Sustainability Weekly
Fridays are for…
A Sustainable Valentine’s Day, Renewable Energy, Indoor Farming in VT, and more!
by Alli DiGiacomo
Happy Friday and Valentine's Day! If love is in the air for you today, I encourage you to celebrate sustainably. Sadly, all the balloons, candy wrappers, plush toys, and plastic wrapping that are popular on February 14th not only increase the carbon dioxide in the air but also end up in the landfill for hundreds of years (even if your love is forever).
Consider gifting experience or consumable gifts, DIY gifts or even plants. Whether you’re celebrating with friends, yourself, or your significant other, this article has 23 ideas for a sustainable Valentine’s Day, and a helpful gift guide. Xoxo!
Keep reading for sustainability news…
T H I S W E E K ’ S T O P S T O R I E S
SOLAR AND WIND CAPACITY ARE BEING INSTALLED 5 TIMES FASTER THAN ALL OTHER NEW ELECTRICITY SOURCES COMBINED
The “fastest energy change in history,” new solar power generation capacity around the world was installed 100 times faster than nuclear capacity, and new wind at 25 times faster. In a new report from the International Solar Energy Society, it explains how electricity generation from coal and gas has not only been stagnant since 2001, but it likely peaked in 2023. If current growth rates continue, it predicts that by 2032, there will be more global solar and wind generation than coal and gas combined. It found that “almost all growth in electricity demand is being met by solar and wind,” and the two are being installed five times faster than all other new electricity sources combined.
A SHIPPING CONTAINER IN VERMONT WAS TRANSFORMED INTO AN INDOOR FARM THAT FEEDS IMMIGRANTS FOR FREE
Village Hydroponics, led by Nour El-Naboulsi in Burlington, Vermont, transformed a recycled shipping container into a vertical hydroponic farm that provides free, culturally significant produce to immigrant and refugee communities, particularly during Vermont’s harsh winters. Stemming from The People’s Farmstand, a mutual aid initiative, the farm grows diverse greens like Nepali mustard and molokhia while using 90% less water, powered by renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions. More than just food distribution, the project helps with climate resilience, food security, and community empowerment, and is a successful model for sustainable, year-round farming in changing climates.
GREEN MICROGRIDS ARE POWERING A MORE RESILIENT FUTURE
Green microgrids are revolutionizing energy resilience across the U.S. by providing locally generated, clean power that operates independently or in tandem with the larger grid. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and improves disaster preparedness. For example, Blue Lake Rancheria, a tribal community in California, installed a solar-powered microgrid in 2016 to strengthen energy sovereignty and reduce carbon emissions. Following a major earthquake in 2022, the microgrid allowed the reservation to maintain power while surrounding areas faced blackouts. The community is now expanding its system through a $177 million initiative to connect neighboring tribes, increasing regional energy security. Across the country, businesses, hospitals, and homes are installing microgrids, with installations growing 170% over the past decade. As climate change intensifies natural disasters, people are beginning to understand how microgrids are essential for a sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure.
MORE IN SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
How to change the world without being a billionaire.
The World’s richest used up their fair share of the 2025 carbon budget in just 10 days.
Rising to the Challenge: Yasemin Kologlu on Building Momentum for Climate Action at COP29.
Fish are thriving in the River Seine again, a waterway that was once nearly biologically dead now has over 35 species thanks to improved urban wastewater development.
Geneva’s homes will be heated by recycled energy from this revolutionary Swiss data centre.
Airplanes in Spain test fuel made from used cooking oil.
Brazil’s president vowed to fight illegal mining in the Amazon, and it brought an Indigenous tribe back from the brink of destruction.
What actually happens to all the trash/recycling from the Super Bowl? It’s a beautiful sight. (TikTok)
Greenhouse gas leaks from supermarket refrigerators are estimated to create as much pollution each year as burning more than 30 million tons of coal.
The Trump administration killed a first-of-its-kind report on nature in the US — now 150 scientists are working to publish it independently.
Activists buy a prison site to rewild the land: 'A sign of progress'.