We love this time of year because the Austin Chronicle's Best of Austinissue always allows a bunch of our favorite green businesses, organizations and people a chance to shine. See our 2014 Best of Austin Green-filtered edition blog for reminders of some of your favorites, like Goodwill and Bouldin Creek Cafe, as well as new joys to discover, such as the Bendy Bus and the State Surplus Property Store.

We took the liberty of highlighting the AustinEcoNetwork partners first among all the great greenwinners in Austin. These include Critics Pick winnersGreen is the New Black and the Dumpster Projectas well as Reader' Poll winners Bicycle Sport Shop,Texas Farmers Market at Mueller, Greenling, andThe Natural Gardener. Special kudos Natural Gardener's founder/leader and popular media personality John Dromgoole, winner of Best Environmentalist.

The award categories and writing below are the creative writing of Austin Chronicle Staff, compiled and edited by special editions queen, KATE X MESSER.Orange highlighting added by us to indicate AustinEcoNetwork partners. See our green-filtered listhere>>
 

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Another Austin EcoNetwork Partner business was in the media today. EcoKids Pre-K was featured on KXAN. Learn more about this eco-friendly pre-school and see my precious Branson and his friends making guacamole!

 

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[Awards Program]Nominations are open for the 2015 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards, hosted by TCEQ. The awards are meant to celebrate the bold efforts of citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations that are working to preserve and protect the Texas environment. Think you know someone who fits that bill? Nominate them here (or even apply yourself).
 

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[Conference] Are you a currently-enrolled student or employee of a registered nonprofit? Do you want to attend SXSW Eco? Then you have ONE day, to apply for the SXSW Eco Grant program. How? Write a short essay sharing the efforts and progress you’ve made in one or more of the nine conference themes and you could be chosen to receive a grant to attend SXSW Eco! To submit your entry, email a one-page essay to reg@sxsweco.com by September 12th.

More SXSW Eco news… The conference's final keynote speakers have been announced, and they are U.S. Secretary of Energy,Ernest Moniz, and National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence, Sylvia Earle. Moniz will give a talk entitled, "All-of-the-Above in a Carbon Constrained World," and Earle will be giving a presentation called, "Sustainable Seas: The Vision and the Reality." 

And last but NOT least, we are thrilled to announce that all of our Austin EcoNetwork readers are eligible to receive a $200 discount on conference registration – only $195! Just email lorena@sxsw.com and the discount is all yours! 
 

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[Election] Last week, theAustin Environmental Democrats endorsed Jeb Boyt for Austin City Council District 7. At that meeting, Boyt and four other candidates from District 7 had the chance to introduce themselves to the crowd and then to answer a series of questions from AED members. Boyt was the only candidate to offer his support for Proposition 1, saying that the rail line would create a new north-south corridor through the city. Check out Amy Stansbury's blog to learn more about the candidates and to listen to a recording of the AED meeting>>

 

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[Volunteer] Austin EcoNetwork staff and allies are working hard to make sure candidates are briefed on eco-issues, their stances are organized in a way that is useful to voters and we help elect a slate of City COuncil members who are .
Anyone eager to learn more about the candidates running for Mayor and all 10 new Districts we have a variety of election-related volunteer opportunities available. A bunch of them can be done from home too! Email Brandi to start a dialogue and explore ways you can get involved.

By the way, thanks to Ryan Sarhan, our summer intern who put in his last day with us today before returning to school in Washington. He was instrumental in compiling the briefing document that we provided to candidates: Environmental White Papers, Briefings, Reports, Plans and Resources for Austin, Texas. If you have suggestions for edits or additions email me.
 

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[Food/Fundraiser] KOOP 91.7, home to everyone's favorite green radio show,Shades of Green, is holding itsFall pledge drive. Their goal is to raise $72,000 over the next two weeks and they need your help. To donate, you can call in to 512-472-KOOP or make a pledge online. 
 

