Click here to download or listen to the Pod Cast.

Jennifer Walker, Water Resources Specialist for the Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter joined us to talk about ways Texas Cities can conserve water.  Walker discussed ideas from a website, Texas Water Matters, a project that is collaborative effort between the National Wildlife [...]]]>  

Click here to download or listen to the Pod Cast.

Jennifer Walker, Water Resources Specialist for the Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter joined us to talk about ways Texas Cities can conserve water.   Walker discussed ideas from a website, Texas Water Matters, a project that is collaborative effort between the National Wildlife Federation, Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club and Galveston Bay Foundation where you can find information on the impact of the Texas Drought.

Drema Gross, Conservation Manager at Austin Water joined us to talk specifically about what Austin is doing to increase water conservation measures.  Austin Water has designed a Lawn Remodel Program.  If your lawn is stressed … and that’s true almost everywhere in Central Texas, you can read about the requirements and if interested, sign up by October 14^th and receive rebates for lawn remodeling.

Weston Sythoff, Clark Shaffer and Tony Allen all from Workforce Solutions Capital Area spoke with us about the Austin green jobs market.  Workforce Solutions is responsible for the planning, oversight, and evaluation of workforce development activities in the Austin/Travis County area. They match [...]]]> Click here to download or listen to the Pod Cast

Weston Sythoff, Clark Shaffer and Tony Allen all from Workforce Solutions Capital Area spoke with us about the Austin green jobs market.  Workforce Solutions is responsible for the planning, oversight, and evaluation of workforce development activities in the Austin/Travis County area.  They match companies who need workers with people who are seeking jobs in Central Texas … and they are doing a terrific job as Austin has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S.

This week we heard an interview recorded with Shades of Green Energy host John Hoffner and Jane Turville, writer, director of “The Greenest Building,” a documentary on how renovation and reuse of existing structures can achieve the triple bottom line – benefiting people, the planet and [...]]]> Click here to listen to the Pod Cast

This week we heard an interview recorded with Shades of Green Energy host John Hoffner and Jane Turville, writer, director of “The Greenest Building,” a documentary on how renovation and reuse of existing structures can achieve the triple bottom line – benefiting people, the planet and profits.  The Greenest Building will be screening in Austin on Wednesday, September 7^th at 6:00 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre.

Joining us in studio was Lauren Hammond from the City of Austin to talk with us about composting, composting classes offered by the city and rebates available for qualifying composting systems.  Click here for more information about the City of Austin Composting Programs.

The Texas Green Network (TGN) of Austin, Texas celebrates its 50th networking event. The TGN is one of the first of two green chamber of commerces in the United States. The City of San Francisco also has a green chamber like TGN. We discussed the Texas [...]]]> Click here to listen to the Pod Cast

The Texas Green Network (TGN) of Austin, Texas celebrates its 50th networking event. The TGN is one of the first of two green chamber of commerces in the United States. The City of San Francisco also has a green chamber like TGN. We discussed the Texas Green Network with Reed Sternberg and Paul Severin live in the studio. We also had Alexia Marcous, the co-founder of the San Francisco Green Chamber of conference live on the phone with us. Both organizations offer networking and outreach opportunities for businesses specializing in green products and services.

The American YouthWorks of Austin is an educational program for high school students at risk. As part of a commitment to conservation, community revitalization and education, American YouthWorks operates three Green Jobs Programs including Environmental Corps, Casa Verde Builders, and Computer Corps. We spoke with the [...]]]> Click here to listen to the Pod Cast.

The American YouthWorks of Austin is an educational program for high school students at risk. As part of a commitment to conservation, community revitalization and education, American YouthWorks operates three Green Jobs Programs including Environmental Corps, Casa Verde Builders, and Computer Corps. We spoke with the School Principal Terence Gahan, the Field Coordinator for the Environmental Corps Paul Stuffel, and a student Anthony Staten – a leader in the Casa Verde Builders program.  Their award winning environmental training programs provide students with real-world, hands on community experience.

Click here to listen to the Pod Cast

The City of Austin has approved a plan to completely ban plastic bags in retail stores. Stacy Guidry, the Austin Program Director for the Texas Campaign for the Environment discusses how they are encouraging Austin to go even further and ban paper bags. Also in [...]]]>  

Click here to listen to the Pod Cast

The City of Austin has approved a plan to completely ban plastic bags in retail stores. Stacy Guidry, the Austin Program Director for the Texas Campaign for the Environment discusses how they are encouraging Austin to go even further and ban paper bags. Also in the KOOP studio we spoke with producer Christine Giordano the author of the original video document called “Bag-it” covering Boston’s attempt to ban plastic bags. Her video was featured at the 2010 South By Southwest film festival. It is available for viewing on Vimeo.

