South Bend Climate Efforts
This story by John Adams High School Junior Emily Clark first appeared in the school’s paper, The Tower, on Feb. 2, 2023.
South Bend, Indiana, is widely recognized for two significant features: Notre Dame University and Pete Buttigieg, who served as the city's mayor before becoming the current U.S. Secretary of Transportation. But a hidden gem in the city is its Office of Sustainability, which has been working for nearly 15 years to promote eco-friendly living and advance environmental initiatives, helping ensure the city's future will be sustainable.
Since current Office of Sustainability Director Evie Bauman joined in 2021, the office has evolved from focusing on energy efficiency in city-owned buildings to promoting the city’s 2019 Climate Action Plan, which aims for South Bend to become carbon neutral by 2050. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to Bauman about her role and the impact of her work.
She noted her day-to-day job ranges from regulating electric vehicle charging stations to holding educational sessions for community organizations to learn about their priorities — all with an towards South Bend’s carbon-neutral goal. In her role, Bauman is accompanied by two additional employees, making South Bend one of only two cities in Indiana with that large of a dedicated sustainability office – the other being Indianapolis.
The team works together to advise and guide community organizations to make climate-conscious decisions; they provide grants for organizations to implement programs and projects, such as adding solar panels to eligible buildings or replacing windows and insulation so facilities are not losing heat.
Above, Evie Bauman wields scissors (center) ready to cut the ribbon at the St. Joseph County Clubhouse’s solar system that was funded through EASSI and to celebrate the 6 other solar projects funded through the program. Photo courtesy of South Bend Office of Sustainability
South Bend’s former Office of Sustainability Director Therese Dorau replied to my email query, stating, “In my experience working with local governments, staffing levels often indicate a city’s priorities. The City of South Bend has a long history of investing in sustainability with staffing resources. From the days of the Recovery Act and South Bend’s first Energy Director in 2010 to launching the Office of Sustainability in 2014 with two full-time staff to recently bringing on a fellow as the third full-time staff member, the City has expanded its ability to support programs that help businesses and residents live sustainably and prepare for the challenges of climate.”
Dorau, whose current position is Assistant Director of Climate Policy & Implementation for Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute, added, “Few other U.S. cities the size of South Bend have been able to provide consistent sustainability staffing, yet South Bend has done so for almost 15 years. Part of what has motivated South Bend … is the outspoken priorities of community members, institutions, and businesses. The community must continue to support and even demand South Bend’s sustainability efforts so that leaders know that investing in the Sustainability Office is recognized as a valuable city service.”
Bauman said that the Office of Sustainability’s greatest achievement is the non-profit program they piloted last year:
“We call that nonprofit grant program EASSI: Energy Assistance and Solar Savings Initiative. And through that program, 17 organizations received an energy assessment that is now guiding their decisions around their building for the years to come. They also built a community around their projects and gained a growing awareness of things they can do to reduce their carbon emissions and be more sustainable as an organization. They invested over $700,000 into clean energy projects or energy efficiency projects and installed over 380 kilowatts of solar energy.”
An example of the EEASSI grant program, Phase 2 of La Casa. Photo courtesy of Office of Sustainability
Having an Office of Sustainability is vital, especially considering Indiana’s reputation regarding its climate action. Numerous reports have given negative feedback on Indiana’s environment; one news outlet deemed Indiana as having the most polluted rivers and another outlet reporting Indiana’s legislators getting a D+ grade average on green bills.
"We have limited power over those making decisions at the Statehouse, but we can mobilize folks and educate them about the available resources," said Bauman. "A lot of the inaction in the state also comes from the fact that we need to see more renewable energy, more beautiful natural environments that are prioritized, and more well-maintained tree canopies that would help reduce our carbon pollution in the atmosphere. But, unfortunately, we only see a few examples of that. And so it's part of our office's job to showcase what it could look like in South Bend."
Learn more about the Office of Sustainability and its community outreach programs at its website, which includes ambassadorship programs for youth.
