Green Building / Housing

Affiliated Organizations

  • Beantree Farm
    consulting/design services, education, workshops, tours, permaculture, green building, earth/cob/straw/recycled materials building, integrated passive/active low energy/water community design, local/native foods, food security, educational staycations, na
  • Canelo Project
    "A small non-profit dedicated to the exploration and education of natural, local and artistic building techniques Workshops in straw bale, earthen and lime plasters...
  • Center for Sustainable Environments
    "CSE is a national leader in university-based sustainability science" (Northern Arizona University)
  • DAWN SouthWest: Natural Building Workshops
    "DAWN SouthWest offers Workshops and other Resources for Sustainable Building and Permaculture enthusiasts."
  • Development Center for Appropriate Technology
    "...promoting a shift to sustainable construction and development through leadership, strategic relationships and education."
  • Learn to fix a house
  • Milagro Co-Housing
  • Originate Natural Building Materials
    "A natural building materials showroom that specializes in interior finishes that are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, durable, and made from natural and renewable resources."
  • Rammed Earth Development, Inc
    Tucson region green builder
  • re-HOME
    re-HOME provides various green building services including webinars, workshops, in-home energy assessments, decision support, etc. Patricia Ewanski
  • Sonoran Permaculture Guild
    An excellent resource for all people wanting to design systems guided by ecology, including building, food production and water harvesting. The site also features workshops taught by Tucson's experts in the field.
  • US Green Building Council - Arizona Chapter, Southern Branch
    Green building certification, professional training & accreditation, educational resources...

Other Local Organizations

  • Ecosa Institute
    "Unique sustainable design programs for architecture and design undergraduates, graduates, AND sustainable career explorers" (Prescott, AZ)
  • Rammed Earth Development, Inc
    Tucson region green builder
  • Solar Grants for Nonprofits
    Technicians For Sustainability is glad to be able to offer a grant program for non-profits who are interested in adding solar systems to their buildings. We offer both matching solar grants and full solar grants. Due dates for applications are March 21 an

Local Businesses

  • Abco/Westcap Solar
    Solar energy provider
  • Double space bed systems
    "The 'space creating bed' for convenient everyday use"
  • GeoInnovation
    "We offer businesses and homeowners in Southeast Arizona a sustainable energy alternative giving you control of your own electricity production."
  • Greener Lives LLC
    A licensed, full-service interior design firm that specializes in healthy and sustainable interiors
  • Lanning Architecture
    practicle design for modern southwest living
  • Originate Natural Building Materials
    "A natural building materials showroom that specializes in interior finishes that are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, durable, and made from natural and renewable resources."
  • Progressive Solar
    "...an Arizona based alternative energy company. We design, sell and install complete systems for various applications. We pride ourselves in our ability to take complex, intricate challenges and bring them to reality in the form of working systems."
  • Rammed Earth Development, Inc
    Tucson region green builder
  • re-HOME
    re-HOME provides various green building services including webinars, workshops, in-home energy assessments, decision support, etc. Patricia Ewanski
  • Solar Store
    "dedicated to providing renewable energy resources, products, and services while addressing the needs of our customers with the highest level of technical and professional competence."
  • Technicians For Sustainability
    "a locally owned, mission-driven company specializing in renewable energy and sustainable technologies for residential and commercial settings."

Other Resources

  • Beantree Farm
    consulting/design services, education, workshops, tours, permaculture, green building, earth/cob/straw/recycled materials building, integrated passive/active low energy/water community design, local/native foods, food security, educational staycations, na
  • Green Drinks Tucson
    Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up for a drink at informal sessions around the world known as Green Drinks.
  • Greener Lives LLC
    A licensed, full-service interior design firm that specializes in healthy and sustainable interiors
  • Learn to fix a house
  • Solar Grants for Nonprofits
    Technicians For Sustainability is glad to be able to offer a grant program for non-profits who are interested in adding solar systems to their buildings. We offer both matching solar grants and full solar grants. Due dates for applications are March 21 an
  • Sonoran Permaculture Guild
    An excellent resource for all people wanting to design systems guided by ecology, including building, food production and water harvesting. The site also features workshops taught by Tucson's experts in the field.

