Meet this month’s “Sustainability Snapshot,” Lisa Janeway, and learn more about her efforts to live sustainably:
What inspired you to adopt more sustainable practices in your life?
My mom deserves the credit for inspiring my personal and professional journeys in conservation. She lobbied for our town and county to create recycling programs when I was a kid and I subsequently started the first paper recycling program in my elementary school. I have spent my entire professional career working in outdoor recreation and public land conservation. Protecting our natural resources is essential to how I work, live and play.
Can you give some examples of how you practice a sustainable lifestyle (either related to zero waste, renewable energy, conservation, involvement with the Evergreen Sustainability Alliance, etc.)?
Sometimes the conversation around sustainability assumes that there is a point when ‘you have arrived’. Living sustainably is actually very dynamic and we are always trying to make behavioral changes in an effort to do better. We live minimally and choose to buy and own less first. We make smart purchasing decisions and do so primarily through small businesses, buy 100% solar energy through Xcel, recycle and support the Evergreen Sustainability Alliance. We aim to do better with our gas consumption, water use and food waste. It’s much more meaningful to be inspired by others than to constantly compare our efforts.
What words of wisdom do you have for someone just getting started on their journey to ‘go green’?
As a parent of two small kids, I must say that it requires effort to look past the marketing and move beyond purchasing for convenience. So many retail items are designed to be easily disposable especially food packaging, cheap clothes and plastic toys. As it turns out, planting a few of our own veggies, embracing hand me downs and enjoying well made toys that encourage creativity leads to a great deal of fun in our household. I remind myself that I’m keeping my promise of clean water, air and open space to my kids. Using my skills, vote and resources to help provide these for others keeps me motivated.
