Latest news with #OfficeofSustainability
Axios
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
IndyFringe returns for year 20
The IndyFringe Festival returns this week to celebrate 20 years of daring to be different. Why it matters: The homegrown theater fest that has helped bring niche art forms and marginalized creators to a wider audience since the mid-aughts is flipping the script in 2025 with fresh efforts focused on sustainability and equity. This summer's festival is also the first since a fall rebrand to IF Theatre. Driving the news: IndyFringe 2025 begins Thursday with 69 unique acts and 245 performances across six stages. 515 artists are contributing to the event, with 61% from Indiana, 36% national artists and 3% international acts. The 10-day festival features performance genres like puppetry, ballet, immersive theatre, stand-up comedy, Bollywood dance, clowning, magic and more. What they're saying:"As the state's largest performing arts event, the festival can feel daunting for new audience members, but the heart of the experience is all about shrugging off expectations and daring to try something new," IF Theatre executive director Paul Daily said. "Our staff, volunteers, and artists are all dedicated to making sure that everyone who comes to the festival has an excellent time, no matter what shows they see." Fun fact: Support from Everwise Credit Union allows IndyFringe to return 70% of all box office revenue to the creators. Since the first festival in 2005, IndyFringe has brought more than 217,000 guests to the Mass Ave Cultural Arts Distrct and returned more than $2.5 million to over 7,200 participating artists. By the numbers: Daily said presenting a festival that better represents the Indy community was a priority this year. 48% of the acts at IndyFringe 2025 are produced by women, compared to a local population that is 51% women. 18% are produced by artists 30 and younger. Indy's percentage of people aged 20-29 is 15%. 37% are produced by artists who are Black, Indigenous Americans or people of color. The latest census data puts the nonwhite population in Marion County at about 39%. Between the lines: This is also the greenest festival in IndyFringe history. Working with the city's Office of Sustainability, organizers have made a number of changes to reduce waste and increase energy efficiency. The festival will serve as a case study for ecologically responsible festival practices in Indy. Upgrades include recycling bins at all venues, free coolers to refill water bottles and reusing programs or marketing materials to cut down on paper waste. LED stage lighting donated from the Phoenix Cultural Center will also replace energy-hungry incandescent lighting fixtures. If you go: IndyFringe 2025 runs through Aug. 24.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
First Knozone Action Day of 2025: Outside air will be bad June 12. What you should know
The first Knozone Action Day has been issued for June 12, 2025. Hot temperatures, sunny skies, and light winds will lead to conditions suitable for ozone development when combined with wildfire smoke and other emission sources. Due to a high ground-level ozone forecast, the air quality outside will be deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups. The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability said people in Central Indiana with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD) disease, and other similar diagnoses should avoid time spent outdoors on June 12. Unhealthy air quality impacts public health and environmental justice as vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, pregnant people, outdoor laborers, and anyone suffering from asthma, COPD, emphysema, heart disease, or other conditions, are at greater risk, according to the office. Nearly 1 in 5 Marion County residents is at greater risk for severe symptoms due to unhealthy air quality. People can sign up at to be notified of unhealthy air days early. and the Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow website and mobile app are other resources for monitoring local air. This time last year: Stay inside, Knozone Action Day extended due to high temperatures Knozone Action Days happen when levels of certain pollutants rise above acceptable thresholds. During Knozone Action Days, the air quality may become unhealthy for sensitive individuals due to increased ground-level ozone and/or fine particles, which are two of the most common pollutants in the United the ozone layer high in the atmosphere helps protect us from the sun's rays, ozone down where we breathe is dangerous for public health, according to the Office of Sustainability. Ground-level ozone is created when a chemical reaction occurs between sunlight and hydrocarbons from emission sources common in urban areas, like gas-powered vehicles and lawn mowers. Fine particulate matter (or PM2.5) refers to microscopic particles in the air, including dust and smoke, that we can inhale into our lungs and cause damage. This can even be caused by wildfires or dust clouds blowing from thousands of miles away. Residents are encouraged to reduce their contribution toground-level ozone by: Avoid vehicle idling, including when in drive-thru lanes or picking up carry-out Drive less by using active forms of transportation like walking or biking (utilizing Pacers Bikeshare's IndyRides Free pass) Utilize public transportation or carpool with services such as IndyGo or Commuter Connect Wait to refuel and use gas-powered lawn equipment until temperatures are cooler Combine errands to reduce the number of trips Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above Delay the use of garden, household, and workshop chemicals until the air has returned to healthy levels Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Poor air quality in Indianapolis expected for June 12, 2025. What to expect
Indianapolis Star
11-06-2025
- Health
- Indianapolis Star
First Knozone Action Day of 2025: Outside air will be bad June 12. What you should know
