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Students at Athena Montessori pose for the camera holding up plants. The text reads "Butterfly gardens take flight at Athena Montessori". There is a City of Austin Office of Sustainability logo in the bottom-right corner.

One of the best things about Austin is the abundance of quiet, natural spaces often nestled near bustling shopping districts, roadways, and neighborhoods. Think: Hotel San Jose’s green escape from the crowds on South Congress, or the “secret beach” hidden behind Roy G. Guerrero Park. This is what the…

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Photo of Brooks Bailey smiling at the camera posed in front of lush green plants. He is wering a purple-ish plaid collared shirt.

Born and raised in the northern Dallas metroplex, Brooks considers Central Texas his home and has for almost ten years. As a freshman in college, Brooks enrolled in an environmental ethics course that introduced him to philosophical literature on matters such as the possible intrinsic value of nature, the question of non-…

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Photo of Phoebe Romero smiling in the background with lush green plants behind her. She is wearing a yellow, red, white, and blue striped top.

Our office is growing! We’re pleased to introduce you to Phoebe Romero, a new Environmental Program Coordinator in our office. We asked her a few get-to-know you questions so you can learn more about her and her background.

Q: Where a…

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Photo of Sam Night wearing a black shirt standing in front of a red brick wall.
 

Our office is growing! We’re pleased to introduce you to Sam Night, a new Food Policy Advisor working with us on a two-year assignment. We asked her a few get-to-know you questions so you can learn m…

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Photo of lots of school-age kids walking on a trail. Photo is shot from behind. The text overlay reads "Building The PARK". There is an Office of Sustainability logo in the lower right hand corner.

The Upper School campus at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School boasts a meandering network of trails that wind through Texas wildflowers and native oak groves. A couple of ponds on the property offer places for reflection and mindfulness, as well as habitat for birds, lizards, and insects. But, it wasn’t always this way. The students and faculty at S…

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Photo of a man with a long beard wearing a blue t-shirt standing on a roof with solar panels. There is a graphic overlay that reads "Jerry Bramwell Net-Zero Hero"

I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: minimizing energy and water consumption in my home to the greatest extent possible.

 

Headshot-style photo of Jerry with a blue shirt on.Meet our newest Net-Zero Hero, Jerry Bramwell! In 2013, Jerry and his wife Lauree made the decision to move from Houston to Austin to be close…

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Mayor adler speaks with students about their sustainability projects.

Last Friday, May 3, our office and EcoRise hosted the 5th Annual Central Texas Student Innovation Showcase at Austin City Hall. Held to celebrate STEM-based student sustainability projects, this year’s showcase featured grant recipients from Austin ISD, Round Rock ISD, and several charter and private schools.

Since 2014, we have partnered with EcoRise to fund their Eco-Audit projects with…

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Two students gardening with text overlay that reads "K-12 Sustainability Grants Program Reaches 300 Projects"

For seven years, the Office of Sustainability has delivered small sustainability grants to area K-12 schools, along with many City department partners. This year, the Bright Green Future Grants program achieved a major milestone by funding its 300th project!

Background

Launched in 2012, the Bright Green Future Grants program was designed to recognize a…

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Photo of lots of people and kids lined up to spin a wheel at an outreach table. Overlay text reads "That's a wrap for Earth Month"

For our office, one of the busiest times of the year is April. After all, Earth Month is the time when many are coming together to spread the word about conservation, climate change, and protecting our environment. In Central Texas, the weather in April can be a bit of a toss-up between absolutely gorgeous or a stormy mess, and this year was no different. Heavy rains and wind resulted in several events being moved or re…

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Young boy wearing a shirt with a dragon on it stands in front of a large rose bush. A graphic next to him reads "Pranav Sarma Net-Zero Hero"

I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: finding renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels.

 

Headshot of Pranav Sarma. He is wearing a tie-dye shirt with a happy face on it.Meet Pranav Sarma, a student at Artie Henry Mid…