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If just 10 to 20 percent of plastic packaging were reused, the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean could be cut in half. |
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Plastic accounts
for 14 percent of material landfilled in Iowa
City. Reusable, refillable containers are worth considering as a replacement to single-use, "downcycled" plastics. |
 How much will solar panels add to the value of your home? How can you tell if a furnace is energy efficient? Thanks to a recent training, many area realtors will be able to assist with those questions and more.
The City of Iowa City recently partnered with the Iowa City Area Association of Realtors (ICAAR) to sponsor a special two-day "Green Designation" training. It focused on helping clients identify energy efficient features in a home and marketing the improvements they have made that help lower energy costs for the next owner.
Pamela Brookstein of Elevate Energy travelled from Chicago to conduct the training and shared that normally seven to eight realtors sign up for the course. But in Iowa City, 38 realtors participated:
Jess Anderson, Tundi Brady, Heather Bright, Cynthia Clark, Angie Eichhorst, Joni Eubank, Jerry Eyman, Jonathan Fell, Carrie Floss, John Hall, Shelly Hull, Barbara Kennedy, Timothy Lehman, Diane Martin, Kimberly Martinez, Robert McCain, Tracey Molina, David Moore, Reece Morris, Kelley Myers, Adam Pretorius, Catherine Pugh, Susan Rekward, Yazmine Rezai, Rubi Sabir, Stephen Sherman, Marc Simpson, Ryan Sisson, Nancy Steyers, Stephanie Stimmel, Terrence Stone, Robin Sueppel, Alan Swanson, Brandie Thein, Ken Waterbeck, Natash Wendt, Dann Coffey, and Christopher Villhauer.
Thanks to these realtors for demonstrating how seriously Iowa City takes climate action, and congratulations to them on earning their Green Designation certification!
 The City’s Climate Action Grant program is now open, making funding available for community-led climate action initiatives.
The Climate Action Grant program is designed to empower Iowa City students, businesses, and organizations to take climate action and lead community members in supporting activities that promote:
- Energy efficiency
- Low or no-emissions transportation
- Sustainable lifestyle choices
- Climate preparedness and resilience
Applications for this grant will be accepted through noon on Monday, April 17, 2023.
Successful project proposals must focus on climate action goals in Iowa City and be accomplished by June 30, 2024. Businesses and organizations are eligible for grants up to $10,000 and students in grades 5-12 are eligible for grants up to $500. A total of $60,000 is reserved for this program and will be available beginning July 1, 2023.
The grant form can be found online at icgov.org/climateactiongrants.
It is not yet too late! Root for Trees applications will be accepted through Friday, May 5, 2023, until 5 p.m. Vouchers may be redeemed through Monday, May 15, 2023. For more information, visit icgov.org/rootfortrees.
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 Iowa City and Cedar Rapids recently collaborated on a grant application and were selected as one of the 15 US locations to run an urban heat island mapping campaign. Through Heat Watch community science, our city will be better poised to meet challenges of extreme heat. All are invited to get involved! We need residents' input to determine which parts of the city should be targeted for closer investigation this summer. Use this online interactive mapping tool to identify locations in Iowa City that may have especially high temperatures on hot days. To learn more about this project, visit icgov.org/spotthehot.
 Each year, revenue from the annual Farm to Street Dinner is awarded to an area organization that is working to enhance our local food system.
Applications to be considered as the selected beneficiary will be accepted now through April 21.
More information on selection criteria and participation requirements for the event beneficiary are available on the online application page.
 Congratulations to the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department! Recent awards from Iowa DNR Community Forestry Grant Program and MidAmerican Trees Please! Grant Program will provide a combined $15,000 to expand and diversify our urban tree canopy.
Iowa City’s Climate Action Commission meets monthly
Access upcoming and past meeting packets at the Climate Action Commission web page.
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