15 May What if everyone did their part?

We all love Austin for the special place it is and want to keep it that way. But to ensure a bright, green, livable future, everyone has to do their part.

To help make sustainability a priority in the choices you make every day, the Office of Sustainability launched the Rethink/ mobile app – designed to inform, inspire, and connect you with resources that can help you go greener. Rethink/ makes it easy to incorporate sustainability into your day-to-day activities, whether you’re at home, at work, or out and about around town. The app is available as a free download for Apple and Android devices from the App store or Google Play.

A little over 300 people downloaded Rethink/ during Earth Month – together, they were able to accomplish the following:

• 1,502 actions were “buzzed,” which averages out to about 5 actions per person.

• Most actions taken had to do with waste reduction and saving energy. The most frequent “pins” that were earned were Grab Bag (getting a reusable shopping bag and pledging to carry it with you wherever you shop), Tech Whiz (turning your computer off when you’re done and adjusting your power settings), and Bin to Win (recycling non-trash items like paper, bottles, and plastic).

• Altogether, these 300 individuals were able to save $951 dollars, avoid 8,052 kilograms of CO2 emissions, and save 1,558 gallons of water in just one month!

To those 300 people – THANK YOU! Just imagine what could be achieved if everyone took action….

Ready to do your part? Download the app, create a profile and start buzzing your actions.

Ready to take it one step further? Help us spread the word by posting your Rethink/ actions to your Facebook and Twitter accounts – and be sure to include photos to inspire others!

Want a few helpful hints? Some of the top money saving pins are Best Buy, Washing Cold, and Sing-a-Long. A few of the top carbon saving pins are Best Buy, Bottle Rocket, and Washing Cold. Looks like buying a programmable thermostat (and there’s an Austin Energy rebate for that!), and washing your clothes in cold water provides multiple benefits for you and the entire Austin community.

We will continue to post periodic updates on the difference you’re making by tracking your efforts through the app. In the meantime, keep it up Austin! Together, we’re a greener city!