Net-Zero Hero: Shelby Orme

I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by encouraging folks to give up consumerism for community and creativity.

Meet our newest Net-Zero Hero, Shelby Orme! Shelby is a sustainability advocate, entrepreneur, and community leader whose journey began with a summer camp and grew into a lifelong commitment to environmental justice and collective action. From building a platform that empowers others to take climate action, to co-founding a values-driven wellness brand, to serving on local boards and committees, Shelby leads with curiosity, care, and connection. Her work reminds us that climate solutions aren’t one-size-fits-all — they’re built through presence, persistence, and people coming together to imagine something better.

We met with Shelby just before Pride Month to talk about her work as a homegrown sustainability advocate, her experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and how these two identities intersect.

What inspired you to take action?

It actually started way back in 2009, when I went to a summer camp focused on the environment. That experience lit a fire in me. I came home ready to recycle everything, start petitions at school — you name it. I didn’t have the language for it at the time, but that was the beginning of me seeing myself as an environmentalist. 

After that, I spent years cycling through different versions of environmentalism — from being preachy in my early 20s to hyper-fixating on individual actions and aesthetics during the zero-waste boom. But over time, especially after the 2016 and 2020 elections, it became painfully clear that top-down solutions weren’t coming fast enough. If we wanted change, it had to start with us — together.

The real turning point for me was the Texas freeze in 2021. Our power was out for nearly five days, and what saved us wasn’t a company or the state — it was neighbors helping each other survive. That experience snapped everything into focus.

Shelby poses next to signs in her yard that read, “Certified Wildlife Habitat” and “Butterfly Habitat.”

How did you do it?

Honestly? I didn’t “do” it — I’ve been doing it. There was no big pivot moment, no perfect blueprint. It’s been an ongoing, nonlinear process of questioning what matters, paying attention, and showing up in whatever way I could at the time.

Over the years, I’ve tried on a lot of approaches — from personal lifestyle changes to activism to community organizing to entrepreneurship. I’ve made mistakes, shifted focus, learned from people way smarter than me, and kept evolving. At one point, I thought reducing waste was the answer, and then I realized it’s also about systems, equity, access, and community. 

How did I do it? I stopped trying to be perfect and started trying to be present. I said yes to the things that aligned with my values. And I let those values guide me whether I was filming a video, building a brand, or taking a position in local government.

Left to right: Shelby with the DIY little free library in front of her home; Shelby poses next to signs that read, "Certified Wildlife Habitat” and “Butterfly Habitat.”

Can you share a bit about your experience as an entrepreneur? How do you balance your commitment to your values with the desire to run a successful business?

I wear a lot of hats — most of them thrifted. 😉 My entrepreneurial journey has never been about hustle culture or max profit. It’s always been rooted in asking: How can I create something that makes the world better for both people and the planet? My “day job” is making YouTube videos that teach people how to do their best and advocate for the rest — breaking down tangible steps for sustainable living in a way that’s approachable, honest, and hopefully kind of funny.

On top of content creation, I co-founded Kayaness, a sustainable wellness brand that reflects my values at every level: from inclusive sizing and ethical production to building a company culture that respects people’s full humanity — not just their productivity. I also stay deeply embedded in my local community, serving as president of my neighborhood association, a Parks Board and Joint Sustainability Committee member for the City of Austin, a Texas Master Naturalist, and a Zero Waste Block Leader.

I do my best to do the work and stay rooted in community, so that when I sit down to make a YouTube video, manage my business’s supply chains, or make decisions on the dais — I have real-world experience to speak from. That’s how I keep it grounded.

What’s been most rewarding about getting involved in this way?

It’s never been the views or the virality — it’s the people. The comments that say, “You’re the reason I’m studying environmental science,” or “I adopted a street in my town because of your video.” The DMs from folks who finally had the confidence to speak up at a city council meeting or start a community garden. That kind of feedback cracks me wide open every time.

Because I’m not trying to build a platform just to be heard — I’m trying to build a platform that makes other people feel empowered to act. That’s the reward: knowing that something I said or did helped someone else see themselves as part of the solution.

