Climate Action | Sustainable Lifestyle
Resources for residents | Resources for businesses
Most everyone desires the most convenient access to products, services and life choices, but this often comes at a cost to air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, the most recent greenhouse gas inventory for Iowa City shows that 40% of community-wide carbon emissions comes from electricity use alone.
Our daily actions have a part to play in climate change. These actions often bring people together and oftentimes lead to greater fulfillment as you steward the Earth and the culture of sustainability in our city. The more we embrace “One Planet Living” like buying local, eating less meat and dairy, and uniting in equity, the more we can put ourselves on a path toward better planet and personal health in the present and reduced climate change impacts in the future.
Residents
Ask where your food is coming from—beyond grocery stores and restaurants! I’ve learned from the leaders who manage the kitchens and procurement in our K-12 schools, colleges and universities, retirement communities, hospitals and other community institutions that they care about local food and care deeply about the people they serve and their preferences. So ask the question!
- Giselle Bruskewitz, Iowa City resident
Resources
- Explore how Soil Quality Restoration works for your lawn and learn about an area program that can help you restore your soil.
- Interact with the Farmers Market web page to learn about logistics
- Learn more about Iowa City curbside and drop-off recycling services
- Purchase durable goods whenever possible. Visit our DIY Repair web page, which provides a variety of repair resources and tutorials for different areas of home and lifestyle, and/or explore the Iowa City Repair Directory for professional repair options
- Plan your next bike or walking route with the Iowa City Trail Map
- As consumers, we're the largest source of food waste. Learn ways to Save the Food!
- See if solar might be the right choice to power your home by interacting with Grow Solar Linn + Johnson Counties
- Make use of our Environmental Education web page for access to all-free virtual education resources
- Check out virtual activities with the Senior Center
- Take the Iowa City Climate Action Pledge and commit to the actions you'll take to make a difference in Iowa City's climate future
- Interact with Iowa City's Climate Action Toolkit
- Find out which Native American Tribes’ land you are located on
- Calculate your carbon footprint
- Interact with Project 51 to learn about little victories that light the way for climate change solutions
- Read Iowa City's Consumption Based Emissions Summary Report to get a better understanding of the Iowa City's consumption-based emissions
Did you know cutting meat and dairy can reduce someone's carbon footprint from food by two-thirds?
Businesses
"The motivation for our green, earth-conscious, sustainable practices stems from our 42-year history as a Mennonite Central Committee Thrift Shop and our mission statement. We share God's love by promoting Mennonite Central Committee and local relief agencies through the sale of donated and fair trade items."
- Christine Maust Beachy, Volunteer Coordinator at Crowded Closet
Resources
- Use the Iowa City Apartment Recycling web page as a resource. The page lists the same haulers that are available to any business wanting to have recycling collected.
- Visit the Iowa City Landfill web page to recycle other materials to recycle, such as tires, electronics, hazardous material, etc.
- Apply for a Social Justice and Racial Equity grant (SJRE). Iowa City for-profit and non-profit organizations can apply for the grant to fund programs, activities, initiatives or educational outreach that helps to eliminate inequities in the community
- Achieve items on Iowa City's Climate Action Toolkit (pg. 9)
- Develop a sustainability plan for your business to develop green office guidelines that engage employees
- Explore the possibility of using solar energy to power your business through Grow Solar Linn + Johnson Counties
- Is your business a leader in local sustainable living measures or on your way to becoming one? Apply for an Iowa City Climate Action At Work Award and share your story.
- Find an area organics hauler to help establish a composting program for your business.
- Join the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Food Recovery Challenge
- Get guidance from ReFed’s Restaurant Food Waste Action Guide
- Participate in an existing, nationally recognized green certification program.