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Anti-migrant violence distracts from the real causes of SA’s economic crisis
The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) condemns recent anti-migrant violence in South Africa, arguing that such attacks are orchestrated by political actors to distract from systemic economic failures. The IEJ asserts that poverty, unemployment, and failing public services are the root causes of community anger, and calls for comprehensive social and economic transformation rather than vigilante violence.
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Document type: Statement
Driving Electric — 10 Ways Cities Can Move on Electric Mobility in a Changing Landscape
This guide by RMI outlines ten strategies for United States cities to advance inclusive electric mobility, focusing on affordability and accessibility for residents without private vehicles or home charging. It provides specific examples of municipal policies, from building code mandates for EV-readiness in Arizona to zero-emission delivery zones in California, to help cities navigate budget constraints and reduced federal funding.
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Document type: Guide
Guidance for Developing Performance Standards and Specifications for Concrete
This report provides guidance on transitioning the construction industry from prescriptive concrete specifications—which dictate a specific 'recipe'—to Performance Standards and Specifications (PSS) that focus on desired properties. The author argues that PSS is essential for scaling low-carbon concrete and reducing sector emissions by 25% or more, as traditional standards are geared toward ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The document outlines stakeholder roles, suggests specific tests for workability, strength, and durability, and provides case studies from the US and international examples to demonstrate how PSS can be trialed on real-world projects.
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Document type: Report
Plugging into Mobility Needs at Lower-Income Multifamily Housing
This report by RMI outlines strategies for developing equitable electric vehicle (EV) charging and shared mobility solutions for lower-income residents of multifamily housing in the United States, based on engagements in Portland, Atlanta, and Phoenix.
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Document type: Report
Policy Opportunities to Increase Material Circularity in the Buildings Industry
This policy brief by RMI provides recommendations for municipalities to increase material circularity in the buildings sector to reduce embodied greenhouse gas emissions. It focuses on two primary objectives: incentivizing the direct reuse of building structures and materials, and increasing the diversion of construction and demolition (C&D) waste from landfills to be used as recycled content in new manufacturing.
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Document type: Policy brief
The U.S. Climate Alliance and Related Actions
This fact sheet describes the formation and goals of the United States Climate Alliance and other subnational efforts to uphold the 2016 Paris Agreement following the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw the United States from the accord.
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Document type: Fact sheet
ENERGY SAVINGS FROM WINDOW SHADES
This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), prepared for Hunter Douglas, evaluates the energy savings potential of insulating honeycomb window shades in U.S. residences. Using EnergyPlus simulations across eight ASHRAE climate zones, the study finds that these shades can significantly reduce heating and cooling energy consumption, improve thermal comfort, and lower peak electricity demand, with existing homes seeing greater benefits than new homes.
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Document type: Report
THE ECONOMICS OF BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE
This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes the economic value of battery energy storage in the U.S. electricity grid, arguing that 'behind-the-meter' (customer-sited) deployment offers the highest potential value because it can provide the widest array of services. The authors identify thirteen fundamental services across three stakeholder groups—ISO/RTOs, utilities, and customers—and demonstrate through four case studies that 'stacking' multiple services (using a battery for several different purposes over its lifetime) is essential for achieving positive net economic benefits under current cost structures.
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Document type: Report
Untitled Document
This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the relationship between the physical environment and crime in South Africa's major cities. It argues that apartheid-era urban planning created fragmented, segregated cities that foster insecurity, particularly in townships and informal settlements. The document advocates for crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) as a necessary component of multifaceted crime prevention strategies, emphasizing that design interventions should target specific environmental factors that increase the risk of victimisation and the fear of crime.
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Document type: Report
A STUDY IN THREE CITIES
This report details a study of nearly 3,000 arrestees in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban to examine the relationship between drug use and crime in South Africa. Using interviews and urinalysis, the research identifies strong ethnic and regional segmentation in drug markets, noting high prevalence of cannabis and Mandrax among certain groups and a growing crack cocaine market linked to sex work and Nigerian syndicates. The authors argue for nuanced, locally-based interventions rather than broad national strategies.
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Document type: Report
THE ECONOMICS OF BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE
This technical appendix from RMI provides a detailed overview of thirteen services that battery energy storage can provide to customers, Independent System Operators (ISOs), Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), and utilities. It categorizes these services by stakeholder benefit and time scale, providing definitions, technical backgrounds, and estimated value ranges for each. The document also details the valuation and dispatch methodologies used in four specific use cases across the U.S. and includes a meta-study of six influential energy storage valuation publications from the past decade.
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Document type: Report