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Photo of a woman leaning on a wooden chest. She is wearing jeans and a blue and white shirt. A graphic next to her reads "Caroline Reck Net-Zero Hero"

I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: using repurposed materials to tell stories with purpose.

 

Headshot of Caroline ReckMeet Caroline Reck, Founder…

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Earth Month Message - Lucia Athens, Chief Sustainability Officer

Earth Month brings warmer weather, blooming plants, and birdsong in abundance. It’s a great time to immerse ourselves in nature, and to consider ways to make our own little corners of the planet greener and more welcoming to the species we share it with.

Observing nature is one of my favorite Spring rituals. Over the last month, I’ve enjoyed the sight of hundreds of bees buzzing around trees in full bloom, and the soun…

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Photo of a family of four in front of large green trees. Graphic reads "Nhat Ho Net-Zero Hero"

I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: making sustainable living fun for the whole family.

A headshot of Nhat Ho.Meet Nh…

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In the United States, 27% percent of greenhouse gas emissions is from transportation. That makes transportation the second leading source of GHG emissions in the U.S. — just behind electricity. The simplest way to avoid these emissions would be to drive less, carpool, or use mass transit. But, sometimes this isn't an option. Here's how to optimize your fuel efficiency when you must drive:

Drive electric or hybrid

Whe…

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Woman presenting an award to a school-age boy. Text reads "Recognizing the best in climate protection"

The Austin Energy Regional Science Festival is one of the largest science fairs in Texas, with almost 3,000 students from 3rd through 12th grades competing for top honors. This year’s theme of “Exploring Genius” brought out some of the best and brightest students in Austin. Our office was on-hand to select the “Best in Climate Protection” s…

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Photo of Miranda Bennett with a large orange "0" graphic. Text reads: Miranda Bennett: Net-Zero Hero

I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: reshaping the perception of “waste,” and understanding that one product’s by-product can be another product’s starting point.

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Ideas for a greener Valentine's Day

Holidays often create a lot of waste, and Valentine's day is no exception. But, there are ways to celebrate without sending items to the landfill. Here are some ideas on how to have a Valentine's day that’s kinder to the environment:

1. Enjoy the outdoors

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Zilker Zephyr miniature train in Austin full of families riding through Zilker Park.

Organization-wide, the City of Austin has thousands of utility billing accounts. These include all of the electric, water, and gas meters for everything from City offices and recreation centers to libraries and parks. When it comes to managing usage for so many properties, it can be challenging to spot issues and intervene quickly enough to save resources and money.

The department with the largest number of utility accounts is the…

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10 Sustainability Resolutions for 2019

It’s that magical time of year when we take stock of what we’ve accomplished and make a list of New Year’s Resolutions to (hopefully) keep in 2019. If the idea of a more sustainable lifestyle has been of interest to you, but you don’t know how to begin your journey, here’s a list to help you get started:

1. Reduce plastic waste

More than 33 million tons of plastic waste is generated annually in the U.S., causing serious harm to animals and…

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Photo of Rosie on a wooden bench. She is looking off to the side and is wearing a blue and grey striped sweater. Her hair is dyed bright blue. The text next to her reads "Net-Zero Hero Rosie Trevino"

I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: Reducing, reusing, and getting creative with food!