News: Hurricane Sandy; reuseable materials finds marketplace; 8 years after Katrina; the changing driving habits of Americans

> Hurricane Sandy task force releases report, urges more resilient construction in wake of Hurricane Sandy: "More than ever, it is critical that when we build for the future, we do so in a way that makes communities more resilient to emerging challenges such as rising sea levels, extreme heat, and more frequent and intense storms," the report said.

Image: Alice Waters 

Image: Alice Waters 

 > NPR profiles food activist Alice Waters, pioneer of the locally grown, organic food movement: "We've been separated from this experience through a kind of fast-food indoctrination that's been going on for the last 50 years. So we need to really come back to our senses and really understand, like most every other country in the world, that food is something precious."

> Planet Reuse Marketplace connects homeowners with reuse centers; offers materials that would otherwise have been discarded for use in new construction, renovations, and DIY projects.

>  Beacon Food Forest, Seattle's first urban food forest will be open to foragers: "The idea is to give members of the working-class neighborhood of Beacon Hill the chance to pick plants scattered throughout the park... It will feature fruit-bearing perennials — apples, pears, plums, grapes, blueberries, raspberries and more."

> Eight Years After Katrina: New Orleans recovery still a work in progress.

> American driving levels drop as Millennials turn to public transit: “The idea that the car means freedom, I think, is over,” said travel behavior analyst Nancy McGuckin. "

 Image by Tim Fuller

 Image by Tim Fuller

> Germany breaks monthly solar power generation record, nets 5.1 terawatt hours of power. Inhabitat adds, “The accomplishment proves once again that a lack of sunshine is no obstacle to scaling up solar energy — and if the Teutons can produce record amounts of solar power under grey skies, then the potential for countries with sunnier weather and more land mass (like the United States) is limitless.”

News: Hurricane Sandy recovery; Joplin unveils new recovery projects; Renewable energy myths explored

>New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveils plan to protect city from future hurricanes and storm surge: "'This plan is incredibly ambitious,' Bloomberg said in a speech at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, acknowledging that much of the work would extend beyond the end of his term this year. 'This is urgent work, and it must begin now.'"

>Joplin city manager unveils $130 million Community Development Block Grant plan including infrastructure improvements, EPA Complete Green Street Program development, tree planting, and a proposed Green Neighborhood development.

>New information released on Joplin tornado damage: "An investigative team of engineers sent to Joplin found that more than 83 percent of the damage on May 22, 2011, was caused by winds of 135 mph or less, which is equal to the maximum wind speed of an EF-2 tornado."

>West Liberty, Kentucky continues to embrace sustainable disaster recovery after 2012 tornado.

A tornado in Oklahoma, seven miles south of Anadarko, on May 3, 1999. 
Image credit: OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

A tornado in Oklahoma, seven miles south of Anadarko, on May 3, 1999. Image credit: OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

>Listen: Public radio program Science Friday speaks with David Prevatt, a structural engineer at the University of Florida, about how to best approach strengthening buildings located in tornado alley

 >Pictures: Colorado wildfire quickly destroys hundreds of homes; Black Forest fire 100% contained, additional wildfires force evacuations.

>Google X (the internet giant's innovation unit)  working on green energy project that could ""have an important part to play in the future of the world energy production".

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 >Inspiration: 16-year-old develops a new way to turn algae into fuel, wins first place at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

>Greenpeace Africa debunks 6 myths about renewable energy.

>Why you should care about Solar Impulse and renewable energy’s long, long journey: "There’s more to the story than a funky solar-powered craft that looks like “an outsized balsa wood toy airplane”. Solar Impulse’s journey, in many ways, is a microcosm of our nation’s love/hate relationship with renewable energy. We love the promise of clean energy and celebrate the arrival of the latest green gizmos, but we have very little patience for renewable energy strategies that take years, if not decades, to pay off."

>Poll: Americans consider the environment in what they buy: "The survey of more than 1,000 adults found that 52% said they “very consistently,” “often,” or “occasionally” weigh the environmental impact of their purchases. More and more companies are paying attention and reacting to these kinds of considerations among consumers by establishing better environmental practices, said Anne Kelly, director of Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy, a project of the corporate sustainability coalition, Ceres."