Sustainable living: Conference helps county make a mark This area has long since adopted and accepted many sustainable living principles. And since groups here were some of the first, we now find other communities hoping to do things a little differently turn to organizers here for advice. The first Health and Sustainability Conference in the Finger Lakes will be on Saturday at Ithaca College's Hill Center. The event will draw people from all over the region and beyond to learn about how health care and sustainability practices can be linked to create healthier communities. The conference will also look at how infrastructure decisions made by development and government officials affect the lifestyles of citizens. From designing neighborhoods to making medical centers greener to creating food systems that promote healthier eating, communities can do a number of things to promote healthier living and help the environment, according to conference organizers. Those who attend the conference can look no further than Tompkins County for many examples of how sustainable living can be incorporated into public life — from local businesses to colleges to residential developments to community-wide programs. Hosting conferences like the one at Ithaca College on Saturday will continue to enhance our reputation, especially since we are able to showcase our area to nationally known experts. We are now garnering a reputation as an “eco-friendly” community. Not only is it good for the environment and the area, but it is also a solid marketing point to attract businesses, new residents and tourists to help the economy. Going forward, groups like Sustainable Tompkins and others will continue to promote and grow a sustainable lifestyle, and the area will be able to reap the dividends.
---------------------------------------------------- Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. 607-533-7312 (home office) 607-279-6618 (cell) 1 Maple Avenue Lansing, NY 14882 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sustainable Tompkins Program Coordinator w_ww.sustainabletompkins.org_ (http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/) Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities Regional Coordinator Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County 615 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com _______________________________________________ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
