I am not sure how to convince your city as a whole to change, but we do have some Green options for Houston at Lime Local. Have you checked it out?

I do think that it starts with each of us.  Do you and your friends practice being green?  I know that I try to spread the word by joining co ops with my neighbors to buy organic local food in the summer and I try and get them to become members of LIME to become better educated.  Maybe there are local groups you could join to get better connected and meet more people who may know of ways to make a change.  Get familiar with your local farmers, Whole Food Markets or Sustainable Living.http://www.lime.com/node/4325

 

 

Groups.

 

One way people can get involved in Houston is thru the Student Conservation Association (SCA), which annually manages a six-week high school summer conservation program providing local youth with paid summer employment, leadership opportunities and team-building skills to promote conservation and the enhancement of the city’s natural resources. Our feature in the Houston Chronicle can be found here: http://www.thesca.org/images/stories/pdf/houston_chronicle2.pdf

Last year the SCA 'Green Team' completed intensive projects at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center and Memorial Park, as well as an educational component in which students studied ecosystems, conservation principles and environmental awareness, with education days at Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center, Sheldon Lake State Park, the Arrow Retreat Center, Buchanan’s Native Plants Nursery, and touring Houston-area environmentally-friendly “green buildings.”

With spring right around the corner, the Green Team allows Houston teens to explore a new vision of the world outside their windows and beneath their feet, better appreciating nature while promoting a fresh perspective to an underexposed industry - not to mention presenting new career options to young people that previously may never have been considered. Visit www.thesca.org for more info

SCA - Celebrating 50 Years of Students Conserving America

I just checked out the SCA site and it really looks fabulous!! I had no idea that this organization existed and will keep it in mind for my boys when they are age appropriate.

Educating children about the planet and how they can participate so important and one of the real answers to solving the existing problems today.  These opportunities seem great and I like the fact that they are hands on and get the kids out there seeing how their contributions are helping to make a difference.  Kudos!

 

I visited Houston a few years ago and it didn't stand out as a particulalry green city to me at the time (apart from the free trolly buses) - but recently i checked out the tourism website and was pleased to find a green guide.

Green tourism in cities is an area I research alot, and Houston's tourism website is way ahead of the curve in offering a green guide, i've found very few tourism boards around the globe that offer anything similar, so its great that they're encouraging green city breaks.

 

Jamble Magazine - green backpacking

I have some relatives that live in the Houston area. They have mentioned to me in the past that they are the only people on their entire street that recycles. Nobody else does, and apparently, his neighbors look at him and chuckle whenever they see him putting out his green bin. There should be more awareness of the simple things people can do, like recycling your plastic milk containers. That would be so easy, and still make a BIG impact.

In the “My Solution Is…” pledge campaign, commuters promise to participate in the commute alternative solution throughout the month of August. In return, the East Harris County Manufacturers Association will donate one dollar for every person (up to the first $10,000) who commits to try a commute alternative during the month of August to support clean air initiatives. Additionally, all pledge participants will receive a coupon for a free Jamba Juice, the chance to win a $1,000 gas gift card and discount for Houston Dynamo tickets. Visit http://www.MySolutionIs.com to make the pledge!

 

Here's a fun animation about the campaign: http://www.mysolutionis.com/animation.html

Begin with a personal commitment to learn, do and grow in GREEN ways in your own life. Do all that you can in your own life to live as green as possible. As you do this, you'll realize that your actions are making positive changes in your own life as well as in your community (or city). As a result, you'll meet like-minded people and soon realize that your commitment has transitioned into a lifestyle. A GREEN lifestyle means a low-impact on your environment and being around others who also wish to make a difference. An abundance of opportunities to make a change will present themselves such as volunteering, teaching others about GREEN living and simply being an example for others. Before you know it, your own commitment will be the change you wish to see in Houston and that change will result in a positive change globally. It all begins with you. I encourage you to visit and join: http://www.HoustonGREENscene.com Your passion, desire and contribution will help the local effort to make Houston GREEN!

BTW: HoustonGREENscene.com is a great place to find out about Houston's GREEN people, places, things to do, ideas and more...

 

http://www.HoustonGREENscene.com