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www.ci.austin.tx.us/greenbuilder/glfs windows.htm <br />Local Economy <br />Why is it important to support local businesses? Our local merchants are a big part of what makes Austin, Austin. <br />And the money they collect is more likely to be re-circulated locally than money spent at other businesses. <br />^ To learn more, read "The Benefits of Doing Business Locally" from the Boulder (Colorado) Independent <br />Business Alliance at www.boulder-iba.org/why/index <br />^ The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce promotes economic development in Austin. See <br />www.austinchamber.org <br />Smart Shopping <br />Economists often speak of people "voting with their dollars". Make sure you're voting for companies and products <br />that reflect your values. <br />^ The Green PagesT"" is a directory of thousands of socially and environmentally responsible businesses, <br />products and services. See www.coopamerica.org/ <br />^ Responsible Shopper is an Internet tool designed to help you learn more about the companies whose <br />products you may use. See www.responsibleshopper.org <br />^ The Center for a New American Dream has its "Guide to Environmentally Preferable Purchasing" on-line <br />at www.newdream.org/ <br />Sustainable Lifestyle <br />A variety of resources to help you do the right thing: <br />^ Green Living -from the Union of Concerned Scientists www.ucsusa.org <br />^ Buy safe products greenhome.com <br />Transportation <br />Your transportation choices have profound impacts on your life, on the environment, on public costs, and on the <br />livability of our neighborhoods. Here are some facts: It has been estimated that, in the U.S., our $26 billion annual <br />investment in transit realizes $60 billion in total benefits to our communities; on average, it costs a family more <br />than $5,000 per year to own and operate one motor vehicle; and motor vehicles produce the most pollution when <br />their engines are cold -that means those short trips are the worst of all for the environment. Here's where to look <br />for help making positive changes: <br />^ The Union of Concerned Scientists can help you buy a greener vehicle, see <br />www.ucsusa.org/clean_veh icles/ <br />^ When it comes to converting energy to motion, the bicycle is the most energy-efficient form of <br />transportation ever devised, and Austin is rated as one of the best cities in America for cycling. Get. <br />pedaling with help the Austin Bicycling Coalition. Go to www.austincycling.org/. The City of Austin also <br />has aBicycle/Pedestrian Program. Go to www.ci.austin.tx.us/bicycle <br />^ Get on the Bus! For information on routes and fairs from Capital Metro, go to www.capmetro.com <br />^ Learn more! We recommend the website of the Surface Transportation Policy Project. Go to <br />www.transact.org <br />Waste Reduction <br />The average American produces twice as much garbage as the average European, and food waste is the single <br />largest category of household waste. We can do better. <br />^ Recycle! See the City of Austin Recycling website at www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/recycling or Ecology Action <br />at www.ecology-action.org <br />^ Compost! Get local composting information at www.ci.austinax.us/sws/compost <br />