Austin uses 263 million single use plastic bags annually! Both Brownsville and South Padre Island are examples of Texas communities that have successfully stopped the use of plastic bags.  You can find out more at: Bag Ban FAQ.

Texas Campaign for the Environment will be celebrating their 20^th Anniversary this year.  You can find out about details at Trash Makeover: Fashion and Art Reuse Challenge.    And lets all do our part to help Austin “Recycle, Reduce and Reuse!”

Zoe Cardon works at the Ecosystems Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, she is also a member of Ecological Society of America, ESA an international organization of professional ecologists. Cardon joined us on Shades of Green Energy to talk with us about ESA and the [...]]]> Click here to listen to and download the Pod Cast

Zoe Cardon works at the Ecosystems Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, she is also a member of Ecological Society of America, ESA an international organization of professional ecologists.  Cardon joined us on Shades of Green Energy to talk with us about ESA and the work they do to promote Earth Stewardship. The Ecological Society of America was established in 1915 and they are coming to Austin for their 96^th Annual Conference – these folks have been around for a long time!

So there are 2 things you may want to know about:

1. The ESA Earth Stewardship: Opening Plenary is open to the public … Austin is invited!  The panel will discuss the growing need for food, freshwater, energy and many other resources drawn from Earth’s life support systems … essentially Stewardship of this Earth.  The event is Sunday, August 7^th at the Austin Convention Center from 5 – 6:30 p.m. and it’s first come first serve … so get there early if you delight in nationally informative insight on ecology, Earth stewardship and environmental activism.

ESA 96th Annual Meeting: Earth Stewardship

1. Then next Thursday, August 11 ESA is hosting “Austin Night for Nature,” a live concert to benefit 20 environmental groups in Austin!  And just look at the line up here!  Music will be performed by local musicians Terri Hendrix, Carolyn Wonderland and Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys – that’s Thursday, August 11, 2011 at the Moody Theater on West Willie Nelson Blvd. The concert starts at 8:00 p.m., doors open at 7:00 p.m. Tickets available at Waterloo Records or online at  www.acl-live.com.  The show benefit such local groups as the American Youthworks Environmental Corps, Austin Parks Foundation, Bat Conservation International and the City of Austin, many of your friends and more!

Austin Night for Nature: ACL-live at Moody Theater, Hosted by ESA

This will be a busy week for ecologists, environmentalists and Austin activists … Hot weather but cool opportunities to get involved!

Here’s a link to the Content Review topic, Blue Ocean Institute > http://www.blueocean.org/home

Maureen Haskell, the Be Groovy Be Green Lady and Bill Oliver, Mr. Habitat have been inspiring generations of children to be Earth Friendly and Eco-Active through stories, song and play. Maureen and Bill joined us on Shades of Green Energy Radio to talk about ways to [...]]]> Click here to listen to the Pod Cast

Maureen Haskell, the Be Groovy Be Green Lady and Bill Oliver, Mr. Habitat have been inspiring generations of children to be Earth Friendly and Eco-Active through stories, song and play.  Maureen and Bill joined us on Shades of Green Energy Radio to talk about ways to educate and engage kids on sustainability.

Maureen, the Be Groovy Be Green Lady brought her daughter, Faith with her and told us about the stories they tell on their Be Groovy Be Green online TV show and they sang some songs for us on-air including “You’ve Got to Be Eco-Active”. Haskell includes song, storytelling and puppet performances to help develop kid’s natural love and awareness of the environment. They shared ideas for projects that they work on at the Austin Farmer’s Market and Faith shared her recipe for Watermelon Cupcakes.

Faith live on-air in the KOOP radio station studio!

Faith’s Watermelon Cupcakes

• Fresh watermelon – cut with a round muffin cutter
• Strawberry yogurt on top of the watermelon
• Add a little honey and a mint leaf.

Faith made this Watermelon Cupcake herself and sent us this picture ... then she ate it! Yummy!

Faith made one later that day and sent me a picture.  I can’t wait to make my own watermelon cupcakes!