Global Organizations

  • Builders Without Borders
  • City Repair.org
    "helping people reclaim their urban spaces to create community-oriented places."
  • Community Solution
    Community Service, Inc. (CSI), founded in 1940, is a non-profit organization that educates on the benefits and values of small local community living. We envision a world where people live sustainably and cooperatively in local communities which are diver
  • Inhabitat.com
    A weblog devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future.
  • U.S. Green Building Council - National

Local Discussion Groups

  • Green Drinks Tucson
    Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up for a drink at informal sessions around the world known as Green Drinks.
  • Tucson Permaculture discussion group
    Getting started with projects like growing food, harvesting rainwater, harnessing solar energy? This email discussion group is a good place to post questions, share knowledge, and make connections.

Publications/Media Resources

  • Inhabitat.com
    A weblog devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future.

Government Relations

Articles

  • Ten Good Things About a (Not So) Bad Year
    Ten Good Things About a (Not So) Bad Year Medea Benjamin, CommonDreams I had the privilege of starting out the year witnessing, firsthand, the unfolding of the Egyptian revolution in Tahrir Square. I saw people who had been muzzled their entire lives, especially women, suddenly discovering their collective...
  • The 12 most hopeful trends to build on in 2012
    The 12 most hopeful trends to build on in 2012 Published by YES! Magazine on Sat, 12/31/2011 Original article: http://www.yesmagazine.org/blogs/sarah-van-gelder/12-most-hopeful-trends-to-build-on-in-2012 by Sarah van Gelder Who would have thought that some young people camped out in lower Manhattan...
  • ST January Meeting - Topics and Working Groups for 2012
    at Joel D. Valdez Main Library 101 N. Stone, Downtown (free lower level parking off Alameda St) How do we "green" our homes and neighborhoods? How do we work together and contribute to each other? How do we prepare for climate change? Join us on January 9th to learn of some exciting efforts now underway...
  • Greywater Systems - Watershed Technical Training - Feb 6-8
    Early registration ends January 6! Brad Lancaster, Senior Watershed Specialist with Watershed Management Group and author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, will lead this hands-on technical training covering advanced greywater systems. Greywater use is not only allowed by an increasing...
  • Community-based Green Infrastructure - Watershed Technical Training - March 29-31
    Introductory webinar: March 20th, 3-5pm (PDT). Hands-on training: March 29-31, 2012, Tucson, Arizona. Watershed Management Group has been working with community members to install neighborhood level Green Infrastructure (GI) projects in Tucson since 2008. Now WMG is offering an in-depth professional...
  • Dreaming New Mexico - Peter Warshall - TEDxABQ video
    Dreaming New Mexico has built a map of pragmatic and visionary solutions to create a more localized and green economy with greater local self-reliance and enhanced prosperity. Peter Warshall is Co-Director of the Bioneers' Dreaming New Mexico Project, and a world-renowned water steward, biodiversity...
  • Empty Southwest - Where Did All the People Go?
  • $4B Public-private Program for Energy-efficiency planned
    The following national plan for investing in the energy-efficiency of our buildings is a further evolution of  Ed Mazria's 2009 Plan which Sustainable Tucson is suggesting as a model to develop a local green retrofit  stimulus program. See the Mazria Plan here: $4B public-private program for energy...
  • Inside Tucson's Civano Project
    Inside the Civano Project: A Case Study of Large-Scale Sustainable Neighborhood Development (Mcgraw-Hill's Greensource Series) 2009 By C. Alan Nichols and Jason A. Laros Forward by Sustainable Tucson -- Co-Founder Bob Cook Forward The following story is about a group of people who recognized a once-in-a-lifetime...
  • Ed Mazria's Two-Year, Nine-Million-Jobs Investment Plan
    By Caroline Dobuzinskis (Ed Mazria's  Revised One-Year, 4.5 Million-Jobs Investment Plan available here:) With the job market crashing and a reported one in five mortgages underwater, the need for complex solutions to fix the US economy grows increasingly urgent. Ed Mazria, founder of the non-profit...
