What the city of Austin is doing to keep the city green
What’s the City Doing?
In addition to water conservation, the City of Austin offers many other programs to help homeowners and renters reduce their impact on the environment. A few of the most popular include:
The Grow Green program offers resources and tips on designing and maintaining gardens that conserve water and reduce pollution. The much-requested Native and Adapted Plant Guide is available online, as are many of the popular fact sheets on least-toxic pest control and identifying lawn problems.
Solid Waste Services offers curb-side recycling to reduce landfill disposal and hazardous waste drop-off to properly dispose of chemicals and materials that would otherwise contaminate the water supply. Check the site for seasonal information (like bulk pickups and Christmas tree recycling) as well as information how to properly set out your garbage and recycling.
Austin Energy distributes free energy saving thermostats and provides other energy-saving services such as insulation and duct repair for qualified families. In partnership with area HVAC specialists, they also offer rebates or low-cost loans for energy improvements. Plus, you can now sign up to monitor your energy and water use online, or pay your bill electronically (see site for details).
Saturday, October 13th will mark the City of Austin’s first annual Green City Festival. Held from 10am to 4pm at City Hall, the event will feature information and resources from all of the City’s environmental programs. Find out more about the programs listed above and more — from the protection of wildlife habitats to elementary education programs.
You can always find links to all of the City’s environmental programs at www.cityofaustin.org/environmental. And thanks for doing your part to keep Austin green!
Water Works Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 6