The first Knozone Action Day has been issued for June 12, 2025. Hot temperatures, sunny skies, and light winds will lead to conditions suitable for ozone development when combined with wildfire smoke and other emission sources. Due to a high ground-level ozone forecast, the air quality outside will be deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups. The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability said people in Central Indiana with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD) disease, and other similar diagnoses should avoid time spent outdoors on June 12. Unhealthy air quality impacts public health and environmental justice as vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, pregnant people, outdoor laborers, and anyone suffering from asthma, COPD, emphysema, heart disease, or other conditions, are at greater risk, according to the office. Nearly 1 in 5 Marion County residents is at greater risk for severe symptoms due to unhealthy air quality. People can sign up at to be notified of unhealthy air days early. and the Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow website and mobile app are other resources for monitoring local air. This time last year: Stay inside, Knozone Action Day extended due to high temperatures Knozone Action Days happen when levels of certain pollutants rise above acceptable thresholds. During Knozone Action Days, the air quality may become unhealthy for sensitive individuals due to increased ground-level ozone and/or fine particles, which are two of the most common pollutants in the United the ozone layer high in the atmosphere helps protect us from the sun's rays, ozone down where we breathe is dangerous for public health, according to the Office of Sustainability. Ground-level ozone is created when a chemical reaction occurs between sunlight and hydrocarbons from emission sources common in urban areas, like gas-powered vehicles and lawn mowers. Fine particulate matter (or PM2.5) refers to microscopic particles in the air, including dust and smoke, that we can inhale into our lungs and cause damage. This can even be caused by wildfires or dust clouds blowing from thousands of miles away. Residents are encouraged to reduce their contribution toground-level ozone by:
Axios
03-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Richmond to start charging 5 cents for plastic bags in 2026
Richmond is about to start taxing your single-use plastic bags. Why it matters: While City Council members lauded the effort to reduce waste and pollution, many shared concerns about how the tax will be passed on to residents on fixed incomes. Driving the news: City Council approved the 5-cent tax, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, on Monday. The city is the first in the area, and the 11th locality in the state, to pass a tax like this since the legislature gave them the authority to in 2021. Zoom in: Based on an estimated 8 million bags used in Richmond annually, the tax would generate $400,000 in revenue the first year, said Laura Thomas, director of Richmond's Office of Sustainability. Between the lines: The city would technically receive about $320,000 of that since 1 cent per bag goes to retailers. The total annual revenue would drop to around $100,000 to $150,000 as people use fewer bags, Thomas told councilmembers. Per state law, the revenue can only go toward cleaning up and reducing pollution and providing reusable bags to SNAP and WIC recipients. Thomas also said the city would use some of its own funds to give reusable bags to residents who need them. How it works: Grocers, convenience stores and drugstore retailers will report how many plastic bags they've sold to the state, which enforces the tax and then provides the revenue to Richmond. The tax doesn't include plastic bags used for dry cleaning, prescriptions, trash cans, your dog's poop or packaging meat or produce. What they're saying: Retailers can choose whether they'd like to pass the fee onto consumers or absorb it, Thomas said. Some major grocery stores, like Lidl and Aldi, don't even offer plastic bags. The other side: "Who's going to pay the most are the communities that we've neglected all along, that don't have a quality grocery store," said Councilmember Ellen Robertson, who voted against the tax. Councilmember Reva Trammell said she decided to also vote "no" after some older constituents who rely on delivery services for groceries, which often use plastic bags, raised concerns about pricier bills.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley signs off on carbon-zero emissions plan
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signed off on a carbon-neutral action plan for the county, amid efforts to dismantle climate-driven initiatives from the Trump administration. The plan aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the county's operations by 2050. It outlines specific and measurable ways to reduce emissions over the next 25 years, including energy-efficient equipment, upgrades to renewable energy generation and alternative transportation fuel. "It's imperative that we protect and preserve these spaces and our environment as a whole generation who get the opportunity to enjoy these parks," Crowley told supervisors and constituents at Tippecanoe Park. "We are here to take action, but also to recommit ourselves to environmental sustainability as well as stewardship." Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signed off legislation approving the Milwaukee County Climate Action 2050 (CA50) Plan on April 25, 2025, which aims at achieving net-zero carbon emissions in Milwaukee County operations by the year 2050. According to Crowley, the county is already seeing progress, including a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2005, the baseline year for tracking the county's carbon reduction. The county is on track to achieve 50% reduction in carbon by 2030, a county report noted. The plan is estimated to cost roughly $441 million, with energy efficiency and fleet upgrades as well as on-site solar energy installations. But efforts to make Milwaukee County carbon neutral are not new, as the county has previously retrofitted LED lighting, established sustainable design standards to reforestation, and roadway to trail conversions. "These diverse strategies will help Milwaukee County to achieve our emissions reduction goals," said Grant Helle, director of the county's Office of Sustainability Helle said the climate action plan outlines ways for the county to reduce emissions over the next 25 years, such as by using energy-efficient equipment, upgrades to renewable energy generation, and alternative fuel transportation. These efforts, in turn, will create green jobs and reduce urban heat islands across the Milwaukee area. "I'm proud of the way this plan acknowledges our changing realities, more severe temperature fluctuations, more extreme weather events and a growing labor market for careers that address our changing climate together," County Board Supervisor Anne O'Connor said. Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@ Follow her on X @Vanessa_Swales. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County Executive Crowley OKs carbon-zero emissions plan
