Sustainable Urban Development
With cities expected to host about 70 percent of the world's population, sustainable urban development is key to making communities worldwide more resilient against the growing threat of climate change. Find out about the latest urban practices from across the world aiming to make our cities more sustainable and inclusive in these good-news stories from The Optimist Daily.
For the first time ever, California runs on 100 percent clean energy
On April 30th, just over a week ago, California—the world’s fifth-largest economy, hit an incredible milestone—On that historic Saturday, the entire state was powered by 100 percent clean energy for approximately 15 minutes, with solar power leading the charge. As reported by Electrek, the Read More...
Germany makes renewable energy cheaper for households and businesses
Good news for German consumers shifting to renewable energy—they will no longer have to pay the renewables surcharge on their power bills as of July 1st, 2022. The renewables surcharge was a necessary action that helped fund the country’s shift to renewable power over the past two decades. Read More...
New computing method faster predicts traffic
Besides its adding to our road rage and shouting at our steering wheels, sitting in traffic can negatively affect one’s health. Studies have found that unpredictable traffic compromises psychological wellbeing as well as respiratory problems from being exposed to car exhaust. Not only that, but Read More...
Ole-Kristian Sivertsen: revitalizing deserts with nano clay
Climate change is drastically changing global weather patterns. Wet places are getting wetter, and dry places are getting drier. The human-caused degradation of dry land known as desertification is growing across farmlands, such as in California. The state is one of the country's largest producers Read More...
This newly developed “heat battery” could make millions of homes gas-free
After 12 years of research and development, a team of scientists from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands believes that their “heat battery” can soon get millions of homes in Europe off of their gas dependency—and considering the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, this Read More...
This floating neighborhood will protect residents from sea level rise
As urban population density is only expected to increase in the next few decades, coastal cities vulnerable to rising sea levels need to urgently adapt to these changes to safeguard the wellbeing of their residents. That’s exactly what the South Korean city of Busan is planning with the Read More...
Dutch startup purifies air in urban areas by wrapping buildings in moss
Now that we are aware of the great environmental and health benefits of integrating green spaces in our cities, many urban areas are beginning to design new buildings with foliage in mind. What should we do, though, about the concrete buildings that already exist? Dutch startup Respyre has a Read More...
Last month, wind and solar made up 18 percent of US energy
With the War in Ukraine and unfair demands from Russia for its gas, many western nations are feeling the need to switch to renewable energy now more so than ever. The good news is that nations are getting closer to 100 percent renewables and energy independence every day. Wind and solar have Read More...
Washington State passes all-electric heating mandate for new buildings
Washington passed a mandate requiring all newly constructed buildings to have all-electric heating, making it the first state in the US to do so. The mandate restricting the use of natural gas in multifamily housing complexes and commercial buildings by requiring the installation of electric Read More...
Be bored, then get going
“Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination.” — Arthur Schopenhauer Congratulations, graduating classes of 2022! Being young, with a freshly minted degree, you probably feel invincible, like you can do anything. There’s a lightness and exuberance in your step, and you are full Read More...