Climate Buildings
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People are flocking to Florida. Will there be enough water for them?
Climate change, a development boom, and overexploitation of groundwater are draining the Sunshine State.
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![The Double Black Diamond Solar Field near Waverly, Illinois, is now powering Chicago's municipal buildings.]()
![The Double Black Diamond Solar Field near Waverly, Illinois, is now powering Chicago's municipal buildings.]()
Chicago keeps its New Year’s resolution: All city buildings now use 100% clean power
To achieve its climate goals, the city helped finance the largest solar farm east of the Mississippi.
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![A roofing crew installs shingles on a small single-story home in Lakewood, CA.]()
![A roofing crew installs shingles on a small single-story home in Lakewood, CA.]()
Thinking of going solar? Wait until you need a new roof.
Solar panels typically last 25 years, while shingles are good for 20. Waiting until you need to re-roof is usually the best course when going solar.
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![Solar panels are seen hanging from the small balcony of a brick apartment building in Germany.]()
![Solar panels are seen hanging from the small balcony of a brick apartment building in Germany.]()
How Germany outfitted half a million balconies with solar panels
Meet balkonkraftwerk, the simple technology putting solar power in the hands of renters.
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![A large industrial facility near a river. In the foreground there is a white building with an American flag and the words United States Steel, Mon Valley Works, Clairton Plant]()
![A large industrial facility near a river. In the foreground there is a white building with an American flag and the words United States Steel, Mon Valley Works, Clairton Plant]()
The potential merger of two steel industry titans has environmentalists worried
It’s already possible to produce steel in a more climate-friendly way, but neither U.S. Steel nor Nippon Steel seems ready to adapt.
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![Two men install solar panels on the roof of a two-story house with a shingled roof and white columns on the gabled front porch.]()
![Two men install solar panels on the roof of a two-story house with a shingled roof and white columns on the gabled front porch.]()
Homeowners associations in Michigan now have to allow rooftop solar
A new law makes it difficult for HOAs to say no to sun power.
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![Black woman with long dark hair in a magenta coat speaks into television microphones at a press conference. She is surrounded by other people of differing races.]()
![Black woman with long dark hair in a magenta coat speaks into television microphones at a press conference. She is surrounded by other people of differing races.]()
Chicago teachers demand climate solutions in their next contract
"That contract means nothing if our Earth is on fire."
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![Construction crews restore a beach in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, following erosion from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.]()
![Construction crews restore a beach in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, following erosion from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.]()
The homeowner mutiny leaving Florida cities defenseless against hurricanes
The government is refusing to restore eroded beaches in coastal Florida counties unless homeowners agree to one condition: public access.
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![A mural with the world Chicago on it next to an elevated train track and woman walking across a parking lot.]()
![A mural with the world Chicago on it next to an elevated train track and woman walking across a parking lot.]()
In Chicago, one neighborhood is fighting gentrification and climate change at the same time
The secret to success? Build affordable housing next to transit.
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![Illustration of Tik and his wife looking at their home with money flying around them]()
![Illustration of Tik and his wife looking at their home with money flying around them]()
They thought getting their home off fossil fuels would be straightforward. Chaos ensued.
Here’s what happened when two climate reporters tried to ditch natural gas.
