In 1981, Australia built its first solar power station at remote White Cliffs; 14 dishes powered a hospital, school, post office and 12 homes, and 45 years later the site is heritage listed

In 1981, Australia built its first solar power station at remote White Cliffs; 14 dishes powered a hospital, school, post office and 12 homes, and 45 years later the site is heritage listed

On the edge of the outback in far western New South Wales, a cluster of silver dishes once turned toward the sun, capturing light in a place where the grid had never reached. In 1981, Australia’s first solar power station began operating at remote White Cliffs, using 14 parabolic dishes to generate electricity for a … Read more

In Gateshead, water trapped 150 metres below the city in abandoned coal mines now heats 350 homes and public buildings

In Gateshead, water trapped 150 metres below the city in abandoned coal mines now heats 350 homes and public buildings

Water trapped deep beneath Gateshead is now helping heat hundreds of homes and public buildings, turning former coal mine workings into a source of heat for the city. The water lies around 150 metres below Gateshead town centre, where a 6-megawatt water-source heat pump extracts its heat and feeds it into an existing district heating … Read more

Panama City’s 1914 grammar school survived more than a century and Hurricane Michael; its empty classrooms are now set to become homes

Panama City's 1914 grammar school survived more than a century and Hurricane Michael; its empty classrooms are now set to become homes

The former Panama City Grammar School on East Seventh Street is finally set to transform. After years of sitting empty and deteriorating, the 1914 brick structure in downtown Panama City has found a developer willing to take on its resurrection, WJHG reported. The historic school will now be redeveloped into a brand-new residential project with … Read more

Since 2007, New York’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been milled into lumber after the holidays; the wood has helped build Habitat homes from New York to Mississippi

Since 2007, New York's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been milled into lumber after the holidays; the wood has helped build Habitat homes from New York to Mississippi

Rockefeller Center Christmas trees has been used in Habitat homes in several communities, including locations in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Mississippi and Maryland. For millions of people, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a familiar part of the holiday season in New York City. Every year, the large tree stands in the plaza, … Read more

In 2013, a UK beach began planting discarded Christmas trees to trap blowing sand; by 2026, the project had created 90 metres of new dunes that help defend homes from flooding

In 2013, a UK beach began planting discarded Christmas trees to trap blowing sand; by 2026, the project had created 90 metres of new dunes that help defend homes from flooding

More than 2,000 Christmas trees were planted at St Annes beach in February 2026. (Photo: .visitstannes.info) Discarded Christmas trees are being used to help protect homes and businesses along the Fylde Coast in Lancashire, UK. Since the project began in 2013, old Christmas trees have been placed on St Annes beach to trap wind-blown sand … Read more

A 69-year-old North Carolina father spent $800,000 buying 5 acres; he now wants to build 20 tiny homes so adults like his disabled son can have a community of their own

A 69-year-old North Carolina father spent $800,000 buying 5 acres; he now wants to build 20 tiny homes so adults like his disabled son can have a community of their own

Like most parents, Dave Curro, a 69-year-old father, is also worried about the future of his son, especially since he has a developmental disability. But now, he is one step closer to ensuring that his son has a community that supports him and makes his life more comfortable and happier. Four years ago, he dreamt … Read more

In 1978, advocates sought affordable homes in a New York town; nearly 50 years and a landmark court battle later, a $98 million community with 145 homes is finally complete

In 1978, advocates sought affordable homes in a New York town; nearly 50 years and a landmark court battle later, a $98 million community with 145 homes is finally complete

Representative Image (AI-generated) A proposal that began as a fight for affordable housing in a Long Island community in 1978 has finally resulted in 145 affordable homes. Matinecock Court, a nearly $98 million affordable housing development in the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County, was completed in 2026 after decades of legal and political obstacles. … Read more

Meet Sir Darius Brown, the 19-year-old who has made 7,000 bow ties for shelter pets and helped raise more than $500,000 to help animals find homes

Meet Sir Darius Brown, the 19-year-old who has made 7,000 bow ties for shelter pets and helped raise more than $500,000 to help animals find homes

Photo: Sir Darius Brown/ Instagram When Sir Darius Brown was in elementary school, he struggled with reading and speech challenges that made him feel different from his classmates. He found comfort in animals, and in bow ties. That combination sparked a mission: to help shelter pets get adopted by dressing them in handmade bow ties … Read more

Tiny Scottish village of 200 homes in Auchtertool, Fife, fights plans for world’s second-largest data centre covering more than 100 football pitches; 1,600 objections pile up, residents fear it could dwarf their community

Tiny Scottish village of 200 homes in Auchtertool, Fife, fights plans for world’s second-largest data centre covering more than 100 football pitches; 1,600 objections pile up, residents fear it could dwarf their community

The proposed Cato data centre would cover an area larger than 100 football pitches. (Photo: Daily Mail) Residents of a tiny Scottish village have launched a fierce campaign against plans to build what has been described as the world’s second-largest data centre on their doorstep.The proposed Cato data centre in Auchtertool, Fife, would occupy a … Read more

A San Antonio storm knocked out power and damaged homes; one barber simply moved his chair outside and kept cutting customers’ hair

A San Antonio storm knocked out power and damaged homes; one barber simply moved his chair outside and kept cutting customers’ hair

Martinez moved a barber’s chair outside the shop and continued cutting customers’ hair. (Photo: TPR) A powerful storm knocked out power and damaged homes across San Antonio on Friday night, but a barber refused to close his shop. Texas Publilc Radio reported that with no electricity, he moved his barber chair outside and continued cutting … Read more