  • 2012 Green Retrofit Stimulus Proposal for Tucson
    With half of all mortgaged homes “underwater” and owing more than their market value, housing prices continue to decline even after four years of collapsing prices. The ongoing global credit and debt crisis combined with declining house prices spell disaster for the home-building industry for at...
  • 2012 Green Retrofit Economic Stimulus Proposal for Tucson
    2012 Green Retrofit Economic Stimulus Proposal for Tucson With half of all mortgaged homes “underwater” and owing more than their market value, housing prices continue to decline even after four years of collapsing prices. The ongoing global credit and debt crisis combined with declining house prices...
  • UA Professor Walks Away From Empire
    UA Natural Resources Professor Emeritus Guy McPherson and Sustainable Tucson founding coalition member addresses the International Conference on Sustainability, Transition and Culture Change: Vision, Action, Leadership recounting his journey to personal accountability in the current crisis of civilization...
  • The Dark Side of the ‘Green’ City
    The Dark Side of the ‘Green’ City By Andrew Ross PHOENIX The struggle to slow global warming will be won or lost in cities, which emit 80 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. So “greening” the city is all the rage now. But if policy makers end up focusing only on those who can afford the...
  • Sustainability Lessons for the United States
    How Germany became Europe’s green leader: A look at four decades of sustainable policymaking by Ralph Buehler, Arne Jungjohann, Melissa Keeley, Michael Mehling In Brief Over the last 40 years, all levels of government in Germany have retooled policies to promote growth that is more environmentally...
  • Bean Tree Farm Workshops - Fall 2011
    Here are Bean Tree Farm's workshop listings for fall, 2011, plus a special solar energy class we're excited to be hosting.  For more info and any questions, check out www.beantreefarm.com, or email beantreefarm(at)gmail.com --- October 8 ~ Earth Plasters, Paints and Pigments ~ 8am-12noon: Art,...
  • ST Sustainability Book Sale
    Sustainable Tucson is offering a very special Book Sale fundraising event at our October  General Meeting. We have more than 150 titles, including some hard-to-find classics. The winter reading season is coming, so come and browse this rich collection of sustainability literature. You can shop with...
  • Sustainable Tucson - General Meeting - October 2011
    Sustainable Tucson General Meeting - at Milagro Cohousing Community Monday, October 10th, 5:45 – 8:30 pm, and come early at 5:15 pm for a tour Note: this meeting will be at the Milagro Cohousing Community instead of the library (click here for map). If you can come earlier, there will be a tour of...
  • Watershed Management Group Residential Site Tour
    Sept 17, 2011 10 am – 4pm Looking for inspiration and ideas as to how to green and beautify your home landscape without increasing your water bill? Watershed Management Group (WMG) is offering a self guided tour of residential rainwater harvesting systems. The tour will include examples of earthworks,...
  • Cob Workshop (natural building with clay and straw)
    Stimulated by the positive response at Sustainable Tucson's August general meeting on alternative building. Javier Lopez and Tom Mendola are organizing an opportunity to play in the mud (tell your friends!) You are invited to come participate in a cob/adobe bench building and green tea party. We will...
  • August ST Film Night  "First Earth: Uncompromising Ecological Architecture
    Sustainable Tucson General Meeting Monday, August 8th,  5:45 - 8:00 pm Joel D. Valdez Main Library 101 N. Stone (free lower level parking - off Alameda St This month's General Meeting will continue our project on "Becoming a Desert Community" by presenting films relevant to desert natural buildings ...
  • WMG Call to Action
    Ground-breaking Watershed Management Group Invites Public to Take Action WMG invites the public to their OpenHouse Thursday, June 2nd 2011 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm at the Ward III Council Office. Presentations by board, staff, and community members on local, regional, and international programs in sustainability...
  • Solar Home Tour
