I'm luck in that my job is taking sustainability beyond myself. For this challenge, we are implementing compost collection systems in break rooms throughout our main campus. Food waste is a significant part of the waste system and releases carbon dioxide when put in landfills. We will now turn that carbon dioxide into new soil!

I think much of the conversation around sustainability can leave people feeling hopeless and sad. I' know people who feel that much pf the messaging is about the damage we have done and continue to do almost to the extent that it comes across that we don't belong on this planet too. It also stops people from even trying. We are part of this system and we can and absolutely need to do better. It's important to understand that everything is a give and take and we have taken a great deal so we have some serious giving to do. We should be striving to live in nature as a neighbor instead of on top of nature as a dominating force.  

Sustainability and cost saving are both valued by my company and meeting virtually helps us achieve both of those goals. Connecting with our colleagues across campuses is really important so I love that we have video conferencing available so we can still see one another which helps increase engagement. 

Rooftop solar connects to my values because I care about minimizing my carbon footprint and solar energy is a great way to do that. I think the best way I can get others involved is to install solar myself and share my experiences - the more it's normalized, the easier it will be for other people to move to renewable energy, whether it's solar, wind, or any of the other types of renewable energy that can be used at home and beyond.

I would think we could totally put a micro turbine on the Space Needle :-) So much for the Wheedle on the Needle, now it's the wind turbine on the Needle ;-) 

The best way I can advocate for transit systems that are environmentally friendly is by making use of them and sharing my experiences. I've found that the biggest hurdle for people when it comes to transit is just getting through their first attempt, so I do what I can to remove barriers - if I'm at a bus or light rail stop and someone looks confused, I'll offer to help because I know the system well; if a friend moves to the city, I buy them a transit pass as a welcome to the city and talk to them about using it - it's only $5 here in Seattle, but it's an easy way to get more people comfortable with the system. I also make a point to ride transit with my kids - I have since they were toddlers, because if you've grown up riding transit, it's a lot less scary! 

My friends have created a succulent living roof on one of their storage sheds. Besides looking really cool and being aesthetically pleasing, it helps capture runoff, helps filter air, and helps sequester carbon (in this case, in small quantities). In larger scales on larger buildings, they scale up these benefits. It's a fascinating way to help reduce carbon.

Walking is the most accessible way to get around - you don't need money, gas, or a license to take advantage of pedestrian pathways :-) Because of that, having an excellent pedestrian network is at the core of having an accessible, equitable system of transportation. It helps ensure that people of all ages, races, socioeconomic levels and abilities can access what the city has to offer, and is particularly useful to those with disabilities who are limited in their ability to drive to other areas of the city. Sure, you can use the bus system or other public transit, but without good sidewalks, how do you get to the bus? Making sure we have better walking infrastructure is critical to ensuring that our city is equitable. Beyond that, being outdoors provides scientifically proven health benefits, as does walking, as a low-impact form of exercise. So, advocating for better pathways and greenways is one of the most important things we can do for our cities :-) 

This energy resource is really interesting, but in digging deeper, it seems like it's really encountered a lot of difficulty in the real world. Several of the companies mentioned have gone under, as have some of the technologies used (like the AquaBuoy). It seems like the 2008 recession had a big effect on the ability of various companies to do the necessary R&D, and I'm not sure they've actually recovered yet. I find the concept so compelling that I wound up spending more time than I said I would looking up information about wave and tidal energy, since I'm one of the many folks who live on one of the two U.S. coasts, but I'm really bummed that there hasn't been more opportunity to study and develop this potentially huge energy source!

I hadn't heard of biomass technology before - of course, I was aware of the fact that you can use natural materials to burn for heat - but the concept of using forest waste products to create efficient heat generation is really interesting. I worked in northern New Mexico at a camp for a few summers that had one forest fire while I was there, and another last summer that was fairly devestating. Having seen some of the mess that timber harvesting companies left behind, I have to wonder if they might consider installing a biomass system at their home base in order to encourage their logging contractors to clean the forest floor up in ways that are more efficient and leave them less at risk for forest fires in the future, while also providing energy to some of their infrastructure. I'm glad I learned about it! :-)