Back-to-school time is right around the corner, and while you’re checking off the supplies list and picking out a new backpack, it’s worth giving some thought about ways to incorporate environmentally conscious practices into the new school year. 

Small changes can make a big impact, and a new school year is a great time to incorporate updates to our routines that can contribute to a healthier planet. From reducing our carbon footprint in the ways we get to and from school, to the supplies we choose to purchase and use, here are a few planet-friendly back-to-school ideas.

Green Your Transportation: Depending where you live, there are a few options to help lower your commute’s carbon footprint. If you’re close to school, consider having your students walk or bike this year. Remember to do a few practice runs with your child, doubling down on safety and making sure they know the route well before doing it on their own. If walking or biking isn’t an option, consider carpooling with other families to reduce the number of cars on the road.

Upcycle Supplies: Picking out all new supplies is part of the back-to-school fun, but consider taking stock of what you have left over from last year before rushing out to buy more. Repurpose notebooks and folders by decorating the front with fun stickers, wash and refurbish backpacks to make them look like new, or add a few colorful patches that reflect your student’s personality or past happy memories. 

Opt for a Sustainable Lunchtime: Reusable lunch boxes and water bottles are a must for any student, but look for ones made from eco-friendly materials like stainless steel, bamboo or recycled plastics. For water bottles, choose one that’s BPA-free and can be repeatedly refilled throughout the day and will last all year long. Also, consider reusable snack and sandwich bags made from silicone instead of single-use plastic zip-top bags. 

Use School Recycling Programs: If your school doesn’t have a strong recycling program already, encourage them to adopt one, and teach your students about the benefits of recycling and how to do it properly. Educating students about the environmental impact of recycling will help them think long-term about their effect on the planet and can make lifestyle changes that will last long after the school year is over.

In Sunbridge, we’re committed to helping our residents live more eco-friendly lives, including the students who live in our naturehood. We’re looking forward to the 2024-25 school year when the Weslyn Park K-8 school opens and our students can enjoy an easy, eco-friendly commute to a school right in their backyard! 

Together, we can create a school environment that fosters academic excellence and teaches our students to be good stewards of the environment.

One great thing about Floridians: When it’s hot, we have lots of ways to stay cool.

In Sunbridge, we’re always looking for ways to help our residents enjoy the outdoors while lowering our footprint on the planet. After all, to be good stewards of our lands means to preserve their natural beauty as much as possible.

Here are some tips on how to stay cool in our summer heat while being mindful of our planet at the same time.

🏡 Go au naturel with your ventilation: Harness nature’s breezes by opening windows and using fans strategically. Cross-ventilation naturally cools your space without energy-intensive cooling systems.

🔄 Check your ceiling fans’ direction: Ensure your ceiling fans are rotating counterclockwise, which pushes cool air down. Remember to turn fans off when you leave a room to save energy.

🛀 Take refreshing cool baths and showers: Opt for a cool shower instead of a hot one, which both lowers your body temperature and saves energy.

💦 Choose eco-friendly water play: Consider sprinklers with adjustable flow settings or sprinklers where the water recirculates during use.

🌦️ Reconsider your watering schedule: With our consistent afternoon Florida rains, consider adjusting your lawn irrigation schedule to conserve water.

ST. CLOUD, Fla. – University of Florida landscaping research is helping to save water, money, and the changing climate.

“I’ve been gardening my whole life, since I was a pre-teen with my grandparents,” Brooke Moffis said.

That’s why Moffis said she decided to make gardening a career.

She works as a UF Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences extension agent in Lake County.

News 6 spoke to her as he examined her “laboratory” near St. Cloud, where she and other UF researchers are helping to cultivate landscaping that is beautiful and relies mostly on rainwater.

“I’m checking to see how dense the soil is,” she said. “We call it bulk density — how compact it is.” Moffis is quick to point out this landscaping is not new. The plants are actually native to Central Florida.

“One of my favorites is the Starry Rosinweed that we see over that we see over here,” she said. “That’s what that yellow flowers are. They bloom heavily.” She said they attract birds, bees and other native insects. “The Firebush is great for attracting hummingbirds,” she said.

