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Austin
Going Green
2008 10Best Bet - Award Winners
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DOWNTOWN. Although traffic is growing at an exponential rate, city dwellers now have a greener alternative thanks to this socially conscious non-profit. The state's first carsharing program takes the hassle out of personal ownership by giving members anytime-access to a fleet of vehicles without their having to juggle things like gas, insurance, roadside assistance, maintenance, or even meters (they're all included in membership fees). The selection of mostly late-model hybrids is spread throughout the metro area for added convenience.
DOWNTOWN. The latest incarnation of this civic structure opened in 2004 and is not only an architectural success but is rife with green features that promote efficiency and are also quite beautiful. Largely made of recycled materials (including 82% of the copper adornment on the facade), City Hall uses a thermal energy cooling system, which creates ice at night when power is cheapest, allows it to melt, and uses the chilled water to cool the building the following day.
DOWNTOWN. Most weekends throughout the year, area farmers cart their hearty produce downtown to Republic Square Park to set up temporary shop. Their farm-fresh goods depend on the season and include everything from organic salad greens and root vegetables to locally produced honey and artisan breads. Healthy eaters appreciate the ease of shopping these open-air booths, and many return on a weekly basis. Another market is held at Triangle Park (4600 Guadalupe) on Wednesday afternoons (4pm-8pm).
UNIVERSITY AREA. When time came to remodel this high-class art house, the designers, site planners, and builders focused on urban reuse, minimizing the amount of landfill waste and building up rather than out to optimize urban density. Landscape architects incorporated shade trees to help cool the building and established gravel walkways and native plants to help conserve water and prevent run-off.
BARTON SPRINGS DISTRICT. Focused on the principles of macrobiotics, this southside dining room serves all-vegan, usually organic dishes that promote dietary balance and health. Rather than select from several options on a traditional menu, customers pay a single price to receive the menu of the day, which consists of several small dishes featuring seasonal, locally grown produce.
NORTH AUSTIN. Eastside Café asks, Why pay top-dollar for fresh produce when you can grow it just as well right behind the restaurant? The well-known eatery does just that, handpicking organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers as meals are prepared. In addition, at the end of each day, approximately 20 to 30 gallons of vegetable scraps end up in the Eastside compost bin rather than in the trash. Learn their gardening techniques in monthly on-site workshops, and enjoy their innovative fare whenever possible.
NORTH AUSTIN. Doing the laundry is a tedious chore that everyone faces, but the good people of this University area cleaners provide an ecologically sound option. Using only non-toxic chemicals and steering clear of the standard dry-cleaning chemical, perchloroethylene (also known as perc), employees use a wet-cleaning system that promises to get garments cleaner while keeping customers healthier.
EAST AUSTIN. Established in 1992, this outlet deals in previously-used materials and has been the model for more than 250 other Habitat for Humanity-sponsored stores. Good Samaritans, often in the midst of demolishing or remodeling, drop off extra tile, old bathtubs, leftover paint, and the like for others to purchase at reduced prices. Not only does such consideration prevent perfectly useful stuff from entering the landfill, but it also benefits a worthwhile cause.
DOWNTOWN. Frequenting the nearby Farmers' Market for a significant number of ingredients, the founders of this Second Street salad spot not only feed hundreds of downtown employees mostly-organic, locally grown vegetables daily, but they also produce no landfill waste. And despite the absence of a city-sponsored commercial recycling program, the eatery takes on the task at its own expense, all for the good of the Earth.
NORTH AUSTIN. Relying on customer membership and investment as a cooperative, this low-key neighborhood grocery focuses on stocking quality merchandise that appeals to a health-conscious clientele, including organic, locally-grown produce, holistic products, and vegan and vegetarian staples. As a community-owned business, the co-op also supports other local projects, including Sunshine Community Gardens and the Sustainable Food Center. Plus, the deli makes available a great selection of fresh, healthy foods and drinks! They're out there, and you're proud of them. You're behind their cause and supporting them every chance you get. These environmentally-conscious businesses do their part to preserve the world around us. They include restaurants that use only organic, local produce. They're hotels with green roofs or solar panels. They're shops that deal in fair trade goods or that promote recycling. They deserve a pat on the back – and our patronage – for their globally conscious efforts!
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They're out there, and you're proud of them. You're behind their cause and supporting them every chance you get. These environmentally-conscious businesses do their part to preserve the world around us. They include restaurants that use only organic, local produce. They're hotels with green roofs or solar panels. They're shops that deal in fair trade goods or that promote recycling. They deserve a pat on the back – and our patronage – for their globally conscious efforts!
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