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Text: Heidi Tse, Net-Zero Hero. Photo: Heidi with plants and rain garden in the background.

I'm helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: designing a library for the future

 

Headshot of Heidi Tse

Austin is green and we all want to keep it that way! As a community, we’re committed to reach…

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Photo of Leanne Valenti in front of green vines, text reads: "Leanne Valenti Net-Zero Hero"

I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: reducing food waste at my business, Bento Picnic!

Leanne Valenti holding a bento lunch in front of a grey wall

Meet Leanne Valenti, owner of…

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In the heart of downtown sits a former power plant that once served as the sole power source for the City of Austin. In its heyday, the Seaholm Power Plant could produce up to 120 megawatts of power. But as Austin's population continued to grow, other plants were built to keep up with the rising power demand, decreasing the city's reliance on Seaholm. The plant was eventually decommissioned in 1989, and it lay derelict for many years.

Around 2004, a major effort to transform this area from a contaminated brownfield to an ecologically resilient neighborhood dis…

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Photo of 4 people with headline Congregation Beth Israel: Net-Zero Heroes

We're helping to make Austin Net-Zero by: powering our synagogue with solar energy

Austin is green and we all want to keep it that way! As a community, we’re committed to reaching the target of Net-Zero…

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Creating a Sustainable Space for Reflection and Learning

Located in South Austin, the Whole Life Learning Center is a beautiful and sustainable school campus that serves about 100 children. The campus’ grounds feature vibrant wildlife habitat areas, food gardens, a serene pond, and farm animals like chickens and goats. But it wasn’t always this way. What is now greenery, wildlife gardens, and a peaceful pond took lots of hard work, dedicated volunteers, and help from the…

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A garden that grows more than food

Most people think gardens are good for one thing – growing fresh fruits and vegetables. But the community garden designed and constructed by the Green STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Academy students at Mendez Middle School is doing so much more. Their Bright Green Future Grant project has big plans to feed surrounding residents, teach students about how to run a small business, reduce waste, and improve the health and well-being of the Dove Spr…

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Austin's New Central Library goes solar

As Austin’s new Central Library enters its completion stage, Austin Energy Solar Inspectors David Burgos and Rorey Voigt inspected the solar arrays at the downtown library. As with any solar project within Austin Energy’s area, inspections are needed to ensure that the solar installation is compliant with the National Electric Code and the utility’s interconnection guidelines.

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The City of Austin is partnering with the Sustainable Food Center, Farmshare Austin, and Go Austin! / Vamos Austin! (GAVA) to offer fresh, affordable, convenient, and nutritious food.

Purchasing food at a farm stand.

Farm Stands

School and Community Farm Stands provide a space for families to purchase high-quality, fresh produce at a low cost, directly within in their own neighborhoods. They are situated in familial spaces where peop…

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Net-Zero Hero: Sherry Lepine, Photo: Sherry Lepine at a school garden

I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by empowering my students to get involved in sustainability efforts and to be environmental stewards.

 

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Title: A sustainable food system is a local food system, Photo: Students shopping at a farm stand

Food production in Central Texas is decreasing rapidly as farmland is lost to development, the rising average age of farmers reduces their ability to work, and income for farm labor remains below the poverty level. Today, less than one percent of the food that is consumed in Austin is produced locally. With the population of Austin growing by approximately 20,000 each year, that means less fresh food…