Faith and Friends with the Be Groovy Be Green Lady

Bill or Mr. Habitat calls himself the “Environmental Troubadour.” He preformed song that he wrote that will soon be released on a new CD. His website describes his work as “Over twenty years of concerts, campfires, and cafetoriums! Bill’s programs are educational and entertaining, engaging and motivating. In schools, National Parks, and river-side celebrations, his songs bring to life the vital issues of Habitat conservation.”

Mr. Habitat sing us a song!!!

This was a day full of fun … I hope you all enjoyed all the Eco-Active fun as much as we did in the studio!

More and more we hear about water concerns in Texas so Shades of Green Energy organized a show around the ways we catch, manage and use water. The Colorado River catches water, Lake Travis catches water and the Edward’s Aquifer catches water and all have been [...]]]> Click here to listen to the Pod Cast

More and more we hear about water concerns in Texas so Shades of Green Energy organized a show around the ways we catch, manage and use water.  The Colorado River catches water, Lake Travis catches water and the Edward’s Aquifer catches water and all have been providing Central Texans with water they need.  Another source of water can be our own backyard by having a water catchment system.

Roland Ruiz, Assistant General Manager at the Edwards Aquifer Authority joined us to talk about the mission of the Edwards Aquifer and how they are effectively managing its use to help preserve this important Texas water resource.

Edwards Aquifer Authority

Chris Maxwell-Gaines, founder of Innovative Water Solutions talked with us about how people can set up water catchment systems for outdoor water usage and other home use including regulation regarding home use. Innovative Water Solutions designs and installs sustainable water conservation systems, rainwater collection and rainwater harvesting systems, sprinkler and irrigation systems and more.

Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Founder of Innovative Water Solutions

 

Innovative Water Solutions

With community involvement, good stewardship and properly managed water systems we hope and expect to have water in Texas to meet our needs.

Erin Hickok joined us from Go Local Austin, a grass roots marketing organization [...]]]> Erin Hickok from Go Local Austin and Mason Arnold, founder of Greenling talk with us about the value of going local for sustainability and economic benefit. Keeping it local helps the environment, uses less energy and helps create local jobs.

Erin Hickok joined us from Go Local Austin, a grass roots marketing organization that benefits businesses and the community.

Go Local Austin:  Keepin’ it Local!

Go local Austin video 

Erin - Keepin' it Local

Celebrate the I Heart Local event on Friday July 22^nd.  Find out more here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169767306424433

Mason Arnold founder at Greenling has proved to many that eating green and eating local is a better model for our waistlines, for our bottom line and good for the environment too.

Greenling: The always open farmers market … located right on your computer!

Greenling video

Mason Arnold, Founder of Greenling

Both of these businesses bring a sustainable return on investment.  It grows their business while helping benefit local businesses, increase local job opportunities and is kind to the environment  … a sustainable business plan that’s working.

Click below to listen to the pod cast

Leah Haynie and Zachary Baumer from the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability

They introduced us [...]]]> Trees, lawns and farms are struggling to survive under the Texas draught conditions. Leah Haynie and Zachary Baumer from the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability were our guests on Shades of Green Energy Radio show.

Leah Haynie and Zachary Baumer from the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability

They introduced us to the programs that have been created to help Austin residents and businesses reduce our carbon impact and keep Austin a green, comfortable and beautiful place to live.   There is wide range of great initiatives available to us in Austin through the Office of Sustainability.  I’ve listed a few that you can click on to visit … but once you’re there you may just let your fingers do the walking and find out about the wide range of ways you can help Austin be sustainable through some of these programs!

Carbon Footprint Calculator

The Climate Protection Program

You can sign up to get information on programs, updates and the newsletters.

Austin’s Urban Heat Island Initiative

The Tree of the Year

On this page you can see the 2010 Community Tree of the Year.  The Office of Sustainability has received numerous recommendations for the 2011 Community Tree of the Year and is in the process of reviewing them all to choose the 2011 Community Tree of the Year … so check their website for updates to see this year’s winning Tree of the Year in Austin.

2010 Community Tree of the Year

Click below to listen to the Pod Cast 

Click below to listen to or download the Podcast

Click below to listen to or download the [...]]]> Guests Lou Snead of Faith Presbyterian Church in Austin and Colin Rowan of 1st Presbyterian discussed several initiatives they are undertaking. Colin organized a showing of the movie “A Carbon Nation” at his church and Lou Snead is part of the Interfaith Environmental Network in Austin.

Click below to listen to or download the pod cast