One of the most attractive qualities (whether you realize it or not) that makes Fort Collins one of the most desirable cities in the country is the presence of sustainable practices. Many grassroots sustainability initiatives have roots in our progressive and forward-thinking city. If you haven’t noticed the abundance of these programs, now is the time. This April marks the 40th anniversary for Earth Day. Most of us are familiar with Earth Day as a time for national recognition and a “call for collective action” to save our planet – the opportunity to mobilize the general public to advocate for cleaner air and water, lessen our carbon footprint, promote a healthy environment, and erect global change. However, many people might not realize that locally, this isn’t a once-a-year motivation. It’s a year-round mantra for our community. Various local non-profits, for-profit organizations, and the city of Fort Collins are champions for “greening” the community, not just for Earth Day, but every day. What kind of Colorado do we want? On many different levels this is a question that we should all be asking ourselves. What is the impact of our actions, and what is the legacy that we want to leave behind? When it comes to the environment and sustainable living practices, these questions serve as a guide to many of the programs that our community creates and supports. Fortunately, when it comes to sustainability initiatives in Fort Collins, there is a “general creativity approach that is not incredibly elite; there is a folky element that speaks to the everyday person,” said Bryan Birch, one of the co-founders of ZeroHero, a local company that creates sustainable events through zero waste, renewable energy, and education. “Ideas that might not be successful in other parts of the country are successful here,” he says. What exactly is it that makes Fort Collins a hub, or an incubator, for successful sustainability organizations and initiatives? “You can take a creative idea or concept here and it can be successful without people thinking you’re crazy,” Birch says. Our community encourages innovative ideas and concepts. The abundance of resources, collaborations, and ideas results in success for many grassroots sustainability companies. Many of us take for granted the overwhelming number of sustainability practices in Fort Collins. Did you know that there are over 280 miles of wide bike lanes found throughout the city? We take “sharing the road” seriously. Recently, downtown FoCo added five New Belgium “on street” bicycle parking racks (created as a joint venture between the City of Fort Collins’ Transportation Planning Department and the New Belgium Brewery). Partnerships such as these thrive because people in our community value uniqueness and creativity. Other fine examples of tangible grassroots initiatives throughout the City are the ReDirect Guide – a sustainable business directory and resource guide that encourages green living and sustainable communities; and the Be Local coupon book, which encourages human scale local commerce through green living and local shopping. The Sustainable Living Association provides educational programs and workshops that offer creative solutions for everything from renewable energy and alternative fuels to natural health, green building, and organic agriculture. They sponsor an annual September event – The Sustainable Living Fair – that brings together all types of sustainable businesses through exhibits, keynote speakers, workshops, and more. Organizations such as Trees, Water & People, ZeroHero, and GenGreenLife find their home in Fort Collins, but have expanded to a national scale with their successful business models that started locally. These businesses, among others, are working toward a common goal – of enhancing the “triple” bottom line – to have social, economic, and environmental impacts. By enhancing the triple bottom line, it’s a win-win-win for the morale of our community, saving money, and the earth. Trees, Water & People is currently working on local projects that involve creating renewable energy in schools and education through solar demonstrations and outdoor classrooms. Through their programs, “not only do the schools save money, but taxpayers save money,” says Heather Herrell, Development Director. An excellent example of a company dedicated to minimizing it’s environmental impact is the New Belgium Brewery. In 1999, New Belgium became the largest private consumer of wind-power electricity at that time, and the largest wind-powered brewery. This company continues to be a leader for sustainability in many ways, and has set the bar high for other local businesses. Other prime examples of sustainability programs are Climate Wise and RMI2 (Rocky Mountain Innovation Initiative). These programs help local businesses through creative solutions that positively impact their bottom lines and the quality of life. Climate Wise has over 190 members and is continuing to grow. RMI2 has access to a network of mentors and advisors, support services, business connections, networking opportunities and education to turn great ideas into great businesses. The focus on sustainability in our community is exciting! New programs are always emerging, and existing programs are growing. If you’re not already, the month of April is the perfect time to get energized about the awesome work going on year-round in our community surrounding sustainability. Get involved with the amazing local organizations that make our community what it is – and share in the vision of what we can become.
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