120: Water Conservation: Where We’re At and How to Be Part of the Change
Peak Environment
Learn about water resource limitations and challenges for Colorado and Colorado Springs. Scott Winter, project manager in Water Resources and Demand Management for Colorado Springs Utilities, shares work being done to ensure our community is as efficient and as resilient as possible. He also reviews how and what you can do to participate in the efficient use of water both inside and outside of your home. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Presenter’s Slides Water Conservation & Efficiency Resources – Colorado Springs Utilities Coffee and Conservation – First Saturday of each...
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119: Overcoming Obstacles to Recycling
Peak Environment
Learn about a great resource in the Pikes Peak Region to help you recycle many items you can’t just toss into curbside recycling. This conversation also explores some opportunities for how we might improve Colorado Springs poor recycling performance – we divert only 15% of our waste from the landfill into recycling. Loveland diverts 60%, Boulder 51%. Mike Mazzola shares why he founded Galvanize Recycling and how this young business can solve many of our recycling challenge – whether you’re a family, a business, a neighborhood group or a city. We also learn about a great opportunity for...
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118: Transition Towns - Community, Resilience, Independence, and Permaculture
Peak Environment
The Transition Town grassroots movement is a way you can impact your own neighborhood. Learn more about this as Peak Environment co-host Ally Richardson explores Transition Towns with Becky Elder and Brian Fritz from Pikes Peak Permaculture. If you would like to find out more about public forums, lectures, and community green movies, or if you would like to host such an event, please send Pikes Peak Permaculture an inquiry at Pikes Peak Permaculture is a Southern Colorado 501c3 nonprofit that educates adults and the youth on the wide world of nature and permaculture. Our upcoming class…....
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117 City of Fountain Sustainability Update
Peak Environment
Katie Helm, Conservation and Sustainability Program Manager for the City of Fountain, provides an update on the city's sustainability efforts. This episode includes an extensive impromptu discussion of recycling challenges and solutions across El Paso County. Katie Helm is the Conservation and Sustainability Program Manager for the City of Fountain, where she manages energy and water programs. In previous roles she has worked as a Water Conservation Specialist for the City of Aurora, a Park Ranger for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and as a sawyer through Americorps. She earned her Bachelor of...
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116: Colorado Springs Sustainability Update
Peak Environment
Learn about City of Colorado Springs sustainability efforts – from both a strategic and an operational perspective. Ryan Trujillo, Deputy Chief of Staff – Operations, updates us and answers questions. Topics include decentralization of the city’s sustainability efforts, status of the yet to be launched Sustainability Advisory Board, a waste characterization study to determine rates we’re diverting waste from landfills, micromobility, and the 2050 Regional Transit Plan (see link to sign up for updates). MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 2050 Regional Transit Plan This episode was...
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115: Plastic Bags Update & Moving Toward Zero Waste: Policy Wins, Advice and Resources
Peak Environment
What’s the law on plastic bags and polystyrene cups and take-out containers? What other legislation is in effect or potentially coming soon to move the state toward zero waste? How can you receive funding to support your organizational efforts? How can we all take part in moving to reduce this kind of waste? Find out in this update from Rachel Setzke of Eco-Cycle. In Colorado, restaurants have experienced as much as a 90% reduction in use (and costs) of single use items like straws, ketchup packets, etc. when they don’t automatically provide them, but first ask if a customer wants them....
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114: In and Outs of a Permaculture Design Certification
Peak Environment
Why might you want to attend a permaculture design certification course offered in our region? Ally Richardson, a permaculture educator and Peak Environment podcast co-producer, discusses this with other members of Pikes Peak Permaculture: Becky Elder, Brian Fritz, and Jayme Domejka. Mentioned in this episode: Pikes Peak Permaculture’s 2024 Permaculture Design Certification Since the early 1980s, permaculture has been taught through hands-on courses – PDCs – with experienced mentors handing down their knowledge to passionate students. We are beginning March 8th and will finish September...