LANDSCAPING AT WORK

Tavistock Development decided to use these native plants in Sunbridge Weslyn Park — one of their new communities just down the street from Moffis’ lab.

“We’re looking at a model home that has the alternative landscape,” Richard Levey said. Levey helped develop Weslyn Park. “Everybody kind of knows what the cost is to maintain a lawn,” he said. “Here, it’s different.”

Here, Tavistock is only using native plants, while the sod is left on the pallet. “Water consumption on the outside of the home exceeds water consumption on the inside of the home,” he said. “I don’t think people realize that at all. I think their irrigation timers are set.”

THE SAVINGS

UF Researcher Basil Iannone said the plants do not just save water. “My background was in ecological restoration, trying to restore habitats that humans have destroyed,” he said. Iannone said the plants also eliminate pollution from weed whackers, lawnmowers and chemicals from fertilizer.

Read the original story at WKMG/Click Orlando.

At the Lake Nona Regional Chamber of Commerce, we’re focused on a cleaner tomorrow. Our membership includes several of Central Florida’s best-known companies focused on clean energy — Beep, Arcimoto and many more.

And now, Tavistock, whose long-term vision created Lake Nona, is leading the way once again.

It is our hope that our leaders in Tallahassee and Washington embrace this type of private development and find ways to encourage and promote the efforts of businesses that want to find new ways to be sustainable and resilient.

The new initiative is Sunbridge, a housing project underway in Osceola and Orange counties that exemplifies the ingenuity and innovation Tavistock is using to build more environmentally friendly and economically feasible communities for Floridians.

Once complete, the 27,000-acre development will feature 23,000 single-family homes and 13,000 multifamily residences, among other amenities.

What makes it truly unique is that every house built will incorporate solar energy. In addition, there are upgrades available that include backup batteries, EV chargers and even a new Tesla roof.

Read the original story at Orlando Sentinel.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of spending time outside: feeling warm sunshine on your face, enjoying a cooling breeze, and taking in the sights and sounds of nature. While we love it, many of us wish we made more time for outdoor activities – and we should! Studies have shown that being outdoors keeps us healthier longer and has a profound impact on our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Here’s how.

Physical Benefits: Moving with Nature

When spending time outdoors, it’s a lot more likely that you’re engaging in activities that keep you moving. Some of these might include more structured physical activities – bike riding, hiking, or outdoor fitness classes – while others just happen naturally! Gardening, picking up a game of Frisbee or catch, or splashing around in a pool are just some examples. 

Putting it simply: our favorite ways to enjoy time outside are not typically sedentary, meaning we get more movement into our day without even trying. 

The benefits to our health are clear: spending time in nature leads to increased physical fitness, reduction in chronic disease and improved cardiovascular health. A study by the USDA Forest Service shows that regular exposure to green spaces can lower blood pressure, decrease the risk of obesity and improve respiratory health as well. Being in the sunshine (with proper skin protection, of course), also improves our vitamin D levels, which is essential for healthy bones and immune systems.

Mental Health Benefits: Feeling Grounded

In addition to the physical benefits of time in the great outdoors, studies also suggest that this time spent outside makes us feel better, too. Immersion in natural landscapes and fresh air has been shown to significantly reduce stress, anxiety and depression symptoms. Given these findings, this area of study has continued to grow and become known as “ecopsychology.” Newer research in this field has suggested that immersion in nature helps to relieve mental fatigue and restores attention span. 

Being outside can also have a calming effect on our minds, promoting relaxation, tranquility, and grounding. For many of us, nature is an escape from everyday demands and pressures, allowing us to disconnect from technology and other distractions. Instead, we can use time outside to reconnect with ourselves through mindfulness practices and reflection. Inviting friends and family to join us for outdoor activities is another great way to nurture our relationships.

All in all, enjoying nature boosts our overall mood and enhances our ability to rest and recharge.

Social Benefits: Natural Connections

Building community is important to us in Sunbridge, and being outside fosters a sense of friendship among people, whether they’re already acquainted or not. Parks, trails and recreational areas provide space for neighbors to come together and naturally connect. Picnics with family, team sports and community events in natural settings also promote a sense of belonging. 

