities.</p><p>If that isn't enough of a headache, online you'll find a whole host of other <a href="https://www.trulia.com/blog/buy-a-tiny-house-mistake/" target="_blank">complaints</a> (it's just a fad; they're difficult to resell) as well as <a href="https://www.vox.com/a/new-economy-future/tiny-houses" target="_blank">thoughtful arguments</a> (the unavailability of open space and the high cost of land in urban centers) against tiny homeownership.</p><p><strong>The New Minimalism</strong></p><p>Tiny homes aren't for everyone, but it's clear that their popularity is far from waning. An expanding list of <a href="http://www.tinyhousecommunity.com/map/communities/#0/-85/-472" target="_blank">micro-communities</a> are popping up around the country and in January 2016, Fresno, California became the <a href="http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/fresno-first-city-in-nation-to-set-zoning-standards-for-tiny-houses-as-second-dwellings" target="_blank">first city</a> in the nation to develop tiny house-specific codes. Fellow Californian city Ojai followed Fresno's footsteps <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/tiny-houses-on-wheels-legal-in-ojai-california/" target="_blank">not long after</a>.</p><p>Back in Portland, the famously progressive city has become an epicenter of the tiny house movement (<a href="https://vimeo.com/151916585" target="_blank">of course</a>) and is even a <a href="https://accessorydwellings.org/2017/02/27/the-ascension-of-adus-in-portland/" target="_blank">national leader</a> in ADU development. In 2016, the city granted about as many building permits for ADUs as for regular single-family homes.</p><p>And late last month, with very little fanfare, Idaho became the first state in the nation to adopt the tiny house appendix.</p><p>"This is a huge step forward for everyone who wants to live legally in their tiny home," <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/idaho-adopt-tiny-house-appendix/" target="_blank">declared</a> Andrew Morrison of Tiny House Build a day after the vote. "There is still a lot of work to be done in Idaho, but this is absolutely the best outcome from yesterday's vote."</p><p>Morrison, a veteran tiny house builder, co-authored the tiny house appendix and spearheaded efforts to get it approved. He is now working on an appendix <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/tiny-house-appendix-adoption-process/" target="_blank">specifically</a> for movable tiny houses.</p><p>As the Portland Tribune noted, "many obstacles remain before tiny houses on wheels get the same treatment as ADUs here and elsewhere, but many say it's inevitable, given spiking house and rent prices and the growing popularity of tiny houses." </p><p>At least for now, it looks like this movement is not-so-tiny after all.</p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="http://www.alternet.org/environment/how-tiny-homes-could-spur-affordable-housing-ease-gentrification-reduce-consumerism-and" target="_blank">AlterNet</a>.</em></p>
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The Santalaia in Bogotá, Colombia
The largest vertical garden in the world looks like a living, breathing green giant in Bogotá, Colombia's densely populated capital.
<p>
The Santalaia building, erected by biologist and botanist <a href="http://www.paisajismourbano.com/ignacio-solano" target="_blank">Ignacio Solano</a> with vertical garden and green roof firm <a href="http://groncol.com/" target="_blank">Groncol</a>, gives much-needed greenery to the sprawling city. </p><p>Located in the Rosales barrio, the multi-family residential building features of 3,117 square meters (33,551 square feet) of plants. The building is nine stories above ground and two stories underground and was completed in December 2015 after 16 months of planning and construction. </p><p>About 115,000 plants of 10 different species were incorporated in the project, which Groncol <a href="http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=1769" target="_blank">says</a> helps reduce urban <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/how-green-infrastructure-minimizes-the-impacts-of-climate-change-1881953368.html">heat island effect</a> and produces oxygen for 3,000 people yearly . </p><p>"The architect's intent was to produce a uniform green layer with real plants," <a href="http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=1769" target="_blank">said</a> Pablo Atuesta, general manager of Groncol. "He would have preferred to have only one species, but since it was too risky, we built several prototypes with different plants that would give us a uniform green tone and plant volume. </p><p><span></span>"The building should enhance the comfort and well being of its inhabitants, and the designer wanted the sensation of being surrounded by plants so as not to feel as though you were living in a dense urban environment like the one we have in Bogotá," Atuesta added.</p><p><span></span>The lucky family living in one of the penthouses even has a private rooftop garden and playground. </p><p>A specially designed hydroponic irrigation system hydrates the massive vertical garden that consists of plants such as dwarf Hebe, asparagus fern, rosemary, vincas and spathiphyllum flowering plants, among others. <br></p><p><span></span>"Designing irrigation, water recycling systems, as well as plant selection were some of the biggest challenges with the Santalaia project. The Santalaia building is also using water from the apartments' showers for irrigation," Atuesta said. "Among many technical details, we installed humidity and radiation sensors to optimize water consumption as well as a water treatment plant so as not to have any water waste." </p><p>Take a tour of the lush green building: </p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube"><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="610e2a267cad9ffc94f4d84de1f984cb"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8TRtGoHnNsQ?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p>
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Vancouver, Canada.
