 "Photo: Mary Kang/The Daily Texan")
Dozens of local environmental groups gathered at City Hall on Thursday to advocate a greener Austin.
The event was part of the Eco-Change Exchange, a conference planned by environmental groups pushing for a more sustainable city. The organizations have worked for years to improve the city, but believe the first and most important step is gaining the support and leadership of newly elected officials.
In 2008, Austin earned a 10th-place rating in Popular Science magazine’s ranking of America’s 50 greenest cities. Many of the groups that have helped the city attain this recognition are businesses and organizations such as the Wheatsville Gro-Op, Greenpeace and the Save Our Springs Alliance, which helps to prevent mass development on the Barton Creek watershed.
Colin Clark, a spokesman for the Save Our Springs Alliance, said that the main purpose of the event was to let the new City Council members know what the community’s priorities are. “We want them to know that the environmental councils are united and working together to make Austin the most environmentally sustainable city in America,” Clark said.
Environmental groups specializing in locally grown organic foods, solar power and clean water are aiming to make Austin more energy efficient.
Design~Build~Live, an organization dedicated to implementing cost-effective decentralized and integrated storm and rainwater strategies, is working toward sustainable living.
Gayle Borst, executive director of the organization, said that some of the strategies the group is looking to implement are rainwater collection, reclaiming recycled water, mulching and soil building.
“Basically, these methods are cheaper, easier, doable and produce better results,” Borst said. While a majority of the organizations focus on directly helping the environment, UpLift Austin takes a more indirect approach, helping young adults learn about sustainable design by involving them in renovations of their own schools. The organization focuses on teaching young adults about sustainability and exploring environmentally conscious careers.
Gina LaMotte, founder and executive director of UpLift Austin, said that it is about to launch a second school in addition to its pilot program, which has had 250 graduates. She also says that some of the benefits of working with other environmental groups across Austin are potential connections among the groups.
“You need the resources, and collaboration is definitely the base of sustainability and the community,” LaMotte said.
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