These relationships and social support networks are essential to feeling fulfilled as a human being. By engaging with the outdoors, we’re not only reaping mental and physical benefits, but we’re nurturing important social connections, too.

Whether you head outside every day for a quick walk at lunchtime or once your workday is done, spend the weekend lounging or playing on the beach, or just enjoy an al fresco meal with family and friends, breathing fresh open air and observing the beautiful natural surroundings can make you a healthier, happier person. 

Ready to spend even more time outdoors? Click below to find a home in the naturehood.

FIND A HOME

News Coverage from News 6 / Click Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – Nestled in the 27,000-acre Sunbridge development, Weslyn Park is a first-of-its-kind community in Central Florida where every home is built with solar panels or roofs.

The developer behind the Sunbridge neighborhood, Tavistock Development Company, has teamed up with five different builders to install Tesla solar panels and roofs.

“I actually probably save on average, maybe 30% to 40% of my bill,” said Jarrett Brown, the fourth person to buy a home in Weslyn Park in Osceola County.

The cost of the homes at Weslyn Park range from $400,000 to $900,000, according to Rob Adams, senior vice president of Residential Development. Adams said the minimum 4.25-kilowatt solar package is included in the base price of the homes.

“So the buyer, when they come, they don’t see the price. It’s part of the price of the home. The builder pays for that system,” said Adams.

He told News 6 that system costs around $9,500, but there are options to upgrade by adding Tesla’s Power Wall system for back-up power and for use in the evening and other non-power generating times.

A Tesla solar roof is also an upgrade option, but we are told it is more of a niche purchase.

Adams said when buyers move in the first year they can be eligible for tax credits. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, people who get a solar photovoltaic (or PV) system on their home can be eligible for a 30% federal tax credit. The tax credit is only for people who own the solar panels, not for people who lease them.

Read more on ClickOrlando.com…

Find a Home in Weslyn Park

Excitement was in the air as residents of Sunbridge gathered for the grand opening of Acorn Park, the centerpiece park to our Weslyn Park neighborhood. This amenity debut also marked our first community resident event, bringing neighbors together to connect and enjoy the community we’re building together.

Opening just in time for summer fun, the park features a brand new community pool for swimmers of all ages! Residents can come catch some rays and make a splash to beat the heat all season long. 

Attendees enjoyed savory snacks, sweet treats and refreshments while getting to know each other. The Homeowners Association also attended, greeting neighbors and making themselves available to answer any questions residents had and sharing all they’re excited for in Sunbridge’s future. 

Acorn Park is Weslyn Park’s new centerpiece, a place for gathering among neighbors, family and friends, with a strolling lawn, spacious “great lawn,” playground and pool with shade cabanas. We hope to see you there soon!

Protecting and Relocating Trees in Sunbridge

In Sunbridge, we cherish the feeling of relaxing in the shade of a mighty canopy. We love our trees and we’ll do just about anything to make sure they’re protected, while still making room for a community that promotes sustainable living in the beauty of nature. 

That’s why Tavistock Development Company, the developer behind Sunbridge, has been quietly relocating hundreds of trees through their tree relocation program. 

Sunbridge is located in an area of Central Florida which is also home to a significant population of Live Oaks, Red Maples, Sabal Palms and Slash Pines. In the community’s development process, the horticulture team saw an opportunity to extend the life of these precious trees by relocating them instead of recycling them. 

It’s not quick work, though it is well worth the effort. In fact, the average tree transfer takes about four months and involves a team of ten people to complete. 

The horticulture team partnered with certified arborists to create a plan for how to select, root prune, move and replant these trees. Sunbridge’s robust maintenance program, along with other important measures, ensures that these trees will thrive in their new placements. 

This important environmental initiative preserves trees that are, on average, 60 to 70 years old, and home to a plethora of mammals, insects and other plant life that depend on them to grow the habitat around Sunbridge.

Around the community, you can see some of these relocated trees at Basecamp, Pioneer Park in Weslyn Park, and along Cyrils Drive. Many more are being integrated in plans throughout Sunbridge.

Before Sunbridge even broke ground, we made a commitment to be kind and responsible stewards of our land. Taking care of our trees by extending their lives and protecting the environmental functions they provide is just one way we fulfill that promise.

School’s out! Now what? Though the school year is over, there’s plenty to do to keep your kids entertained and engaged all summer long. Whether you’ve got littles bursting with energy or teens in need of a screen-time break, these ideas will get them active and engaged with the world around them.

Plant a Seed and Watch it Grow

Gardening is a rewarding and hands-on activity that kids of all ages can enjoy. From tiny seedlings to gorgeous blossoms, gardening reminds us that all good things take time. 

Take your kids to a store to pick out a few seed packets. We recommend selecting some that mature within a month or two for maximum gratification: zinnias, sunflowers and marigolds are great options for central Florida. Start the seeds in a warm but shaded space like the garage or patio and set aside time each day to care for them and measure their growth. Snap a daily pic to save for a fun time lapse later, your kids will be amazed to see the transformation!

A Nature Scavenger Hunt

You don’t have to go far from home to explore a whole new world. Instill a sense of adventure in your kids by helping them explore the breadth and depth of their natural surroundings. 

Create a scavenger hunt for them containing a list of items commonly found in your area: a pinecone, a bird’s nest, a pink flower, a butterfly. Then, get everyone’s walking shoes on and you’re ready to begin! If you’d like, add a layer of competition by recording how many of the objects each kid finds with the goal of finding the most. 

Older kids can snap a pic of each item on phones or tablets to “collect” them, while younger kids should mark off a checklist or ask for your help in documenting their discoveries. From honing observation skills to learning the importance of admiring while respecting nature, this activity is a great way to get children immersed in the outdoors. 

Backyard Camping

It can be easy to forget the campground out back, but backyard camping can be as exciting for kids as a state park! Pitch a tent, grab some lanterns and flashlights, pack a change of clothes, and grab a game or two. Setting up camp and staying entertained will challenge your campers to problem-solve, be a team, and find the fun in being present (no screens allowed!). 

Whether sharing scary or silly stories, mapping the stars, or indulging in a s’more, you’ll love sharing in their wonder. As the sun sets, enjoy the sounds of a summer night and the joy of this backyard escape. 

Keep a Nature Journal

When incorporating daily outdoor activities in your child’s routine, provide them with a special notebook to record their thoughts while out and about. They might not be sure what to write down at first, but a great way to kick them off is to ask them to write down what they see, smell, hear. Encourage their curiosity, and reflections about the time they spend in nature. As they get into the swing of it, you can sit back and enjoy their musings. 

Later on, look back on their earliest entries and strike up a conversation about what they’ve learned in the time since. Plus, this notebook will double as an adorable memory – snap a pic or two to glue into its pages as a keepsake. 

Make a Sundial

For children who are slightly older, this activity is an awesome way to introduce kids to the idea of the solar system and the Earth’s place in it. Start by gathering 12 similarly sized rocks to use as hour markers in your sundial. For extra fun, you can paint these rocks together and create a garden masterpiece. Then, pick out a sunny spot to arrange these in a circle around a paper plate, and number them as you would a clock. Poke a stick in the paper plate to act as the sundial’s spoke. The spoke should be placed at a slight angle pointing north – at noon, it should cast a shadow toward the 12 on your rock clock. 

Once assembled, talk through how the sundial works: as the Earth spins, the position of the sun in the sky shifts, which causes the shadow cast by the spoke to change throughout the day. Based on where the shadow falls, you can tell the time and record how much time has passed. Simplify or go into as much detail as you see fit for your kiddo. 

Throughout time and still true today, we have so much to learn from the nature around us. Time spent outdoors with your kids will teach them valuable lessons, while also allowing them to reap the calming benefits of nature. With a little creativity, you can keep kids engaged and learning all summer long plus make some wonderful memories along the way. 

In a lot of ways, Tavistock Development Co. has been down this road before.

The developer is dubbing Sunbridge — its newest master-planned community that spans 27,000 acres in both Orange and Osceola counties — a “naturehood,” thanks to a blend of design, emphasis on its native landscape and innovation related to sustainability.

Read the original story at Orlando INNO, OBJ.