    Please join the Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood Association, the Arizona Solar Energy Association, and the Southern Arizona Regional Solar Partnership in a free solar home tour on May 8, 11-3. Check in at the Old San Pedro Chapel, 5230 E Ft Lowell, for a map of the houses. Meet neighbors who have gone...
  • Building Resilience and Sustainability
    So what is the sustainable path forward? The most often-adopted definition of sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  What is important about this definition is that we have to consider the needs of...
  • June Sustainable Tucson General Meeting
    On Becoming One Desert Community A Desert Community is a group of people that have the culture, the tools and knowledge, and the commitment to thrive here in the normal times, and survive here, in the worst time.  Becoming a desert community is our future, or we don’t have one. What will it take… ...
  • Common Ground Two
    Time again to invite you all to proclaim local community from the rooftops. One rooftop at least. Join in on the action on the roof of the Pennington St Parking Garage, 110 E. Pennington St. What is Common Ground? What it is... is a CELEBRATION, where every group, organization, congregation, small business,...
  • Our IGT Conversation
    On January 10th, as part of our General Meeting, Sustainable Tucson held its own version of the community conversations being held around the city by Imagine Greater Tucson. After completing a paper survey about what we liked and what we wanted to change about the Tucson region, four groups of people...
  • 2011 Workshops at Bean Tree Farm
    Starting January 15th, Bean Tree Farm will have a series of workshops to help you explore native and local foods, herbs and earth crafts. To find out more, visit the website here. All Sonoran Permaculture Guild classes and workshops can be viewed at: http://www.sonoranpermaculture.org/courses-and-workshops/...
  • Green Retail!
    Learn about Green Retail. Download the notice here. greenretail2011flyer
  • Sonoran Permaculture Guild Workshops
    Saturday, October 23rd, 2010- Natural Building and Passive Solar Design - This workshop includes hands on work with straw bales, adobe blocks, mud based plasters, cement based plasters, and cob. We’ll do hands on building of small structures like benches and walls – projects that you can easily...
  • Green Building Expo and Green Home Tour
    The U.S. Green Building Council, AZ Chapter, Southern Branch's 3rd annual Expo featuring up to 60 exhibitors of green building products, businesses, and organizations; public and professional educational seminars; and a Green Home Tour. Jerry Yudelson, world-renowned author and sustainability expert...
  • Colloquium on Critical Habitat
    This is a Seven Event Series which traces the origins and current status of our landscape and cultural evolution, transitions into a focused conversation on local resources, scarcity and the regulations which address our use of these resources within the environmental design community, next moves into...
  • Green Infrastructure Showcase
    Salpointe Catholic High School Join Watershed Management Group (WMG) for a Green Infrastructure Showcase & Open House celebration with Samos Neighborhood, Salpointe High, WMG, and the City of Tucson, all leaders in green infrastructure for Southwest neighborhoods. This event will include an introduction...
  • Permaculture workshop
    Introduction to Permaculture - In this one day overview of Permaculture design, ethics, and principles you will have the opportunity to put together a long term plan for your sustainable home and landscape – one that takes care of people and takes care of our environment at the same time. Location:...
  • Imagine Greater Tucson
    Imagine Greater Tucson, a collaborative effort to define a publicly supported vision and clear action plan to help shape the region's future is kicking off its multi-year campaign at the end of the month. There are many opportunities to get involved and to help ensure that sustainability is a fundamental...
  • Green Infrastructure Tour
    Tucson is emerging as a regional and national leader in the implementation of green infrastructure strategies. Green infrastructure uses natural processes to provide environmental services. Many local examples use small basins to capture, clean, and infiltrate stormwater from streets and parking lots,...
  • Save energy and money too!
