Hoping to turn environmental green into green money savings and job growth for the City of Indianapolis, Major Ballard kicked off Green Week events by announcing the new Office of Sustainability of the City of Indianapolis and introduced its Director, Karin Haley at a press conference at City Market. Major Ballard highlighted transportation initiatives (greening of the City's fleet), encouraging green construction and public-private partnerships as some of the elements of the City's commitment to sustainability. The Major highlighted that sustainability and environmental stewardship is responsible to the City's taxpayers and will move the City forward as well as develop green jobs. Yesterday, in a practical display of green industry at work the City Market hosted a green fair where vendors and Indianapolis businesses highlighted their contributions to the green marketplace. I chatted with folks at IPower who had a display highlighting how its heat and power units can provide energy independence by the efficient use of energy and the use of renewable energy which may lead to a 70% energy savings compared with power from the grid, and watched a mini-demonstration of ECI Wind and Solar's equipment power an electronic bug across it's display. I arrived too late for a sample of Endangered Species chocolate at the Keep Indianapolis Beautiful table, but thanked Renee for bringing their complete line of chocolate bars to their table. I think I'm going to incorporate a rain barrel from Green Way Supply into my home landscaping - I especially liked that the barrel is made from olive barrels from Italy. If only I can find a way to have the barrel water my plants for me. Maybe that is the next sustainability design step. Watch for environmental programs from the City starting next week with the new model for Indy Parks Monday, October 13th at Rhodius Park, 1720 W. Wilkins Street, 8:00 am. See today's IndyStar for a complete list of events.
