Community gardens, like the Grace Grows Garden, are green spaces in neighborhoods and towns for residents to grow their own plants and vegetables. These gardens can reduce urban heat islands, provide ecosystem services, increase stormwater retention and support food security, according to the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center.
Taylor Brorby, an environmentalist and University of Utah instructor will visit the UF Smathers Library Tuesday at 7 p.m. to talk about his 2022 memoir, “Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in a Fractured Land,” which explores issues regarding queerness, the environment and extractive economies through his own experiences.
The Gainesville City Commission voted to become a bee city in 2022 and was officially granted the designation Jan. 25 by the Xerces Society, a group committed to insect conservation.
Campus Climate Corps, a joint effort of student volunteers to help address climate change, held weekly briefings breaking down what occurred during COP27. The event was hosted by Rock Aboujaoude, a UF graduate student, and had presentations by UF faculty, students and scientists.
Many movers aren’t aware of the environmental impact their choice to throw out furniture has, with bulk items packing landfills. In a city with a frequent base of students moving in and out of furnished and unfurnished apartments, strategies like furniture recycling and thrifting have become popular Gainesville options.
Alachua county was chosen to participate in the US Department of Energy’s Communities Local Energy Action Program at the end of March — a huge leap in the direction of equitable sustainability. The county is one of 22 participating communities and the only Florida recipient to participate in the program, which aims to help low-income and energy-burdened communities experiencing environmental justice or economic impacts.
A new analysis suggests UF could transition to renewable, cheaper energy and save $100 million, rather than move forward with its current more expensive plan to construct a gas plant. The Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmentalist think tank, presented its analysis to a group of climate scientists, retired professors and Matt Williams, UF’s sustainability director, on Wednesday. It found UF can save money by using clean energy to achieve its energy needs while protecting the natural environment.
Here in Gainesville, we trust the science, and it tells us climate change is real. Roughly 92% of Floridians agree — they know climate change is real, too. That’s because we’re paying higher electric bills from record heat waves and skyrocketing insurance from stronger hurricanes and increased flooding.
Oak Hammock Retirement Community will become the first continuing care retirement community in Florida to shift toward sustainable energy. Its first solar panel was installed in front of residents and project managers Tuesday morning.
SEEK, an environmental conference for Florida high school students, was held in Gainesville June 28 to July 1 . SEEK stands for Save the Earth’s Environment through Knowledge, and the program aims to expose high school students to careers within environmental science.
Made-up Gossip, a new Gainesville-based personal care brand, launched its first line of hand soaps designed to eliminate single-use plastics. By incorporating humor and style into its brand, Made-up Gossip uses its personalized platform to educate customers on the repercussions of using plastic.
The Gainesville City Commission decided to remove the Pay-As-You-Throw program, which was created as an incentive for residents to produce less waste by making it more expensive to own a larger trash bin.
Three Gainesville organizations are joining forces to teach the community how to reduce waste.
Douglas won 49% of the vote after leading a campaign focused on sustainability and climate change
Alachua Conservation Trust plans to devote its most recent grant to the protection of one of the nation’s most endangered ecosystems: the Longleaf pine population.
Solutions by The State News
