If you have been thinking about going solar, now is the time to act. On Tuesday, July 12, a cohort of city and community groups including Simply Living launched the Columbus Area 2022 Solar and EV Charger Co-op through a program called Solarize. Check our Events Calendar for upcoming sessions. […]
Author: Cathy Cowan Becker
Standing with youth who are standing for climate
On April 20 the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State University organized an Earth Day event called Time to Act on Climate Change. On tap was a long list of distinguished speakers including university President Kristina Johnson, slated to receive the Chadwick Award for efforts to address […]
100 Things You Can Do to Help in the Climate Crisis
In case you needed help getting started. By Sarah Lazarovic Sarah Lazarovic is an award-winning artist, creative director, freelance animator and filmmaker, and journalist, covering news and cultural events in comic form. She is the author of A Bunch of Pretty Things I Did Not Buy. Reprinted from the Winter 2022 issue […]
What is a Fibershed?
By Elissa Yoder MannSierra Club Ohio Chapter The statewide plastics campaign kicked off the year with a presentation hosted by Jess Boeke and Sarah Pottle from Rust Belt Fibershed, we wanted to share resources from our webinar covering the topic of plastics and textiles. Here is a link to the […]
Simply Living seeks sustainability interns
Job Title: Sustainability Internship Reports To: Executive Director and Volunteer Leader Hours: 5 to 20 per week With 30 years of history and more than 3,000 members and supporters, Simply Living is one of the longest-serving and best-known local sustainability organizations in Central Ohio. Our mission is to provide learning […]
Columbus announces ambitious Climate Action Plan that cuts carbon emissions 45% by 2030
Environmental coalition cited as instrumental in setting city’s climate goals in line with climate science Thursday, December 9, 2021 Contact:Cathy Cowan Becker, cathy@simplyliving.org, 937-271-1247Chad Stephens, chad.stephens@sierraclub.org, 216-322-6998 COLUMBUS, OH — Today Sustainable Columbus unveiled the city’s first Climate Action Plan (CAP), with an ambitious overall goal of reducing carbon emissions […]
Simply Living provides testimony on oil and gas waste disposal rules
On Monday, December 6, the Ohio legislature’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) heard testimony on regulations proposed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to manage disposal of oil and gas waste. Executive Director Cathy Cowan Becker testified on behalf of Simply Living and the Ohio Sustainable Business […]
COP 26: The good, the bad, and the takeaways
By Cathy Cowan Becker Unless you were hiding under a rock these last two weeks, then you are aware of the COP 26 climate talks taking place in Glasgow, Scotland. COP stands for Conference of Parties – it is the annual meeting of countries of the world under the auspices […]
Action Alert: Speak up for community solar
Community solar may be coming to Ohio! House Bill 450, which would enable community solar projects in the state, has been introduced and will have its second hearing for proponent testimony on Wednesday, November 10, at 10:30 a.m., at a meeting of the Public Utilities Committee in Room 121 of […]
Simply Living and OSBC to present at environmental leadership academy
Simply Living and the Ohio Sustainable Business Council are proud to be featured at the upcoming two-day conference, Pathways to Environmental Leadership Academy, organized by the Ohio Recycling Coalition. On Tuesday, November 16, at 9 a.m., Mayda Sanchez, executive director of the Ohio Sustainable Business Council, and Cathy Cowan Becker, […]
Announcing speakers, sponsors, and more for Gift To Be Simple on October 20!
Our annual Gift To Be Simple fundraiser is coming up on Wednesday, October 20, at 5:30 p.m., and we are thrilled to announce our speakers, sponsors and more. Featured speakers for Gift To Be Simple include: Marilyn Welker, founder of Simply Living Paula Penn-Nabrit, J.D., author, founder and president of […]
Join us for Gift To Be Simple — Wednesday, October 20, 5:30 p.m.
Simply Living’s annual Gift To Be Simple fundraiser will be Wednesday, October 20, at 5:30 p.m. at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, Scioto Audubon Metro Park, 505 W. Whittier St., Columbus, OH 43215. Meet and network with Simply Living friends and acquaintances as you enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres in the beautiful setting […]
Simply Living relaunches Sustainable U
Following our mission to connect people to learning opportunities that promote sustainability, environmental justice, and our local economy, Simply Living is relaunching Sustainable U. This fall we will offer two discussion courses through EcoChallenge, formerly Northwest Earth Institute, a course through Local Futures, and three online courses from our members. Read on for more […]
Simply Living seeks Financial Administrative Consultant
Simply Living’s wonderful bookkeeper is moving into retirement, so we are now hiring a new Financial Administrative Consultant. Please see the job description below and share this with anyone who you think would be a good fit. Simply Living Financial Administrative ConsultantJob Description Simply Living, a sustainability nonprofit based in […]
Our testimony on the Pleasant Prairie Solar Energy Center
Note: The public hearing on the Pleasant Prairie Solar Energy Center, a 250 MW solar project proposed for southwest Franklin County, was held Monday, July 19, 2021. Here is testimony from our executive director, Cathy Cowan Becker. Chair French and members of the Ohio Power Siting Board, Thank you for […]
Simply Living files comments on oil and gas waste disposal rules
Eight years ago, the Ohio legislature ordered the state’s Department of Natural Resources to come up with administrative rules for how waste from oil and gas facilities would be managed. This is important because Ohio is a fracking state, and fracking produces millions of gallons of highly toxic and radioactive […]
Ready for 100 Ohio conference charts path to clean energy
When the Ready for 100 campaign launched in Ohio in 2017, no cities were committed to 100% renewable energy. Now we have commitments from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Lakewood, South Euclid, and most recently Dayton, as well as Community Choice Aggregation for 100% renewable energy initiatives in Worthington, Columbus, and Grove City. […]
We need your support for solar energy in Franklin County
Last year Columbus and Grove City residents voted in a landslide to transition their electricity supply to 100% renewable energy. Partly as a result of these victories, dozens of solar projects are being proposed in Ohio. One of them is the Pleasant Prairie Solar Energy Center, a 250-megawatt solar project […]
Columbus and Grove City should stick with Clean Energy
Note: The following op-ed piece by Simply Living Executive Director Cathy Cowan Becker appeared in the Columbus Dispatch on June 19, 2021. You can read it on the Dispatch site here. Voters in Columbus and Grove City approved electric aggregation for 100% renewable energy in November. As chair of Ready […]
A birthday wish
My birthday is coming up this week — Friday to be exact — and I have one wish: A new data management system for Simply Living. When I became executive director of Simply Living, I came into an organization of wonderful people, but which had gone for three years without […]