Austin Joins the "Ban The Plastic Bags" Bandwagon

While some may not consider Texas to be the home of environmental awareness, Austin, Texas is home to some environmentally and socially aware celebs like the Dixie Chicks, Sandra Bullock and of course Lance Armstrong. Hailed as the #1 city of cleantech (”clean technology”) by SustainLane Government (home of the infamous Unsustainables), Austin is setting the bar for other cities to follow when it comes to creating opportunities for regional sustainable growth boom in response to recent climate change news and energy price instability.

Jumping on the “ban the plastic bags” bandwagon with San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Austin City Council will consider a resolution this week that could lead to new strategies for reducing waste from non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastic bags by stores located in the city. Sponsored by City Council Member Lee Leffingwell, City Council Member Mike Martinez and Mayor Will Wynn, the resolution directs city management to analyze and recommend strategies for addressing the environmental impacts of hundreds of thousands of plastic bags that are discarded in Austin each year.

“In Austin, we care about protecting our environment, both locally and globally,” said Council Member Leffingwell, who authored the resolution. “If we can find ways to significantly reduce the use of non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastic bags in Austin stores, we’ll not only be doing our own community a big favor, but we’ll also be setting an example that could make a meaningful difference for the future of our global environment if it were followed by other cities and states around the country.”

While it is no longer a rare occasion to see stars cruising the flagship Whole Foods, Matthew McConaughey and his reusable bag can’t be far behind:-) Clearly Austin is proving its own “green” star power.

Crosspost with ecorazzi.

SXSW Goes Green

Long hailed the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin is claiming itself green for this year's South by Southwest Music, Film, and Interactive Festival. That's right, this years infamous festival is a totally carbon neutral event. SXSW is working closely with Austin Energy to greening all aspects of the festival starting at their "home" offices to use more efficient heating and cooling systems, replacing light bulbs, and even analyzing the staff's commuting plans to make them more energy friendly. In addition they are committed to aggressive recycling efforts, biodiesel production trucks, buying wind credits from Green Energy Mountain Co, and even working with legislators to strengthen the state's energy policy. The promoters of this event are putting their money where the mouth is and have purchased $5000 from the Austin Parks Department to the purchase and maintenance of native trees.

SXSW is committed for the long haul continuing to seek opportunities to green up their act and encouraging individuals to seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Recently voted the #1 city for Cleantech, this Best Little City in America and perhaps one of the top festivals around is setting a trend that being green is cool.

Austin: The Live "Green" Capitol of the World

Long claimed the live music capital of the world, Austin can add some green to its reputation. SustainLane Government (home of the infamous Unsustainables) recently hailed Austin as the #1 city of cleantech ("clean technology"). Austin is setting the bar for other cities to follow when it comes to creating opportunities for regional sustainable growth boom in response to recent climate change news and energy price instability.

Cleantech is proving a hot investment category with a record $2.9 billion out of $25.5 billion in the United States being committed to cleantech. This trend is only expected to grow. So what is cleantech and why does it matter in our day to day lives?

How people define the category differs, but SustainLane considered the following criteria for its cleantech ranking:

• Energy generation, management and storage, and energy efficiency, including solar, wind, geothermal, fuels cell and hydrogen
• Transportation: advanced transportation technologies, biofuels
• Materials and Green Building: includes advanced materials and engineering approaches, materials recovery
• Water and air related technologies

As home to the Austin Clean Energy Incubator since 2001, Austin is in a prime position to be incubating some of the latest innovations in cleantech.

With seven companies involved in incubating everything from internet-controlled irrigation to wind and geothermal energy technologies, the group works closely with city-owned utility Austin Energy, according to Assistant Director Kurt Faulhaver.

“Austin Energy has been able to open up the grid as a test bed for CEI, which provides an unparalleled connection to opportunities for small-sized Cleantech start-ups,” said Faulhaver. Austin Energy’s Mark Kapner confirmed the utility has been working with numerous start-ups in alpha and beta field testing ranging from solar to biogas, to small-scale wind energy applications

The CEI is also supported by the Texas Energy Conservation Office and The National Renewable Energy Laboratories’ (NREL) National Alliance of Clean Energy Incubators. “Austin has a robust incubator model--it’s a Cleantech incubator within a (more general technology) incubator,” said Marty Murphy, director of NREL enterprise development programs. One CEI biodiesel start-up, Austin Biofuels, recently “graduated” after being sold to Safe Renewables Corp. in Houston in December.

Other cities making the list include San Jose, Berkeley, Pasadena, and Greater Boston. In a state where bigger means better, Austinites can be proud of the big innovation that clearly extends beyond the music, film, and technology industries. Through continued aggressive commitments to cleantech and energy, this "Best Little City in America" is proving itself a big leader in "green" city development.

Whole Foods: Go Big or Go Home

There are few stereotypes I like to promote, however living in Texas, there is no denying that we do things big! And in Austin, The Flagship Whole Foods store is no exception. It is not simply the 80,000 square feet, but the purely experiential aspect of the shopping experience. You can find literally thousands varieties of fruits or vegetables, enjoy dinner at the various food stations all with an impressive spread of prepared food, hang out at the raw food bar, and let us not forget the fair trade dark chocolate fountain as you peruse through the bakery section (which by the way has literally brought a tear to people's eye.) Don't think that the question of over consumption does not pass through this socially conscious collective of consumers, it continues to be a question in people's mind.

Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and other skeptics criticize Whole Foods food for using their commitment to organic and natural products at the expense of local foods, regional producers and distributers and as a mere marketing ploy. Michael Pollan and John Mackey (CEO of Whole Foods) have had a lively debate that can be seen on John Mackey's blog.

Regardless, Michael Pollan agrees that Whole Foods has played an instrumental role in advancing the awareness of the organic movement, and Austinites agree. Whole Foods is a kind of golden child in Austin, and its customers are a loyal base that support and trust this company's commitment to supporting the local community and sustainable and organic business. Will this commitment and brand loyalty translate across borders? The company plans to open its first store in London in June . It will ideally showcase the same focus on cooking demonstrations, product samplings and in-house eateries that mingle thousands of the freshest and finest natural and organic offerings in every area of the store, with a focus on procuring foods from local growers, food artisans and manufacturers. And as they say in Texas, go big or go home! Whole Foods is leaving its nest, and it is up to the London consumers to empower themselves with the tools of awareness balanced by the convenience and organic shopping experience that Whole Foods is committed to delivering its customers.