Green Iowa Americorps members have been working with 91 low-income families in Iowa City to increase energy efficiency in their homes, directly lower utility costs, and measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Now that it's December, it's a good time for you, too, to review your energy-use practices and check out Green Iowa Americorps' Tips on How to Save Energy Today flyer for information on how to reduce your energy consumption and save money on your energy bill.
Social justice and racial equity advancement
The City of Iowa City has implemented several social justice and racial equity efforts as part of the City Council’s strategic plan to foster a more just, inclusive and sustainable community. Initiatives include use of a racial / socioeconomic review toolkit by staff to look at City policies, practices and programs; creation of a $25,000 social justice and racial equity grant to support programs that have an impact on eliminating inequities in the community; and the launch of a "lunch and learn" series open to the community that explores race relations throughout U.S. history in an effort to increase cultural competency.
How to simplify your holidays
This holiday season, consider making things a little simpler. Holidays can often exhaust rather than uplift, due to the pressure to shop, spend and prepare for family gatherings. Check out this Simplify Your Holiday Calendar for practical tips and inspiration to help create a stress-free and meaningful holiday season.
City staff attends Urban Monarch Conservation Workshop
Iowa City's Sustainability Coordinator Brenda Nations and Senior Engineering Technician Killian Laughead recently attended the Urban Monarch Conservation Workshop in Kansas City, organized by the Field Museum and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. The focus of the workshop was to discuss strategies and implementation techniques to support monarch butterflies in urban centers. Iowa City staff were invited because the City of Iowa City was identified as a leader in urban monarch butterfly rehabilitation.
Sustainability Spotlight: Maeve Clark
This month’s Sustainability Spotlight features Maeve Clark, the Adult Services Coordinator for the Iowa City Public Library. Maeve, who defines sustainability as creating conditions where humans and nature live in harmony to support present and future generations, views the Iowa City Public Library as a catalyst for learning about, and taking action on, various sustainable practices. Check out the Sustainability Spotlight feature on our web page to read more about Clark's efforts.
Are you signed up for sustainability updates?
Connect with us on social media! We’ll be posting sustainability facts and updates every week from City of Iowa City accounts, with our hashtag #SustainableIC. We’re active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, so be sure to like and follow! To subscribe to this e-newsletter, visit www.icgov.org/e-subscriptions and check the "Sustainability" box in the Newsletters section.
4-STAR: In March 2016, Iowa City was awarded a 4-STAR Community Rating for sustainability excellence, by being formally certified in the STAR Community Rating System. STAR offers the nation's leading certification program in evaluating local sustainability, encompassing social, economic and environmental performance measures. More info: www.STARcommunities.org.
This newsletter is published by the City of Iowa City Sustainability Office. For more information, contact Brenda Nations, Coordinator, at 319-887-6161 or brenda-nations@iowa-city.org.
