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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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…
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…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: Reducing, reusing, and getting creative with food!
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“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'“ – Martin Luther King Jr.
This week, our office volunteered with the Ce…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: helping to create green, affordable housing managed by staff trained in sustainability — powered by solar!
Meet Susan Peterson, the former Director of Green Initiatives for Foundation Communities, a local non-profit affordable housing developer. D…
Austin already has an extreme climate, and climate projections tell us that it’s going to get even more extreme. But the City of Austin is taking climate change very seriously, and there are many ways you can help. Below are the answers to questions you might have, and the top three things that would make the biggest difference to reduce Austin's carbon footprint.
How is climate change impacting Austin?
Impacts from climate change are already being experienced…
Nine-year-old Asvini Thivakaran has been tirelessly raising awareness about battery recycling in her community in Round Rock, Texas for the past two years. Beginning with battery recycling in her home, she expanded her efforts to multiple locations in her community, diverting thousands of batteries from the landfill. Asvini was recently recognized for her efforts with the…
Fall is here, and Halloween is right around the corner! But, before you start breaking out the carving tools for your Jack-O-Lanterns, be sure you’ve got a plan for what to do with the seeds, pulp, and finished product. Avoid throwing out your pumpkin’s treasured innards and reduce pumpkin waste by following these tips:
Roast the seeds
Depending on who you ask, half the fun is scooping out the…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: reinventing the urban school meal experience
When you picture school cafeteria food, what comes to mind? Many of us remember…