Sustainable Bellevue Climate Leaders

Call to Actions

• Individual and Systemic Actions

  by anna_b, 28 days ago

  Individual Action: I've been using public transportation more often to get to work and run errands. Over the weekend, my friend and I took the light rail to Seattle to visit Pike Place market. We stopped at Taco Time for lunch, and learned about some of their sustainable business strategies like using local ingredients and composting. Since then, I've been more mindful of shopping at locally owned business that support eco-friendly practices.

  
  

  Systemic Action: I talked with some friends about Bellevue's public transportation and walkability. I shared how the Downtown is relatively walkable, but areas like Factoria can improve pedestrian... Continue reading

  Individual Action: I've been using public transportation more often to get to work and run errands. Over the weekend, my friend and I took the light rail to Seattle to visit Pike Place market. We stopped at Taco Time for lunch, and learned about some of their sustainable business strategies like using local ingredients and composting. Since then, I've been more mindful of shopping at locally owned business that support eco-friendly practices.

  
  

  Systemic Action: I talked with some friends about Bellevue's public transportation and walkability. I shared how the Downtown is relatively walkable, but areas like Factoria can improve pedestrian accessibility and safety. Others shared how they occasionally use public transit, but still rely on their cars for a reliable and fast commute. We hope to work with the city to improve transit's user accessibility and expand networks. Another friend mentioned how they are planning to try Bellhop, an electric rideshare shuttle. We agree that individual action motivates systemic change.

• More Energy-Efficient Decision-making

  by kaanemreakdogan, about 1 month ago
  Individual Action: I walked to the restaurant which is a mile away instead of driving. It doesn't change much in a large scale, but it is the little decisions that counts in the long term.
  

  
  

  Systemic Actions:

  • Grass to garden: Grass-covered soil can be converted to gardens to improve local food production while reducing the emissions generated from food transportation. We can have fresh, good food and reduce emissions while promoting biodiversity.
  • Encouraging Mixed-Use Zoning: Mixed use helps people travel on foot more frequently for their daily activities including work and running errands such as shopping. Mixed-use zoning also compacts... Continue reading

  Individual Action: I walked to the restaurant which is a mile away instead of driving. It doesn't change much in a large scale, but it is the little decisions that counts in the long term.
  

  
  

  Systemic Actions:

  • Grass to garden: Grass-covered soil can be converted to gardens to improve local food production while reducing the emissions generated from food transportation. We can have fresh, good food and reduce emissions while promoting biodiversity.
  • Encouraging Mixed-Use Zoning: Mixed use helps people travel on foot more frequently for their daily activities including work and running errands such as shopping. Mixed-use zoning also compacts living space, leaving bigger areas for nature, reducing heat absorption of infrastructure. Encouraging this will lead to less emissions and less heat retention.
  • Encouraging Electric Heat Pumps: They are extremely efficient at heating and cooling, as well as flexible. Perfect for Seattle's weather in both winter and summer.

• Individual Actions and Need for Systemic Changes

  by afan, about 1 month ago
  I try to drive an electric car instead of a gas car when possible. I also try to reduce consumption of single-use items and to recycle my waste when possible. Finally, I use a heat pump at home instead of traditional heating and cooling.

  
  

  Systemic actions include changing the overall infrastructure of our community to support a more sustainable lifestyle. One important change is to have all utilities use only renewable energy instead of natural gas and other fossil fuels. Another is to have on-demand transportation in electric vehicles to transit stops, since my neighborhood is very far from transit... Continue reading

  I try to drive an electric car instead of a gas car when possible. I also try to reduce consumption of single-use items and to recycle my waste when possible. Finally, I use a heat pump at home instead of traditional heating and cooling.

  
  

  Systemic actions include changing the overall infrastructure of our community to support a more sustainable lifestyle. One important change is to have all utilities use only renewable energy instead of natural gas and other fossil fuels. Another is to have on-demand transportation in electric vehicles to transit stops, since my neighborhood is very far from transit stops and right now almost everyone drives everywhere. Finally, stores should in general use recyclable packaging, ideally without plastic, that can be placed in curbside recycling.
  
  I tried talking with my family about measures they can take to live more sustainably. For instance, I suggested buying groceries with recyclable packaging instead of single-use plastic packaging. However, they favor the convenience of the current things in stores, so I realize that systemic changes to promote a zero-waste lifestyle are needed, and the burden shouldn't only fall on the consumer.
  
  I try to take some steps to live more sustainably, but ultimately, I realize that many systemic changes need to be made so it's easier for everyone to live sustainably without too much effort.

• tackling sustainability across consumption, local ecosystems, personal transit, and finance

  by a.l.greenmisc, about 1 month ago

  Hey everyone! Just wanted to share a few practical ways I’ve been incorporating climate advocacy into my daily routine lately:

  • Buying Used (When Possible): I’ve been hitting up garage and yard sales instead of buying new. So much perfectly good stuff gets tossed aside, and choosing pre-owned keeps usable goods out of landfills while cutting down on new manufacturing waste.

  • Strengthening the Tree Canopy: I’m investing in planting more trees to help build up our local canopy, shade our neighborhoods, and support local biodiversity.

  • Upgrading Personal Transit: Swapping out an older, less efficient car for a newer used model—getting better... Continue reading

  Hey everyone! Just wanted to share a few practical ways I’ve been incorporating climate advocacy into my daily routine lately:

  • Buying Used (When Possible): I’ve been hitting up garage and yard sales instead of buying new. So much perfectly good stuff gets tossed aside, and choosing pre-owned keeps usable goods out of landfills while cutting down on new manufacturing waste.

  • Strengthening the Tree Canopy: I’m investing in planting more trees to help build up our local canopy, shade our neighborhoods, and support local biodiversity.

  • Upgrading Personal Transit: Swapping out an older, less efficient car for a newer used model—getting better efficiency without the heavy carbon footprint of manufacturing a brand-new vehicle.

  • Values-Based Investing: Aligning my financial goals with my environmental values by directing my investment portfolio into ETFs focused on renewable energy, electric vehicles, and water sustainability.

  Would love to hear what small or big shifts everyone else is making!

• Talking with landlord and cleaning lady at work

  by jpr, about 1 month ago

  I already don't own a car, compost, e-bike, etc. I've taken a lot of personal steps already.

  
  

  So my actions were more about talking with other folks.

  Individual action: Talked with the cleaning lady (Who primarily speaks Spanish) about work about climate change and natural gas extensively. I also sent them the materials on the clean buildings Bellevue incentives for multi-family housing in Spanish. They said they would bring it up with their landlord and share it.

  Systemic Action: Talked with my landlord and handed them the flyer I received on Wednesday. They mentioned already working with City Hall and... Continue reading

  I already don't own a car, compost, e-bike, etc. I've taken a lot of personal steps already.

  
  

  So my actions were more about talking with other folks.

  Individual action: Talked with the cleaning lady (Who primarily speaks Spanish) about work about climate change and natural gas extensively. I also sent them the materials on the clean buildings Bellevue incentives for multi-family housing in Spanish. They said they would bring it up with their landlord and share it.

  Systemic Action: Talked with my landlord and handed them the flyer I received on Wednesday. They mentioned already working with City Hall and liked working with the government which was nice to hear. I also messaged my building manager about the composting just being thrown in the trash.