Located in South Austin, the Whole Life Learning Center is a beautiful and sustainable school campus that serves about 100 children. The campus’s 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 Bright Green Future Grants program.
With Bright Green Future Grant funding, the Whole Life Learning Center was able to restore an…
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, and 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 Springs community.
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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 Electrical Code and the utility’s interconnection guidelines.
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I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by empowering my students to get involved in sustainability efforts and to be environmental stewards.
Meet Sherry Lepine, the Maverick Green STEM Academy Director at Mendez Middle School, where she also leads campus composting, gardening, a…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by developing Austin's youth bicycle riders to give them the skills and confidence they need to ride independently
Meet Christopher Stanton, Founder and Executive Director of the Ghisallo Cycling Initiative. The Ghisallo Cycling Initiative is an Austin-based non-profit organization committed to providing Austin’s youth with supervised access to outdoo…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by doing more with less.
Meet Paula Camacho, the Office of Climate Action and Resilience's administrative assistant and chief reuse enthusiast. Paula is our office’s biggest advocate for zero waste, reminding us to reuse and repurpose items at work. Paula has even set up and encouraged a compost collection system for our entire floor. Since she started working with us in 2015, we’ve been hearing about her zero-waste journey at home and wanted to know more. We spo…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by trying to change how my high school, Griffin School, disposes of waste and thinks about our environment.
Meet Lucas Brown, a high school senior at Griffin School. Lucas developed an interest in reducing waste at his school’s campus, which led him to create a proposal to keep more materials out of the landfill and get closer to becoming a zero-…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by offering the Austin Common as a way to stay informed and get engaged.
Meet Amy Stansbury, Editor in Chief for the Austin Common. If you are already a subscriber, you know about the fantastic work that Amy does to keep us all informed about sustainability issues, events, and jobs in our community (and if you’re not a subscriber, you should …
This week, City officials unveiled Austin Energy’s showcase for electric transportation in the new Seaholm EcoDistrict – Electric Drive. The area is located on a portion of West 2nd Street between Walter Seaholm Drive and Sandra Muraida Way, and is a mobility hub that features charging options for two- and four-wheel electric vehicles.
At the ceremony, Mayor Steve Adler was joined by Council Member Ann Kitchen, Austin Energy General Manager Jackie Sargent, and Chief Sustainability Officer Lucia Athens. Electric Vehicle Program Manager Karl Popham emceed the event. The speakers focused on Austin’s commitment to sustainabili…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by running a 100% bike-powered composting company.
Meet Dustin Fedako, co-founder and CEO of the Compost Pedallers — an organics collection business with roots in Austin. Compost Pedallers uses bicycles to collect organic waste from members’ homes and pedal it to nearby urban farms and community gardens. In addition to helping Austin reach our Net-Zero goal through his busines…