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Artificial Intelligence and Decarbonization

Mark Harris

July 01, 2017 |

Anthropocene Magazine |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Amsterdam

As electric utilities expand to include evolving forms of energy such as varied renewables, the already complex puzzle of storage and distribution (effectively addressing surges and lulls in demand) has grown more difficult. Artificial intelligence in the form of super speed algorithms that can detect usage patterns and allocate the right types of energy at the right times is a straightforward solution that can reduce costs and emissions simultaneously, while encouraging consumer behavior change to maximize efficiency.

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How an IIT Madras Initiative Is Powering 9,000 Homes at a Fraction of Traditional Electricity Costs

Priya Mohan

June 07, 2017 |

The Better India |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Jaipur, Rajasthan

A team of engineers at IIT Madras, a public university in India, has partnered with local utilities and the national Ministry of Power to bring sustainable, low-cost electricity to off-grid rural villages in the northwestern state of Rajasthan. With solar power supplied by DC microgrids, these poor rural communities are experiencing transformations to increase quality-of-life: affordable fridges that aid in food preservation, fans which mitigate heat and repel mosquitoes, and battery-powered phones connecting them to public emergency services.

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Italy's pollution-eating cement

Gelareh Darabi

May 25, 2017 |

Al Jazeera |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Italy, Milan, Lombardy

Respiratory diseases caused by air pollution now account for more premature deaths in people worldwide than malaria and HIV combined. To address increasing contamination levels, particularly in cities, scientists have developed a new kind of cement that absorbs pollutants like CO2. The special cement is being manufactured in Milan, and used around in the world in cities like Paris and Chicago.

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Ladakh's Ice Stupas

Russell Beard

May 17, 2017 |

Al Jazeera |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: India, Leh, Kashmir

Nearly a billion people living in the arid regions of the Himalayas depend on glaciers for their water supply. But with climate change, glaciers have been retreating drastically every year, threatening the life source of villagers like those in the Ladakh region of Kashmir. One engineer, Sonam Wangchuck, has come up with an ingenious feat of engineering to help the villages store glacier water by constructing stupas - or towers - using thorn branches that retain ice in tall structures, which melts and provides clean water for drinking and agriculture during the dry season.

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Printing A Solution to the World's Biggest Problems

Wendy Williams

May 11, 2017 |

Pro Bono Australia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Solomon Islands, Honiara, Guadalcanal

A research fellow at Deakin University’s School of Engineering in Australia has developed a world-first technology 3D printer prototype capable of printing plumbing and sanitation supplies using discarded plastics - and what's more, it runs on solar power. They are partnering with NGO Plan International to implement this technology in the Solomon Islands, where locals will be taught to print the parts they need, thereby solving the dual problems of plastic rubbish and a lack of access to vital mechanical parts for clean water supply. The model gives these communities tools to solve their own problems, and could have endless applications as the technology evolves.

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Can plastic roads help save the planet?

Dougal Shaw

April 25, 2017 |

BBC |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Scotland, Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway

Even with such increasingly popular trends as reusable grocery bags and biodegradable food containers, 70% of plastic products end up in landfills; but with the help of a local start-up, MacRebur, several townships in Scotland are cutting back on this quantity while simultaneously servicing and improving the quality of their transportation networks.

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Oslo Is on Track for a Car-Free Future

Laura Bliss

April 13, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Norway, Oslo

In the heart of one of Europe’s fastest growing capitals, cars are rapidly disappearing. To reduce pollution and build a people-first city center, Oslo has promised to ban all cars in downtown by 2019. The multi-pronged effort includes making public transportation services more efficient, building 60 kilometers of new bike lanes, and transforming parking spaces into pedestrian-friendly areas.

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Will Norway Ever Beat the Winter Blues?

Linda Geddes

March 14, 2017 |

The Atlantic |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Norway, Rjukan

In Scandinavian countries, where daylight is very limited during the winter months, residents are more prone to seasonal affective disorder. To combat this, a town square In Norway has mounted mirrors that create a high sun affect for two hours a day. Schools are also waking the students up during the wintertime with artificial lights in the classroom that mimic the light intensity cycle of a summer day.

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Solar air heating in factories reduces carbon emissions

Jency Samuel

March 10, 2017 |

India Climate Dialogue |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Theni

Businesses across India are using a practice called solar air heating to produce electricity and energy more efficiently. The process – which uses black, rooftop surfaces to capture heat under a glass panel that’s then carried through forced air and pipelines – has shown to save time and money in its effectiveness and ability to reduce traditional energy consumption.

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Cable Cars Are Changing the World

Duncan Geere

March 07, 2017 |

How We Get to Next |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Colombia, Medellín

In what was once a violent neighborhood ruled by drug cartels and fear, prosperity and community are now blossoming in Medellin, thanks to an effective new form of public transportation: cable cars. The gondola system has allowed those neighborhoods on the steep slopes surrounding the city center - those which were not accessible by traditional rail systems and which suffered severe vehicle traffic congestion - to link to the rest of the city, improving job opportunities, access to basic and emergency services, and more.

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