Community donations are what makes radio programs like Shades of Greensuccessful. Today I was on the show live to deliver theEcoCalendar with Howie Richie and talk about food waste. While I was at KOOP I made a Double Deluxe donation to the station, and got some wonderful prizes, including a benefits card, a cool t-shirt, a sticker, and TWO passes to the Solar Lab Day with ImagineSolar. I am offering these two passes to two lucky Austin EcoNetwork readers. The first people to email Brandi will get the passes to this hands-on solar experience course, valued at $195. Special thanks to AEN partner,ImagineSolar, for donating the passes to KOOP radio!
 

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[Food] You have another chance to see thegroundbreaking documentary, "Cowspiracy," which brings to light the impact of the global meat industry on the environment. After the sold-out of the August screening, it's back for a second showing on October 8th at the Cinemark Tinseltown 17. But, the movie only shows if a ~55 more tickets are sold, so buy yours today! 

 

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[Zero emissions] National Drive Electric Week startson Monday! This nationwide celebration is meant to heighten awareness about the widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and to highlight the many benefits of driving them. Austin will be celebrating with the EV Picnic in the Park onSeptember 20th. From 10am to 2pm at theNorthwest Recreation Center, 29 different EV owners will be showcasing their cars and chatting about them with anyone who will listen. Bring the family, a packed lunch, and your enthusiasm for plug-in vehicles! Learn more>>

 

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[Zero emissions] The Office of Sustainability is heading up efforts to get Austin on a path to zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (or earlier) and they need your help! Together with the Community Climate Steering Committee, the Office of Sustainability is asking the public to go to the Speak Up Austin!discussion board and offer up their own ideas about making Austin emissions-free. 
 

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The City of Austin hasissued a burn ban in all of its parks, greenbelts, and preserves. This includes the use of wood or charcoal BBQ pits/grills/smokers. The temporary ban was issued in response to theheightened fire risk that now exists in Travis County. Remember, it was just about this time of year when destructive wildfires ravaged Bastrop in 2011. So leave your s'mores at home. More info>> 
 

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[Volunteer] The Green Schools Committee of theUSGBC Central TexasBalcones Chapter is currentlyseeking volunteers for the 2014 Green Apple Day of Service on September 27th. There are already a bunch of schools signed up with a list of projects that they need to get done. Now, all the USGBC needs are your helping hands. You can sign up to be a volunteer either as an individual or as a group, and USGBC will match you with a needy school in your area. So what are you waiting for? You can sign up to volunteer here>>
 

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[Education] EcoRise Youth Innovations and HEB are teaming up to expandEcoRise programming in schools all across Texas! HEB is now funding teacher training workshops and the development of online educational resources. These include Do-It-Yourself playbooks, a video library, and the EcoSystem, a searchable database of local volunteers, field trip opportunities, and community resources. With this new support from HEB, EcoRise will be able to expand its impact and engage more schools by providing scholarships to campuses that would otherwise not be able to participate in the program. Way to go EcoRise!  
 

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[Education] Austin Youth River Watch is hosting a fundraising luncheon onOctober 1st called, "Take Me to the River." This incredible organization is looking to double in size over the next few years and are hoping that the community will help them by investing in that growth. At the event, which will be held at Mercury Hall, Austin Youth River Watch will share stories of their impact and reach. Seats are limited, so sign up today by emailing Austin Youth River Watch Executive Director Brent Lyles.

 

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[Symposium] Climate change, drought, and the energy-water nexus will all be up for discussion at the UT Sustainability Symposiumon September 19th. The symposium is a way to share best practices and academic findings, in the hopes of discovering new opportunities for collaboration and innovation. Six different panels will feature several professors and researchers presenting on topics ranging from zero waste initiatives at Texas Athletics to the water quality of Waller Creek. The event is free and open to the public and will be held in the Avaya Auditorium. Learn more here>>

 

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