    The Teaching & Helping Program of Empowering Local Communities, Inc. is organizing a project to reduce the energy use of as many Tucson homes as possible on the Day of Climate Action, October 10, 2010 (10-10-10). We are looking for Tucson homeowners who want to participate in doing energy conservation...
  • Beantree Farm Workshops and Feasts Begin!
    Barbara Rose, a teaching team member of the Sonoran Permaculture Guild has announced a series of intensive workshops about native foods, herbs, and earth crafts on the first and third Saturdays of each month. More details are available at www.beantreefarm.com.
  • Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program
    ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFITS FOR HOMEOWNERS Are you interested in improving the energy efficiency of your home? Approximately 300 homes located within the City of Tucson will be selected to receive energy efficiency upgrades to reduce the home's energy use by 15-20%. Residential energy efficiency retrofit...
  • Greater Tucson Indicators Report
    The Pima Association of Governments just approved the Second Tucson Region Indicators Report. It provides a snapshot of the region with data on key measures that characterize its current health from an environmental and community perspective. Five theme areas are: Natural Resources, Air Quality, Water,...
  • Green Business Workshops
    Where: YWCA, 525 N. Bonita Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85745 FREE WORKSHOP This FREE workshop is your guide to straight forward sustainable business practices. Obtain Tucson Electric Power's available incentives which can pay as much as 90% of the installed cost on select efficiency measures Become a Certified...
  • Toilet Replacement Project
    Find out about an exciting opportunity to work with your neighbors and save both money and water! Download the flyer here .
  • Transitioning to a Sustainable Economy: Tucson’s Future?
    Sustainable Tucson is republishing the following call to the community which we originally presented in February 2008. The message is not only more relevant today but portends some of the events which have already happened since then. As we prepare to participate in the upcoming Imagine Greater Tucson...
  • Bill McKibben on "Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough Planet" (video)
    Bill McKibben on "Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough Planet" (video) by Michael Brownlee Description: As part of his current book tour, author and climate activist Bill McKibben spoke at the First United Methodist Church in Boulder, CO on April 27, co-sponsored by Boulder Book Store and Transition Colorado...
  • Shedding Light on Solar Development
  • What Works: Community
    By Guy R. McPherson Published at Energy Bulletin and Guy's blog: Nature Bats Last (Guy, a former UA professor, has inspired Sustainable Tucson with his writings and appearances at ST General Meetings during the past four years) As we continue into the decades-old, but only recently acknowledged era...
  • Put it on the map!
    Dear Community Friends and Partners: The first print edition of the Green Pueblo Map showcasing our community’s favorite “green” places and spaces will be available later this year.  If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to “make your mark” on the map by nominating your favorite...
  • The Water Project
    Celebrate our most precious and endangered resource -WATER -with the The Water Project: Tucson’s Synergistic Water Festival on March 26-28, 2010. This event combines the energy of Tucson’s sustainability community with the vibrant arts community to provide an opportunity for the public to experience...
  • Comprehensive Quincha Workshop
    COMPREHENSIVE QUINCHA WORKSHOP (bamboo, mud and straw {cob}) School of Krofting Educational Series Date: March 19, 20 and 21 2010 Cost: $180 per person ($50 non-refundable deposit to reserve a space) Instructor: Kyle Young Location: School of Krofting Erda Kroft Farm Arivaca, Arizona Online at: http://www...
  • Earth Day Festival and Parade
    Tucson\'s 16th Annual Earth Day Festival and Parade will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at Reid Park. The theme for the 2010 Festival is “All Species Deserve a Place on Earth!”  All species great and small - insects, plants and animals - the Earth needs them all! Exhibits related to the environment...

