The health and resilience of the natural environment is crucial for our community’s well-being. This simple, yet profound understanding has unites our community over generations in our quest to preserve and value our natural environments.
The Suncoast’s population is growing, and so are the environmental stresses. We all care deeply about environmental degradation and often wish someone would do something about it. Sometimes that someone is all of us.
Each of our choices has cumulative effects that can either have an impact on the environment or protect it. Residents and businesses are opting for the latter and seeking information about ways they can reduce their environmental impact.
With support from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Science and Environment Council, the Science and Environment Council have curated a set of resources to help residents focus on the most effective and feasible solutions for sustainable living along the Suncoast.
The Green Living Toolkit (greenlivingtoolkit.org) is the first-of-its-kind essential guide to sustainable energy, food, waste recovery, water protection and nature assembled all in one place. It is especially designed for Sarasota-Manatee residents.
The Toolkit contains the best step-by, step-by-step guides and calculators, as well as incentives and videos to get you started. The Toolkits communitywide calendar combines environmental events from over 100 local organizations. It includes sustainability classes, tours and festivals, farmers markets, as well as opportunities for volunteering or speaking up for a cause.
The Toolkit also provides access to experts and local resources that can help you answer your questions. If you are interested in rooftop solar power for your home, the Toolkit will help you to assess your roof readiness, reduce your energy use to maximize solar efficiency and right-size your solar system.
If you aren’t ready to install solar, there are many opportunities available through the Toolkit to support solar in the community. This includes helping local nonprofits install solar at their facilities and advocating for solar through organizations like Southface Sarasota, Citizens Climate Lobby or Solar United Neighbors.
We invite you visit the Green Living Toolkit site to find and interact with the most current information, get clear guidance with simple first steps, and to be inspired and motivated in taking meaningful and rewarding actions to protect the environment.
Every action you take will bring you personal and community benefits, from your family’s health and wellbeing to personal savings, property values, ecosystem health, community prosperity, and personal savings. The Green Living Toolkit has everything you need to live a happy life and be green.
The Science and Environment Council, a 501(c),3 nonprofit network of 40 local science and environmental organizations, is a 501(c). It was founded in 2001. It works to increase science based environmental understanding, conservation, and restoration through collaboration with the public in Sarasota, Manatee, and adjacent watersheds.
David Shafer is the co-executive Director of theScience and Environmental Council of Southwest Florida. Lee Hayes Byron directs the Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension. Teri A Hansen serves as the CEO ofCharles and Margery Barancik foundation.