by Alison Lueders, Owner of Great Green Editing
One of Tampa’s hidden gems when it comes to promoting sustainability is Going Green Tampa. This organization has been around since 2010. It offers a directory of local green businesses, a busy calendar of events, and articles on every facet of going green – from community-supported agriculture to the best way to recycle your old cell phone.
In February 2012, they picked up an Earth Charter Award from the Sustainable Business Coalition in recognition of their efforts.
If you’d like to become a part of this diverse and growing community, you can join online (it’s free). Two events are coming up shortly – click the links to register:
- June 9 – Green After Dark is a more or less monthly event offering food, music and family-friendly activities at the Odessa Organic Market.
- June 12 – Holistic Happy Hours occur in different restaurant locations each month. The establishments chosen offer locally grown and sustainable menus.
In the spirit of “Think Globally, Act Locally”, here is additional green news of note:
- The US Green Chamber of Commerce has come to Florida. This San Diego-based organization opened its Southeast Regional office in Lake Mary last year. They recently held an event at the IKEA store in Orlando to showcase that company’s long and successful record of sustainable business practices. Stay tuned for future events on their website.
- New Efficiency Standards for Clothes Washers, Dishwashers Will Save Billions – The US Department of Energy (DOE) released new energy efficiency standards that will reduce energy and water consumption in clothes washers some 35% and dishwashers will use 14% less energy and 23% less water.
- The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development takes place in Rio from June 20-22. Twenty years ago, the Kyoto Protocol was hammered out by this group. Today, the need for sustainable development is more urgent than ever, so stay tuned for news about this event.
Next week, we’ll touch on sustainable business in Tampa Bay. See you then!