Meetings and Events

  • Ten Good Things About a (Not So) Bad Year
    Ten Good Things About a (Not So) Bad Year Medea Benjamin, CommonDreams I had the privilege of starting out the year witnessing, firsthand, the unfolding of the Egyptian revolution in Tahrir Square. I saw people who had been muzzled their entire lives, especially women, suddenly discovering their collective...
  • The 12 most hopeful trends to build on in 2012
    The 12 most hopeful trends to build on in 2012 Published by YES! Magazine on Sat, 12/31/2011 Original article: http://www.yesmagazine.org/blogs/sarah-van-gelder/12-most-hopeful-trends-to-build-on-in-2012 by Sarah van Gelder Who would have thought that some young people camped out in lower Manhattan...
  • ST January Meeting - Topics and Working Groups for 2012
    at Joel D. Valdez Main Library 101 N. Stone, Downtown (free lower level parking off Alameda St) How do we "green" our homes and neighborhoods? How do we work together and contribute to each other? How do we prepare for climate change? Join us on January 9th to learn of some exciting efforts now underway...
  • Greywater Systems - Watershed Technical Training - Feb 6-8
    Early registration ends January 6! Brad Lancaster, Senior Watershed Specialist with Watershed Management Group and author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, will lead this hands-on technical training covering advanced greywater systems. Greywater use is not only allowed by an increasing...
  • Community-based Green Infrastructure - Watershed Technical Training - March 29-31
    Introductory webinar: March 20th, 3-5pm (PDT). Hands-on training: March 29-31, 2012, Tucson, Arizona. Watershed Management Group has been working with community members to install neighborhood level Green Infrastructure (GI) projects in Tucson since 2008. Now WMG is offering an in-depth professional...
  • Dreaming New Mexico - Peter Warshall - TEDxABQ video
    Dreaming New Mexico has built a map of pragmatic and visionary solutions to create a more localized and green economy with greater local self-reliance and enhanced prosperity. Peter Warshall is Co-Director of the Bioneers' Dreaming New Mexico Project, and a world-renowned water steward, biodiversity...
  • Empty Southwest - Where Did All the People Go?
  • $4B Public-private Program for Energy-efficiency planned
    The following national plan for investing in the energy-efficiency of our buildings is a further evolution of  Ed Mazria's 2009 Plan which Sustainable Tucson is suggesting as a model to develop a local green retrofit  stimulus program. See the Mazria Plan here: $4B public-private program for energy...
  • Inside Tucson's Civano Project
    Inside the Civano Project: A Case Study of Large-Scale Sustainable Neighborhood Development (Mcgraw-Hill's Greensource Series) 2009 By C. Alan Nichols and Jason A. Laros Forward by Sustainable Tucson -- Co-Founder Bob Cook Forward The following story is about a group of people who recognized a once-in-a-lifetime...
  • Ed Mazria's Two-Year, Nine-Million-Jobs Investment Plan
    By Caroline Dobuzinskis (Ed Mazria's  Revised One-Year, 4.5 Million-Jobs Investment Plan available here:) With the job market crashing and a reported one in five mortgages underwater, the need for complex solutions to fix the US economy grows increasingly urgent. Ed Mazria, founder of the non-profit...
  • 2012 Green Retrofit Stimulus Proposal for Tucson
    With half of all mortgaged homes “underwater” and owing more than their market value, housing prices continue to decline even after four years of collapsing prices. The ongoing global credit and debt crisis combined with declining house prices spell disaster for the home-building industry for at...
  • 2012 Green Retrofit Economic Stimulus Proposal for Tucson
    2012 Green Retrofit Economic Stimulus Proposal for Tucson With half of all mortgaged homes “underwater” and owing more than their market value, housing prices continue to decline even after four years of collapsing prices. The ongoing global credit and debt crisis combined with declining house prices...
  • UA Professor Walks Away From Empire
    UA Natural Resources Professor Emeritus Guy McPherson and Sustainable Tucson founding coalition member addresses the International Conference on Sustainability, Transition and Culture Change: Vision, Action, Leadership recounting his journey to personal accountability in the current crisis of civilization...
  • The Dark Side of the ‘Green’ City
    The Dark Side of the ‘Green’ City By Andrew Ross PHOENIX The struggle to slow global warming will be won or lost in cities, which emit 80 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. So “greening” the city is all the rage now. But if policy makers end up focusing only on those who can afford the...
  • Sustainability Lessons for the United States
    How Germany became Europe’s green leader: A look at four decades of sustainable policymaking by Ralph Buehler, Arne Jungjohann, Melissa Keeley, Michael Mehling In Brief Over the last 40 years, all levels of government in Germany have retooled policies to promote growth that is more environmentally...
  • Bean Tree Farm Workshops - Fall 2011
    Here are Bean Tree Farm's workshop listings for fall, 2011, plus a special solar energy class we're excited to be hosting.  For more info and any questions, check out www.beantreefarm.com, or email beantreefarm(at)gmail.com --- October 8 ~ Earth Plasters, Paints and Pigments ~ 8am-12noon: Art,...
  • ST Sustainability Book Sale
