Environment & Science

Fahy Commons was named the first project in the world to achieve a rigorous sustainability certification for buildings that reward projects for more energy than they use. The 20,000-square-foot, three-floor building cost $13.2 million and opened to students last January.

This year, Earth Day falls on April 22. But for Lehigh Valley businesses that embrace more sustainable efforts, no matter the cost, it's just another typical Monday.

“Public Participation, Public Power: A Community Guide to Local Land Use Decision-Making in Pennsylvania" was released Monday. The almost-100-page guide includes explanations of state and local land use laws and more.

WLVR’s Brad Klein reviews the week’s astronomical highlights with Bethlehem’s ‘Backyard Astronomy Guy,’ Marty McGuire. This week, Brad and Marty discuss Tuesday’s full moon. It’s known as the ‘Pink Moon’.

A new outdoor air quality monitoring project is coming to Allentown this summer. The data collected through the initiative, officials said, will help inform decision-making to improve residents’ health in the city, known for its poor air quality.

This year’s Lehigh Valley Sustainability Summit was held Friday morning at The Club at Twin Lakes. Officials discussed upcoming projects, as well as efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Join Megan Frank at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. every Friday for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, Megan is joined by Tom Shortell and Molly Bilinski.

Northampton County Conservation District held its annual Envirothon, where students go head-to-head in immersive challenges in the soil, mud, and woods — competing for hundreds of dollars. Teachers say it's special because it gets kids off their phones and experiencing the natural world, and each other.

The spring migration count at Hawk Mountain has begun. It runs through May 15.

EPA officials last week announced the first-ever national drinking water standard regulating per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which are widespread, long-lasting in the environment and have been linked to long-term health issues.

Over two inches of rain fell at Lehigh Valley International Airport, setting another daily record on Tuesday, but winds were less than feared.

Another powerful winter storm is set to hit the region, bringing concerns of widespread flooding and high winds Tuesday into Wednesday.

A severe rainstorm is expected to cause flooding that may impact roadways throughout the Lehigh Valley.

A Muhlenberg College professor has launched a campaign this month to inform residents about the health risks of radon, as well as improve access to testing and mitigation. The Lehigh Valley is home to the highest radon levels ever recorded in Pennsylvania.

Sunday evening will see a ‘close approach’ between Saturn and the Moon. Though the two appear close in the night sky just after sunset on Jan. 14. However, in space, Saturn is almost a billion miles away, about 4,000 times more distant than the moon.

The Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas are under a flood watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

With some parts of the Lehigh Valley under as much as 9 inches of snow, the National Weather Service says the storm’s not quite done yet.

Olivia Louise McMahon traveled to Dubai last month as part of Penn State University's delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Officials from around the world discussed how to limit the effects of climate change already present and prepare for further impacts.

The funding for four projects came from the Growing Greener and Act 167 grant programs, both through the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Emergency Management agencies at the county and state level, as well as cities in the Lehigh Valley say they're ready for whatever happens after the snowstorm: including a risk of severe and dangerous flooding.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

A winter storm is targeting the region this weekend, and forecasters say there's a more potent system right behind it that could bring damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding.