Chattanoogans have a lot of reasons to brag. Our residents, business leaders + officials are also killin' it (pun intended) when it comes to helping save our planet. 🌎

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It seems like there’s always something green going on in NOOGA and we’ve got a roundup of some of the latest efforts. ⬇️

🌎 Eat REAL, GreenSpaces + restaurants

Over the past six months, local nonprofit GreenSpaces has partnered with D.C.’s Eat REAL to help local restaurants improve nutrition + implement best sustainability practices.

Businesses get the certification after undergoing a points-based audit by third-party, registered dietitians, who evaluate menu, supply chain + operations.
Restaurants earn points in the areas of responsible nutrition, Epicurean preparation, agricultural sourcing, leadership in environmental stewardship and other best practices.
All locations of Lupi’s Pizza + Hummingbird Pastaria, Naked Foods, Vibrant Meals, Frothy Monkey and 1885 recently achieved Eat REAL certification.
More than 500 other restaurant + foodservice providers have gotten the Eat REAL certification.

Ruby Falls recently won the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards in the “Building Green” category lead by the TN Department of Environment & Conservation. (Photo: Ruby Falls)

🌎 Ruby Falls

A jewel of the city, Ruby Falls recently won the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards in the “Building Green” category lead by the TN Department of Environment & Conservation.

The awards program recognizes exceptional voluntary actions that improve or protect our environment and natural resources.

Last year, Ruby Falls underwent an environmentally sustainable transformation that included:

✅ 22,716 tons of repurposed rock
✅ recycling 75% of all construction waste
✅ expansion of open space vegetation + water conservation improvement that reduced usage by 38,287 gallons per year.

Caption: Check out Hamilton County in the bottom right corner. It’s the county in dark blue that has 41 winners, which is nearly the highest in the state. This year’s award’s ceremony is today. (Image: TN Department of Environment & Conservation)

🌎 Chattanooga Airport

This month, the local airport became the first airfield in the United States to be 100% solar-powered.

We reported this, and Forbes picking up the news is a big deal.

☀️ 7. Years to complete the airport’s solar project
☀️ $5 million. Cost of the project, funded through the Federal Aviation Administration
☀️20. Years in which the investment will be returned.

🌎 Quiz

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