    Sustainable Tucson is offering a very special Book Sale fundraising event at our October  General Meeting. We have more than 150 titles, including some hard-to-find classics. The winter reading season is coming, so come and browse this rich collection of sustainability literature. You can shop with...
  • Sustainable Tucson - General Meeting - October 2011
    Sustainable Tucson General Meeting - at Milagro Cohousing Community Monday, October 10th, 5:45 – 8:30 pm, and come early at 5:15 pm for a tour Note: this meeting will be at the Milagro Cohousing Community instead of the library (click here for map). If you can come earlier, there will be a tour of...
  • Watershed Management Group Residential Site Tour
    Sept 17, 2011 10 am – 4pm Looking for inspiration and ideas as to how to green and beautify your home landscape without increasing your water bill? Watershed Management Group (WMG) is offering a self guided tour of residential rainwater harvesting systems. The tour will include examples of earthworks,...
  • Cob Workshop (natural building with clay and straw)
    Stimulated by the positive response at Sustainable Tucson's August general meeting on alternative building. Javier Lopez and Tom Mendola are organizing an opportunity to play in the mud (tell your friends!) You are invited to come participate in a cob/adobe bench building and green tea party. We will...
  • August ST Film Night  "First Earth: Uncompromising Ecological Architecture
    Sustainable Tucson General Meeting Monday, August 8th,  5:45 - 8:00 pm Joel D. Valdez Main Library 101 N. Stone (free lower level parking - off Alameda St This month's General Meeting will continue our project on "Becoming a Desert Community" by presenting films relevant to desert natural buildings ...
  • WMG Call to Action
    Ground-breaking Watershed Management Group Invites Public to Take Action WMG invites the public to their OpenHouse Thursday, June 2nd 2011 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm at the Ward III Council Office. Presentations by board, staff, and community members on local, regional, and international programs in sustainability...
  • Solar Home Tour
    Please join the Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood Association, the Arizona Solar Energy Association, and the Southern Arizona Regional Solar Partnership in a free solar home tour on May 8, 11-3. Check in at the Old San Pedro Chapel, 5230 E Ft Lowell, for a map of the houses. Meet neighbors who have gone...
  • Building Resilience and Sustainability
    So what is the sustainable path forward? The most often-adopted definition of sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  What is important about this definition is that we have to consider the needs of...
  • June Sustainable Tucson General Meeting
    On Becoming One Desert Community A Desert Community is a group of people that have the culture, the tools and knowledge, and the commitment to thrive here in the normal times, and survive here, in the worst time.  Becoming a desert community is our future, or we don’t have one. What will it take… ...
  • Common Ground Two
    Time again to invite you all to proclaim local community from the rooftops. One rooftop at least. Join in on the action on the roof of the Pennington St Parking Garage, 110 E. Pennington St. What is Common Ground? What it is... is a CELEBRATION, where every group, organization, congregation, small business,...
  • Our IGT Conversation
    On January 10th, as part of our General Meeting, Sustainable Tucson held its own version of the community conversations being held around the city by Imagine Greater Tucson. After completing a paper survey about what we liked and what we wanted to change about the Tucson region, four groups of people...
  • 2011 Workshops at Bean Tree Farm
    Starting January 15th, Bean Tree Farm will have a series of workshops to help you explore native and local foods, herbs and earth crafts. To find out more, visit the website here. All Sonoran Permaculture Guild classes and workshops can be viewed at: http://www.sonoranpermaculture.org/courses-and-workshops/...
  • Green Retail!
    Learn about Green Retail. Download the notice here. greenretail2011flyer
  • Sonoran Permaculture Guild Workshops
    Saturday, October 23rd, 2010- Natural Building and Passive Solar Design - This workshop includes hands on work with straw bales, adobe blocks, mud based plasters, cement based plasters, and cob. We’ll do hands on building of small structures like benches and walls – projects that you can easily...
  • Green Building Expo and Green Home Tour
    The U.S. Green Building Council, AZ Chapter, Southern Branch's 3rd annual Expo featuring up to 60 exhibitors of green building products, businesses, and organizations; public and professional educational seminars; and a Green Home Tour. Jerry Yudelson, world-renowned author and sustainability expert...
  • Colloquium on Critical Habitat
    This is a Seven Event Series which traces the origins and current status of our landscape and cultural evolution, transitions into a focused conversation on local resources, scarcity and the regulations which address our use of these resources within the environmental design community, next moves into...
  • Green Infrastructure Showcase
    Salpointe Catholic High School Join Watershed Management Group (WMG) for a Green Infrastructure Showcase & Open House celebration with Samos Neighborhood, Salpointe High, WMG, and the City of Tucson, all leaders in green infrastructure for Southwest neighborhoods. This event will include an introduction...
