The City of Dunwoody has paid tribute to local champions of eco-friendliness, presenting Jason Metzger and Oak Avenue Landscaping with the 2023 Sustainability Hero Awards. According to an announcement on the City of Dunwoody's official website, the awards, which began in 2012, honor individuals and groups demonstrating notable commitment to sustainable practices. Winners were celebrated at a City Council meeting this past Monday.
Michael Pray, who heads the Dunwoody Sustainability Committee, said, "Earth is not just our home; it’s our shared responsibility," as stated by the City of Dunwoody. Jason Metzger was hailed for his recycling efforts and championing alternative transportation means. Metzger, who commutes by bike and public transport in all weather, sets an example in the Dunwoody community and its surroundings.
"The words sustainability and climate change can make people feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed. However, even seemingly minor individual actions like trading a car trip for a bicycle ride, eating less meat, or buying less can have a tremendous impact in aggregate," Jason Metzger explained, according to the City of Dunwoody. He models sustainability through composting, cultivating an organic lawn, and serving as a liaison for Solarize Dunwoody.
On the business front, Oak Avenue Landscaping caught the eye for its all-electric approach to lawn care, using solar energy to charge their equipment. Capturing the quiet, Lloyd Fisher, owner of the landscaping business, steps into the future with an electric fleet that sidesteps the easy reliance on gas, focusing instead on native plant installations. "Using gas equipment is often seen as an easier route in landscaping. Fortunately, there are solutions available to keep our natural environment looking great, but also ensure we aren’t damaging it in the process. The noise reduction is a nice benefit for the community too!" Fisher proudly claimed, as reported by the City of Dunwoody.
The Dunwoody Sustainability Committee, which meets monthly, tackles the challenge of diminishing the city's environmental footprint. Their agenda includes improving the efficiency of resources and providing public education on sustainability issues. Metzger and Fisher's victories, joined by their families, were acknowledged amidst the fellowship of the Committee and City Council members, ready to look ahead into what one hopes is a greener horizon for all Dunwoody citizens.