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113: Poor Richard's Rubbish Roundup
Peak Environment
Richard Skorman shares an environmental vision and a unique community building opportunity that can help with the restoration efforts of our local watershed - creating natural landscapes that everyone can enjoy: Poor Richard's Rubbish Roundup! Join the weekly trash roundup team and help keep our community clean. Or, better yet, reach out to Richard for support in starting your own volunteer group near your local waters. The episode is hosted by Ally Richardson, a permaculture educator and Peak Environment co-producer. Richard Skorman served thirteen years on Colorado Springs City Council,...
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112: Have Yourself a Low Impact Holiday
Peak Environment
Do you approach the holidays mindful of the environmental impact of shopping, gifts and food? This episode explores sustainable options for this holiday season. Konrad Schlarbaum, sustainability director for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, shares low-impact practices for gifts, food, decorations, and transportation. Konrad Schlarbaum is the Director of Sustainability at the University of Colorado–Colorado Springs (UCCS). He also serves on the Board of Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future, the Sustainability Committee at Thomas MacLaren School, and the Planning Committee for...
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111: Colorado Clean Energy Legislation
Peak Environment
Current and upcoming legislation that will impact greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, zero emission vehicles and consumer energy costs. Chris Piper, Director of Legislative Affairs at the Colorado Energy Office shares this and much more, in a very engaging presentation and discussion. Colorado Energy Office This episode was recorded at the Sustainability in Progress (SIP) virtual event on October 18, 2023. Sustainability in Progress is a monthly program of the Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future. Join us (free) the third Wednesday of every month. Register for the...
info_outlineEverything you wanted to know about vaping, but didn’t know who to ask. How much do you know about the dangers of vaping? Did you know e-cigarettes contain toxins and carcinogens? That youth who vape are four times as likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes? That second-hand vape smoke can affect the health of bystanders?
Our health and the health of those in our community is an essential part of sustainability. Looking to Our Future, the Pikes Peak region’s 2030 sustainability plan states:
- By 2030, the Pikes Peak region ranks in the top 10 for the United States for individual and population health and well-being.
- By 2030, health and wellness care is accessible and affordable for every resident.
Grace Houser, MD, Assistant Professor, Pediatric Pulmonology at Children's Hospital Colorado gives us a preview of the new Children’s Hospital opening in May or June, 2019 in Colorado Springs, and what that means for access to health care in our community. She also provides an eye-opening education on the dangers of vaping, and efforts to protect people – especially adolescents – from those risks.
During questions and answers, El Paso County Public Health officials Dacia Hudson and Jenny Best, who oversee the Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership, were in the audience and provided useful information.
The moderator was Chris Aaby, Executive Director of the Catamount Institute and of Generation Wild of the Pikes Peak Region, and board member of Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future.
LINKS:
Dr. Houser's Vaping Slide Presentation
Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future
Looking to Our Future: Pikes Peak Region 2030 sustainability plan
Children's Hospital Vaping Handout
El Paso County Youth Tobacco & Vaping Statistics
Get Outdoors Day Colorado Springs June 1, 2019
This presentation was made at the monthly Sustainability in Progress (SIP) event on May 15, 2019. Sustainability in Progress is a monthly program of the Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future. Join us (free) the third Wednesday of every month 7:30-9:00 a.m. in the Wildcat Room at the Ivywild School. Coffee and pastries are provided.
About Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future
The mission of Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future is to promote regional sustainability and advance the Pikes Peak region's sustainability plan (PPR2030) through regional collaboration and outreach.
UPCOMING ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS:
Thursday, May 23
Green Drinks
Green Drinks - at Pike Ride, then Local Relic
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Green Drinks is organized by the Green Cities Coalition. It encourages people to Communicate, Collaborate, Celebrate all things sustainable in the Pikes Peak region! Bring $5 in cash or check to pay it forward for the next Green Drinks or donate online here.
The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region.
Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future
Pikes Peak Environmental Forum
Pikes Peak Library District Green Team
Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Subscribe (free) on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode:
