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German small solar cheaper than big U.S. solar

This post originally appeared on Energy Self-Reliant States, a resource of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s New Rules Project. The U.S. has a hodge-podge of utility, state, and federal tax-based incentives. The Germans have a comprehensive feed-in tariff, providing CLEAN contracts (in the U.S. parlance) to anyone who wants to go solar (or wind, or […]

Report: We have plenty of water, we’re just dumb with it

We have enough clean water worldwide, we're just not using it well, a new study says. The report, produced by the Challenge Program on Water and Food, looked at 10 river basins, from the Ganges to the Nile to the Andes, and found that, "There is clearly sufficient water to sustain food, energy, industrial and environmental needs during the 21st century."

They got a move on: Moving Planet actions around the globe [SLIDESHOW]

On Saturday, citizen activists in more than 175 countries called on world leaders to move beyond fossil fuels — and showed how much fun it can be to move without fossil fuels. Check out these photos from Moving Planet events, organized by 350.org.

Nobel-winning environmentalist Wangari Maathai dies

Wangari Maathai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, passed away. She was the first African woman and first environmental activist to win the prize.

Food Studies: culinary school culture shock

A Singaporean culinary student discovers farm-to-table on a school trip to California.

Biomass an important contribution, but not a magic bullet

There is a growing enthusiasm for biomass, as pundits like Arne Jungjohann look at small towns in Europe that are able to get 100% of their energy by burning wood and other biomass. But when these cases are presented out of context, I’m afraid some may draw unwarrantedly optimistic conclusions. Biomass power is not, in itself, […]

Food Studies: spaghetti and breadcrumbs, on demand

Trying to recreate my grandmother's signature dish has led me to appreciate processed food's reliable consistency.

Overcoming the roadblocks to democratizing the electricity system – part 5 of 5

A serialized version of ILSR‘s new report, Democratizing the Electricity System, Part 4 of 5. Click for Part 1 or Part 2 or Part 3 or Part 4. Overcoming the Roadblocks to Democratizing the Electricity System The electricity grid system has become host to a distributed generation phenomenon that has developed in a largely hostile […]

Keeping Up with the Solar (and Wind) Joneses

Earlier this year, my husband and I put up solar panels at our home – the first solar project in our historic West Virginia town. Well, just last week, inspired by our project, our neighbor installed a solar system three times bigger than ours. He expects it will generate the vast majority of the electricity […]

Featured Friend: Grace Chen

Each month, we showcase one of our beloved Friends with Benefits — folks who have donated to support our work. Want to take your relationship with Grist to the next level? Just donate any amount to join the fun.  Grace Chen “Stylin’ in my Grist Friends with Benefits T-shirt is a gentle reminder to be green. Grist […]