Sustainable ABQ: Here in Burque, who doesn't love to save? Whether it’s a couple pennies at a thrift store or a few bucks mountain climbing instead of chugging a fresh brew or even saving energy, embracing sustainability can be good for you. For aspiring and practicing eco-conscious citizens, Sustainable ABQ is a great resource to learn how to conserve energy. You can ride the bus instead of emitting toxic gas into the atmosphere, and we're not even talking about flatulence here. You can learn where to shop for local, seasonal groceries; let’s hear it for our farmer's markets. You can learn about recycling and promote the use of upcycled items. It's good for you, or so I've heard. ... sustainableabq.com
New Mexico's Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department: The EMNRD isn't for the faint of heart. ... Wait, that's ice hockey. The EMNRD tackles everything from energy conservation to mining, envisioning “a New Mexico where individuals, agencies and organizations work collaboratively on energy and natural resource management to ensure a sustainable environmental and economic future.” If you're in the mood to talk uranium mining or simply want to add a windmill to your property (thus making it more valuable, in our opinion), these are the people who can help you get where you want to go. … assuming your route is environmentally sound. bit.ly/emnrd
U.S. Green Building Council—New Mexico Chapter: Building stuff is fun. Whether you're making a model airplane or a clubhouse out of twigs, the act of creating something itself is not only therapeutic, it’s downright cool. What if you wanted to build something good for the environment with sustainable, forward-thinking technology? Now that you've dreamed it into existence, give these cats a call and see what they say about building an eco-friendly home, office or clubhouse. usgbcnm.org buildgreennm.com
Green Path Program: Like the U.S. Green Building Council and Build Green New Mexico, the Green Path Program focuses on construction—more specifically on construction that’s consistent with the LEED Program, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Even if that acronym soup bewilders you, this is a good resource for folks who want to build green commercial spaces while ensuring construction waste is disposed of and reused properly and according to building codes consistent with the green philosophy. bit.ly/greenpathpro
Sustainable Santa Fe: Ever wonder why pickup trucks give off enough exhaust to induce coughing fits, temporary illness and a flabbergasted state of mind? Well, excessive exhaust is the type of stuff Sustainable Santa Fe tries to advocate against, and they have a Sustainable Santa Fe Plan to prove it. Their mission statement is: “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to make the community more resilient to weather the changes that are inevitable from global warming in increased energy costs.” Global warming is a serious issue, but when you've got a plan, at least you have something to do until the world ends. bit.ly/sustainsf
