Please start a list below of green programs/ideas/initiatives/needs that are related to the neighborhood and residential of the Omaha area. The sky is the limit. Think both inside and outside the box.

"We can only do what we have thought of first."



1. Green Guide of existing programs
2. Zero-waste neighborhoods
3. Green Homes tour - or how about a Streets of Green or Green Streets to celebrate all things green in Omaha Neighborhoods
4. Monthly educational seminars on how to live a more sustainable life in Omaha

• In the "educational seminar" area I have thought about offering "Urban Omaha Schleps" that would help us Omahans get used to urban living. These would be 2-4 hour junkets. Some of the rules would be:
  a. No autos allowed - only bus, bike, foot transit
  b. Buy coffee, food, snack, trinket only from a local business
  c. Visit a local cultural/educational site on the way - library, school, museum, gallery, church....
  d. Encourage a local entrepreneur or new resident
  e. Hang out for 15 minutes on a corner, bench, public stoop, park accoutrement, lamp post......
  f. Complete one errand - dry cleaning, gift/card purchase, milk/bread pickup, mailing, banking, say hi to friend/relative....

5. Create awareness on available recycling options - in and out of city limits
6. Educational program modeled after "Neighborhood Builders" but specific to topics of sustainability.

• Potential for one session of existing "Neighborhood Builders" or "Block of Builders" to be on Sustainability

8. 8. Create an "Omaha Green Map" to illustrate the natural, cultural, and green living resources in our area (see www.greenmap.org for details)
9. Provide simple green behaviors that can be incorporated into the workplace "neighborhood" where so many of us spend most of our waking hours. For example, suggest to employers that they add a stainless steel water bottle to the choices of "reward" prizes employees can select. (See Daniel for reasons you should use a stainless steel water bottle instead of plastic.) Ask employers to provide incentives for employees to reduce their usage of styrofoam coffe cups. For example, decrease usage by X% over a six-month period, then have a drawing for a few restaurant gift certificates and a couple of half-days of vacation. Promote the "ride share" concept.
10. There is a food-buying club in Omaha that buys organic food and spices and other planet-friendly personal and household items from United Natural Foods warehouse in Iowa. Anyone can join and save money on their organics and other purchases. There are a few rules and a $10 joining fee. The food-buying club also sells locally grown chickens, meat, eggs and produce. Interested persons should check their web site at "eatorganicomaha.org".