Sustainability
Despite Pledges, Birmingham Barely Out of Gate on Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Sustainability
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin promised in December to pivot toward prioritizing sustainability during the remaining two years of his term in office. But for some, Woodfin’s administration — and Birmingham’s municipal government as a whole — has been frustratingly inert when it comes to environmental issues.
UAB Unveils Completely Solar-Powered House for Upcoming Competition
The project is part of the 2017 Solar Decathlon competition taking place in Denver this October. UAB is competing against 12 other teams from around the world to see which team can build the best, completely solar-powered, full-size home.
On the Road with John Archibald
Summer is a time when people take off, hit the road, and step away from their usual routines. For the month of July, Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald is doing just that. He’s traveling Alabama and going to a new place each day. Instead of his usual fare of politics, corruption, and hypocrisy, he’s writing about the people and characters he meets – people whose names aren’t usually in print.
Birmingham Awarded 3-Star Sustainability Certification
Birmingham was awarded a three star rating by the STAR Communities on Friday. STAR stands for "Sustainability tools for assessing and rating communities." In a ceremony at UAB, Mayor William Bell addressed the crowd about his vision for a sustainable Birmingham. But, as the weekly newspaper WELD reports, the city still has a ways to go. Nick Patterson, the editor of WELD joins WBHM to explain where the city needs to show some improvement.
Sustainability: Birmingham Mayor William Bell
In recent years, there's been a renewed focus in Birmingham on sustainable development. Last month, Mayor William Bell met with local community and environmental groups for a sustainability roundtable discussion. There, he announced he's reviving the Birmingham Sustainability Commission. As part of our series on sustainability, WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley sat down with Mayor Bell. They discuss the city's ongoing plans for becoming more sustainable and what's next for the Birmingham Sustainability Commission.
Sustainability: Creating Art Through Recycled Glass
Recycling glass in Birmingham can be tricky. It can't be put on the curbside like most recyclables. One of residents' few options is to take it to a downtown recycling center where two 30-yard containers wait to be filled with the unwanted material. The glass that's dropped off doesn't stay in Birmingham for long. It's shipped to Tennessee and Georgia to make fiberglass, bottles, and cement. But two Birmingham artists are trying to reuse the glass and keep it in the state.
Sustainability: What is Sustainability?
Monday WBHM kicks off a weeklong series on issues of sustainability. From water to recycling to public policy, we'll look at how Birmingham deals with resources and how that may change. While sustainability is a buzzword that attracts attention, what does it actually mean? For an answer, WBHM's Andrew Yeager sat down with UAB Engineering School Dean Iwan Alexander. He's part of the Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center at UAB.