  • Permaculture workshop
    Introduction to Permaculture - In this one day overview of Permaculture design, ethics, and principles you will have the opportunity to put together a long term plan for your sustainable home and landscape – one that takes care of people and takes care of our environment at the same time. Location:...
  • Imagine Greater Tucson
    Imagine Greater Tucson, a collaborative effort to define a publicly supported vision and clear action plan to help shape the region's future is kicking off its multi-year campaign at the end of the month. There are many opportunities to get involved and to help ensure that sustainability is a fundamental...
  • Green Infrastructure Tour
    Tucson is emerging as a regional and national leader in the implementation of green infrastructure strategies. Green infrastructure uses natural processes to provide environmental services. Many local examples use small basins to capture, clean, and infiltrate stormwater from streets and parking lots,...
  • Save energy and money too!
    The Teaching & Helping Program of Empowering Local Communities, Inc. is organizing a project to reduce the energy use of as many Tucson homes as possible on the Day of Climate Action, October 10, 2010 (10-10-10). We are looking for Tucson homeowners who want to participate in doing energy conservation...
  • Beantree Farm Workshops and Feasts Begin!
    Barbara Rose, a teaching team member of the Sonoran Permaculture Guild has announced a series of intensive workshops about native foods, herbs, and earth crafts on the first and third Saturdays of each month. More details are available at www.beantreefarm.com.
  • Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program
    ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFITS FOR HOMEOWNERS Are you interested in improving the energy efficiency of your home? Approximately 300 homes located within the City of Tucson will be selected to receive energy efficiency upgrades to reduce the home's energy use by 15-20%. Residential energy efficiency retrofit...
  • Greater Tucson Indicators Report
    The Pima Association of Governments just approved the Second Tucson Region Indicators Report. It provides a snapshot of the region with data on key measures that characterize its current health from an environmental and community perspective. Five theme areas are: Natural Resources, Air Quality, Water,...
  • Green Business Workshops
    Where: YWCA, 525 N. Bonita Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85745 FREE WORKSHOP This FREE workshop is your guide to straight forward sustainable business practices. Obtain Tucson Electric Power's available incentives which can pay as much as 90% of the installed cost on select efficiency measures Become a Certified...
  • Toilet Replacement Project
    Find out about an exciting opportunity to work with your neighbors and save both money and water! Download the flyer here .
  • Transitioning to a Sustainable Economy: Tucson’s Future?
    Sustainable Tucson is republishing the following call to the community which we originally presented in February 2008. The message is not only more relevant today but portends some of the events which have already happened since then. As we prepare to participate in the upcoming Imagine Greater Tucson...
  • Bill McKibben on "Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough Planet" (video)
    Bill McKibben on "Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough Planet" (video) by Michael Brownlee Description: As part of his current book tour, author and climate activist Bill McKibben spoke at the First United Methodist Church in Boulder, CO on April 27, co-sponsored by Boulder Book Store and Transition Colorado...
  • Shedding Light on Solar Development
  • What Works: Community
    By Guy R. McPherson Published at Energy Bulletin and Guy's blog: Nature Bats Last (Guy, a former UA professor, has inspired Sustainable Tucson with his writings and appearances at ST General Meetings during the past four years) As we continue into the decades-old, but only recently acknowledged era...
  • Put it on the map!
    Dear Community Friends and Partners: The first print edition of the Green Pueblo Map showcasing our community’s favorite “green” places and spaces will be available later this year.  If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to “make your mark” on the map by nominating your favorite...
  • The Water Project
    Celebrate our most precious and endangered resource -WATER -with the The Water Project: Tucson’s Synergistic Water Festival on March 26-28, 2010. This event combines the energy of Tucson’s sustainability community with the vibrant arts community to provide an opportunity for the public to experience...
  • Comprehensive Quincha Workshop
    COMPREHENSIVE QUINCHA WORKSHOP (bamboo, mud and straw {cob}) School of Krofting Educational Series Date: March 19, 20 and 21 2010 Cost: $180 per person ($50 non-refundable deposit to reserve a space) Instructor: Kyle Young Location: School of Krofting Erda Kroft Farm Arivaca, Arizona Online at: http://www...
  • Earth Day Festival and Parade
    Tucson\'s 16th Annual Earth Day Festival and Parade will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at Reid Park. The theme for the 2010 Festival is “All Species Deserve a Place on Earth!”  All species great and small - insects, plants and animals - the Earth needs them all! Exhibits related to the environment...