YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY - AS A BUSINESS EXHIBITOR, SPONSOR, OR PARTICIPANT!  

Check out  LINK TO SEE SCHEDULE!   on this WEBSITE. 

January 25 - Free to the public: Tours of some of Wichita Historic Buildings; Free Screenings of two Videos and a Repair and Paint Certification for Lead Paint (Fee for Workshop)

January 26 & January 27 - Preregistration or Walk-in - Fee required.

January 28th.  -  FAIR  Free to the General Public. 

Wichita Ranks Last in 2011 US Sustainable Cities Survey and Complete Streets Forum Report

While gathering information for the 2011 Sustainable Cities Survey, I realized I hadn’t reported on the successful results of the Complete Streets Forum held in July.  So, this blog has two topics:

Wichita Ranks Last

Did you know this year we were ranked dead last in a 2011 survey for sustainable cities?  Kent Portney, Ph.D., Tufts University, has released results of a survey that shows Wichita is last among 55 of the largest US Cities for sustainability.  The Wichita Eagle’s Ron Sylvester interviewed the professor and highlights were published on Saturday, August 6^th, in an article  "Environment study ranks Wichita last".

Sylvester also discussed sustainability and and the survey in his weekly column – Keeping the Plains where he provides a list of sustainable actions under the subheading Tip Off.  The reporter has taken a bold step in asking Wichitans to help improve our score. 

I am asking Wichitans to do the same.  Go online to Keeping the Plains and pick an action that you commit to take over the week to help us out.  IF we all pitch in and sustain our efforts, we can move that dead last ranking up the line to a better position.  The Wichita Eagle has now published an Editorial on this topic so check this out, too - Take Ranking Seriously.  (Updated blog - 8/16/2011.)

AN INTERVIEW FOR THE BLOG AND WICHITA ENTERTAINMENT FRIDAY NIGHT.  A BLOG FIRST!  A few months ago I got an email out of the blue from Bella Ruse, a Minneapolis band!!! I was surprised to learn that they were coming to town and wanted to talk about how important it is for them to be carbon neutral - to reduce their impact on the environment as much as possible.  The message said "GREEN" band Bella Ruse would be coming to play in Wichita on June 10th at the Bay Leaf Restaurant. Never heard of such a thing...a green band.

Hundreds of people came out to listen, learn and discuss energy and sustainability ideas at the two-day conference, January 28th and 29th, that was held at the WSU Huges Metroplex.  While the event is over, the ideas are just flowing.  It was exciting to see our community buzzing with interest.  We want to thank all attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, and workers.  We're still scrambling to get all the pictures,  power point presentations and survey on the website.  Please check back in a few days to download information and to fill out the Energy and Sustainability Fair (Saturday) survey.        

The City of Wichita and Partners will host its 3rd Annual 2011 Regional Energy Sustainability Summit and Fair on January 28th and 29th, 2011, at the WSU HUGHES METROPLEX. Two distinctly different days and events are designed for two different audiences but all are welcome both days. Energy saving strategies and tips will be provided by experts in both work and home environments. Don't miss this exciting conference and take home FREE green products and equipment!

The 2010 Wichita Area Air Quality and Sustainability Awards will be announced during the Summit on Friday and a special community award will be announced during the Fair on Saturday. Don't miss these announcements as we celebrate area air quality improvements and sustainability efforts.

Prize drawings for energy efficiency and sustainability items will be held on both days for those 18 years of age and older. Visit vendor exhibits and be eligible to enter a drawing to win great energy saving devices including several electric power monitors, programmable light timers and other smart business and home tools and equipment.

Download the schedules for the Summit (Friday) or Fair (Saturday) to green your home, yard or office. Go green to save green.

This week the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released a report ranking Kansas as 46th in energy efficient programs. Anyone watching the national energy scene and other states for energy efficient programs will not be surprised at this even though Kansas has been working to make some improvements in the last two years.      

The Wichita Eagle reported on Thursday that a state spokesperson was not sure how the rankings were determined.  Some of the state's big loan programs were not mentioned.  Here are links to the Eagle article www.kansas.com/2010/10/14/1541479/energy-efficiency-lagging.html   and to the ACEEE report www.aceee.org/sector/state-policy/scorecard    

This is a good opportunity. Don't miss it...

Kay

National Take-Back Initiative

Saturday, September 25, 2010

On September 25, 2010, DEA will coordinate a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our nation’s medicine cabinets. Collection activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. at sites established throughout the country. The National Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction. These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.

Caroline Hosford, Sedgwick County Environmental Resources Dept., provided me with information today about household hazardous waste collected in Sedgwick County:

Most of us have items in our homes that need to be disposed of in a special way in order to protect the environment—items like paint, automotive fluids (gasoline, used oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid, etc.), garden chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, propane tanks and old medications.

HAPPY EARTH DAY! This is the www.greenwichita.org website and now a new GREEN Wichita Blog. It just seemed fitting to jump start it today as a way to celebrate.

Introduction

My name is Kay Johnson, Manager of Environmental Initiatives for the City of Wichita. As a college student, I started working in the environmental field in 1976 (Water Resources Board for the State of Oklahoma) and I’m proud to say it has been my profession ever since. This site isn’t about the City of Wichita but information will be included about the City programs and activities. The purpose of the website and blog is to spread the word about environmental resources, actions and ideas that citizens, businesses and governments are doing or things that can be easily done to protect and improve our quality of life beginning with the environment. From time to time, others will write the blog and others will be interviewed.