The climate crisis is a problem caused by humans that can be solved by humans. These three cities are proving it.
While a lot of media coverage around the crisis is doom and gloom, cities around the world are coming up with powerful solutions on the local level. Here's how a Canadian city, an American city and a Chinese city are taking on climate action.
<h4>1. North America's First Renewably Powered City<br>
</h4><p>
<strong>City:</strong> <a href="http://solutions.sustainia.me/solutions/north-americas-first-renewably-powered-city/" target="_blank">Vancouver, Canada</a>
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Vancouver's ambitious vision to power the city entirely on <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/">renewable energy</a> will help curb emissions from its two biggest emitters: transport and buildings.
</p><p>
Vancouver is the first city in North America to develop a renewable city strategy to derive 100 percent of the city's entire energy needs from renewable sources by 2050. To achieve this goal, the city is prioritizing efforts around reducing emissions from its most polluting sectors, buildings and transportation and increasing the use and supply of renewables. In the transport sector, this includes measures such as the promotion of renewably powered car-sharing fleets and the development of standards to support renewably powered private vehicles. Simultaneously, retrofits of existing buildings and ensuring the grid energy supply is 100-percent renewable will spur the clean energy shift for the city's building stock.
</p><p>
Underpinning the strategy is an innovative energy system model that maps energy demand across the year and by time of day, matching it with an energy supply model to identify the most economical ways energy demand can be met by renewable sources. In this way, Vancouver is using cutting-edge technology—employed for the first time by a municipality—to solve pressing energy concerns and guide plans for a 100 percent renewable future.
</p><p>
<strong>The Result: </strong>80<strong> </strong>percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, from 2007 levels, by 2050 due to the renewable city strategy.
</p><h4>2. Legal Ordinance for Solar-Powered Buildings</h4><p>
<strong>City:</strong> <a href="http://solutions.sustainia.me/solutions/legal-ordinance-for-solar-powered-buildings/" target="_blank">New York, New York</a>
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New York City's government agencies are now legally required to assess potential
<a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/solar">solar</a> PV retrofits at all municipal buildings.<br>
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In 2016, New York City passed a law requiring local government agencies to assess all city-owned rooftops for solar photovoltaic (PV) potential, in order to support the city's goal to install 100 MW of solar PV on municipal property by 2025. Agencies must report on factors including the potential reduction in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, the financing of the project and whether buildings' rooftops are suitable for a solar installation. In keeping track of the projects, the city will also take into consideration the financial savings accruing from CO2 emissions reductions in order to better reflect the value of the retrofits.
</p><p>
To date, the city has installed 8.8 MW of solar PV across 52 municipal buildings. Informed by the government agencies' evaluations, New York City plans to develop a strategy to expand the initiative to 4,000 city-owned buildings, which include schools, hospitals, libraries, courthouses, firehouses, offices, police precincts, wastewater treatment plants and recreation centers and which will help the city reach its goal to reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
</p><p>
<strong>The Result: </strong>35,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions will be reduced by solar projects by 2025.
</p><h4>3. Low-Carbon Megacity Encourages Green Growth</h4><p>
<span></span><strong>City:</strong> <a href="http://solutions.sustainia.me/solutions/low-carbon-megacity-encourages-green-growth/" target="_blank">Guangzhou, China</a>
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Guangzhou is planning for an increasing population and rising demand for energy with a multi-sector, low-carbon plan for green growth, targeting industry, infrastructure and buildings.
<br>
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Guangzhou, a megacity with a population exceeding 13 million, is still in a stage of rapid economic development and urban construction. In 2012, Guangzhou launched the Pilot Low Carbon City Implementation Plan in an effort to reduce greenhouse emissions through systematic measures in the growing city. The plan includes the elimination of outdated industrial capacity and equipment and the promotion of energy-efficient technologies and green, low-carbon buildings. Transport infrastructure is also being targeted, with a new public transport system mainly based on rail transit.
</p><p>
Both market mechanisms, such as limiting entry permits for high-carbon projects to control greenhouse gas emissions, and institutional mechanisms, such as stricter emissions standards, have been used to promote low-carbon development under the plan. Green industries have developed quickly in the city, with an added value of $4.2 billion in 2014, an 11.1 percent increase compared to the previous year. As a commitment to the plan, Guangzhou announced in 2015 it will reach its carbon emissions peak by 2020.
</p><p>
<strong>The Result: </strong>35.9M tons of CO2 emissions reduced between 2010 and 2014.
</p><p>
<em>Republished from the <a href="http://solutions.sustainia.me/cities/" target="_blank">Cities100 guide</a> (the work of<a href="http://www.sustainia.me/" target="_blank"> Sustainia</a>, <a href="http://www.c40.org/" target="_blank">C40 Cities</a> and <a href="http://www.realdania.org/" target="_blank">Realdania</a>) with permission.</em>
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