City of Mission Viejo and Local Nonprofit Launch Project to Promote Sustainable Behaviors

Oct. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- Mission Viejo, California—On Tuesday, October 11, the City of Mission Viejo and It’s the Little Things, a local nonprofit organization, launched an innovative pilot program to help City of Mission Viejo employees make a shift toward a sustainable way of life.

“Watching and listening to the presentation by It’s The Little Things, really brought to light the real threats to our environment if we do not modify our behaviors to support sustainability goals.  I am excited to bring home what I learned and to teach my children that sustainability isn’t just something we do when we have spare time and money, it’s something that we need to work together on to incorporate it into our everyday lives,” said Monique Goetz, Human Resources Analyst for the City.

Pilot project participants learn about sustainability and the science that supports it; commit in writing to a 12-month plan under which they adopt one behavior change quarterly that will lead to greater sustainability and agree to speak to at least four people monthly about the importance of behavior changes; measure the impact of their behavior changes; report their behavior changes online; and engage in group competitions for participation and impact.

“The information that Chris [,founder of It's the Little Things,] shared was informative and eye-opening.  I had no idea that such small changes in my every day behavior could add up to make such a big impact.  Skipping meat during one meal every week is easy and a healthy choice for me as well as for the environment,” said Christian Murdock, Mission Viejo Assistant Planner.

“The opportunity to work with “It’s the Little Things” is exciting because it allows us to take the education that we have been providing to City employees as a part of our state and federally mandated environmental programs to a whole different level…one that is much more personal and practical,” said Deborah Carson, Program Engineer.

To learn more details about the It’s the Little Things project and how you can make your actions count for the planet, visit their website at http://itsthelittlethings.org. The website also provides links to local educational opportunities for sustainable practices such as composting, native gardening, energy efficiency, and drip irrigation.

Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Advancing sustainability is widely recognized in the scientific, business, and policy worlds as critical to maintaining a good quality of life, preserving our natural resources, and ensuring business profitability.

“Sustainability as a concept can seem overwhelming, but at It's the Little Things, we’re proving that lots of people making small behavior changes can have a big impact and can drive big policy changes.,” said It's the Little Things founder, Chris Ann Lunghino. “When people make incremental behavior changes for a clean and healthy future, they start to see themselves as people who care about sustainability, which naturally leads to more and bigger behavior changes. Research shows that people are more likely to follow through on behavior changes when they commit in a group in writing and their commitment is publicized,” she continued.

About the City of Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo is a suburban, mainly residential city located in southern Orange County, California. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States. In 2011, the city’s estimated population is 93,483. The city is known for its picturesque tree-lined neighborhoods and has received recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation.

For more information, call Denise Matson at (949) 470-3010 or email her at dmatson@cityofmissionviejo.org.

http://cityofmissionviejo.org


About It's the Little Things
It's the Little Things is a project of Community Sustainability USA, a tax exempt nonprofit that was established in December 2010 to help communities improve quality of life and benefit the planet by providing businesses, schools, civic organizations, and community groups with sustainability education and a system for making behavior changes.

For more information, call Chris Ann Lunghino at (714) 369-9280 or email her at chris@communitysustainabilityusa.org.

http://itsthelittlethings.org

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It's the Little Things is a project of Community Sustainability USA, Inc., a tax exempt nonprofit. We provide people with education and a system for making and maintaining little behavior changes that together add up to a big impact for the planet.