When a package arrives at your door, have you ever thought about all it takes to get there? A product is made, likely in a factory. It might be packaged and shipped to a warehouse, where it then is picked up, packaged again, and shipped to you by boats, planes, and trucks. So many steps in this process create waste, and all of them negatively impact our planet.
The first full week of September is celebrated as Zero Waste Week around the world. At the Office of Sustainability, we know that a sustainable city is one where we all consider how to reduce consumption, reuse…
You certainly can’t tell by the weather, but Fall is approaching, and it’s back-to-school time! As a new school year begins, families stock up on supplies and gear up for the routine of packed lunches, homework, and hustling out the door each morning. But the back-to-school season also brings a spike in waste from all the shopping and school supplies. This year, keep sustainability in mind with these tips for an eco-friendly start to school.
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I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by weaving plastic grocery bags into sleeping mats for unhoused people.
Meet our newest Net-Zero Hero: Kiana Salazar, an artist and AmeriCorps member using her creative skills for good. Through the AmeriCorps program, Kiana served with local nonprofit …
Climate solutions can enhance the lives of every Austinite, but the effects of climate change are not felt equally across our community. As part of the Austin Climate Equity Plan, the Community Climate Ambassadors Program helps to empower community members to lead on climate action through community projects.
Join us as we dive into the inspiring stories of our dedicated ambassadors and discover how they are making a positive difference in their communities.
Meet the 2022-23 Community Climate Ambassadors:
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There are thousands of employees that help power the City of Austin — we're proud that so many of them center sustainability in their work and lives. Today, we're introducing you to one such employee: Sara Boone Hartley, Assistant Director for Support Services with the Watershed Protection Department.
One of Sara’s favorite places is her backyard, and she tends it with an eye toward sustainabil…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by amplifying community voices, needs, and solutions that address the social determinants of health*…
With the arrival of triple-digit days, Austin is heating up. Scorching summer heat can pose significant dangers. In fact, heat waves claim more lives among Americans than many other natural disasters including floods, lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Heat waves are especially concerning for older adults, folks with respiratory conditions, and people that lack access to air conditioning and shade trees.
Heat waves also stress our…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by educating our community about the importance of plants and sustainable landscapes.
Matthew Gaston is many things: educator, TikToker, native Central Texan, friend of plants, and our newest Net-Zero Hero! Matthew is passionate about fostering a love of plants — particularly native plants — throughout Central Texas and beyond. From his work as…
At the Office of Sustainability, we know that the many school gardens across Austin offer students an opportunity for play, discovery, and learning — and that they wouldn't be possible without the tremendous support of volunteers. The Friends in Gardening Award was created in 2023 by the Central Texas School Garde…
At the Office of Sustainability, we are proud to work in an organization where so many employees are committed to supporting a brighter, greener Austin — both in and out of the office. Karlee Taylor, Environmental Conservation Information Specialist with the Wildland Conservation Division of Austin Water, is a shining example.
For Karlee, living a sustai…