It’s not always visible from the outside, but those one-on-one connections? That’s where the real impact lives.

Top to bottom: Shelby points out different parts of the free community library that she built; A photo of the library that includes information and various tools for community members.

What’s been the toughest part?

The pace. Community work, systems change, even personal growth — none of it moves fast. And we live in a world that expects fast. Fast results, fast fixes, fast feedback. But real change? It’s slow. It’s quiet. It looks like a bunch of conversations that go nowhere until, one day, they do.

There have been so many moments where I’ve felt discouraged — when no one shows up, when the system feels too big to shift, or when I’m pouring energy into something and wondering if it’s even making a dent. It’s especially hard when you're putting in the work behind the scenes, and it’s not reflected in the numbers or likes or algorithm.

But I’ve learned that momentum isn’t always visible. And consistency is its own form of power. Even when it’s hard, even when it’s lonely — I just try to keep showing up.

Top to bottom: Shelby and her wife smile and pose at the pop-up coffee shop that she hosted at her home; Community members gather for a neighborhood garden tour.

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a sustainability advocate, how do you see the two intersect — especially during Pride Month?

For me, queerness and sustainability are deeply connected. Both are about challenging the status quo — about imagining and building a world that’s more inclusive, more just, and more connected. Pride Month, like Earth Month, often gets flattened into consumerism. But we don’t need rainbow packaging or greenwashed merch to feel proud or make a difference.

Instead, I think it’s powerful to ask: How can we celebrate in ways that reflect our values? That might look like throwing a clothing swap with your queer community, supporting queer-owned creatives and organizers, making your own signs for the parade from reused materials, or hosting a potluck with local ingredients instead of buying from big chains. These kinds of celebrations don’t just reduce waste — they build real connection.

At the end of the day, both queerness and climate action require community, imagination, and care. I think that’s where our power lies — and where our pride can live, too.

Shelby sits in her home studio, sewing pieces of fabric together for a current clothing project.

What advice do you have for others?

Try everything.

That’s been my guiding philosophy — whether I was a college student figuring out what kind of environmental work I wanted to do, or an adult figuring out how I wanted to show up in my community. I said yes to every field trip, study abroad program, research project, internship, and volunteer opportunity I could find. Not because I had a plan — but because I wanted to figure out where I fit.

And when I shifted into community work, I did the same thing. I asked: Do I want to run an organization? Start my own? Work inside City government? Be the person on the mic, or the one handing out clipboards? I tried everything. I still do.

Because we all have different skills, different passions, and different things that fill our cup — and it might take longer than you expect to find the role that’s the right fit. But you won’t know until you try.

So don’t wait for clarity before you act. Try. Explore. Get your hands dirty. That’s how you find your place — and maybe even your purpose.

Left to right: Shelby points out the Milkweed plant in her home garden; Shelby smiles, standing in her garden.

Is there a book, documentary, or other piece of media you would recommend for folks wanting to learn more about these topics?

For anyone looking to dive deeper into these topics, I’d recommend a few resources. First, shameless plug — my YouTube channel, @Shelbizleee, offers tangible, everyday ways to live more sustainably and be an advocate in your own community. I also highly recommend Reclaiming Your Community by Majora Carter, which explores how to build lasting, meaningful change in the places we call home. And if you haven’t seen it yet, The Story of Stuff documentary is a great introduction to the impacts of consumer culture and why systems change matters.

Shelby’s story is a reminder that climate action doesn’t have to look a certain way — it just has to start! Whether she’s organizing neighborhood events, creating honest and accessible content, or showing up for her local community, Shelby proves that progress is built through presence, not perfection. If you’re interested in following her sustainability journey, check out her YouTube channel @Shelbizleee and Instagram @shelbizleee.

To learn more about Austin's net-zero goal and the actions you can take to support a greener community, view the Austin Climate Equity Plan.

Share your Net-Zero contributions with us on Facebook or X, and use #NetZeroHero. If you know a Net-Zero Hero (or heroes!) who should be recognized for their efforts, send your nomination to climate@austintexas.gov.