#72: Free solar for the elderly, 3D-printed homes, and NYC is changing its trash system

Hi, happy Friday! Another week has come and gone.

Typically, when someone says, "It's been a loooong week" to me, I annoyingly reply, "Yeah, about the same length as every other week." And while that's true, they definitely don't all feel the same. With everything going on in the world, the news, and social media, things can really take a toll right now.

Thankfully, it's almost the weekend. Make sure you take care of yourself over the next few days. Get some rest, stretch, breathe, get a massage, be around loved ones, get some good food, stay home and watch a movie, or do anything else that makes you happy.

If you're reading this now, you're starting things off on the right foot ;)

On with the show!

The good from Friday, October 13

Stockholm, Sweden is banning gas-powered cars from its city center to cut down air pollution and noise. (Guardian)

Some Teslas in the US are now cheaper than the average gas car after federal tax credits, as EVs now account for 7% of new cars sold, likely crossing the tipping point for mass adoption. (Canary)

A new Ecuadorian conservation area called Camino del Jaguar was established and spans over 528,000 acres whose forests are home to over 1,200 species of animals and 2,200 species of plants. (Andes Amazon Fund)

👑 Virginia is now providing free solar panels to low-income elderly residents which will dramatically cut their power bills. (EnergyNews)

The good from Monday, October 16

3-D printed homes are popping up in Texas that are built in just a few weeks and use materials that create 92-99% fewer emissions. (Texas Tribune)

👑 Giant Tortoises in the Galapagos Islands were decimated down to just 14 individuals but have since been protected, bred, and reintroduced to the land. Now, 3,000 of them are positively influencing the ecology and landscape by eating and spreading the seeds of key plants, and clearing takeoff and landing areas for the critically endangered Waved Albatross. (Hakai Magazine)

There are now 4,800 fast-charging electric vehicle stations in the US, including a bunch in rural areas, and much of the country is now within 25 miles of a station. (Bloomberg)

New York City is finally requiring trash to be thrown away in covered bins instead of just bags on the street which will reduce litter and help the city’s rodent problem. (New York Post)

The good from Tuesday, October 17

👑 Out of every solar panel ever installed throughout history, about one-third happened in just the past two years. (Yale Climate Connections)

The new president of the World Bank has called for a discussion on phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and instead putting these trillions of dollars into better, greener uses. (Climate Change News)

19 Scottish Wildcats, the last native wildcats in the UK, were bred and just released back into the wild to save them from extinction. So far they’re hunting and fending for themselves, hopefully meaning more can follow soon. (Ecowatch)

Battery-powered outdoor equipment is on the rise for being much quieter, safer, cleaner, and now performing better than gas counterparts. (Canary)

The good from Wednesday, October 18

👑 Since 2017, Eugene has been finding flip flops in landfills and rivers, cleaning them, and creating stunning mural art to bring awareness to Nigeria’s 2.5 million tonnes of annual plastic waste. (@konboyeeugene)

Scientists are planting microphones in rainforests to record and identify new species, helping them observe entire ecosystems and track biodiversity to protect the vulnerable. (WIRED)

California just passed a new law that will ban over-the-counter sales of lawn and garden neonicotinoid pesticides that are toxic to bees, joining 9 other states, the EU, the UK, and Ontario in protecting insects and the environment. (GNN)

Earlier this month the EU launched its carbon border tax, making importers of carbon-intensive goods like cement, steel, and fertilizer to report their emissions and soon pay, hopefully pushing for global decarbonization. (WIRED)

The good from Thursday, October 19

A zero-waste restaurant in London called Silo is serving a special invasive species menu, serving plants and animals that are non-native to the area and harm the ecosystem. (Science Times)

Nathan, a UK artist, is making iconic and edible scenes out of fruits and vegetables to support homegrown organic farming, and once completed they’re eaten while unused ingredients go to families in need. (GNN)

Kiel, Germany has become a leader in waste reduction through a culture of positive changes like repurposing hair from hair cuts into mats and filters, handing out leftover meals to those in need, and trialing a “pay as you throw” trash out system. (Guardian)

Without a government-led program, 150 indigenous Brazilian seed collectors have been meeting to exchange knowledge to restore millions of acres of native vegetation. (Mongabay)

Bonus stories

Exclusive: These extra stories didn't make it into the daily roundups, but they're still great!

• Banks are now making more money from green investments than fossil fuels.
• Boston unveiled the world's biggest environmentally friendly "passive house" building.
• 10,000 wild oysters were released into the coast of England to remove pollutants and create a new ecosystem.
• Some startups are using AI to reduce energy waste.
• The International Energy Agency reported that immediate methane cuts could prevent 1 million premature deaths.
• Starbucks developed climate-resilient coffee seeds.

One last thing!

I want to make this the best it can possibly be. If you have any feedback–positive, neutral, or negative–please don't keep it to yourself. Reply or send an email to team@climativity.com and let me know. Can't wait to hear from you!

See you again soon,

Jacob

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