Why Sustainability Matters
The Verde Valley's breathtaking landscapes, pristine dark skies, and unique desert ecosystems make our area one of the most beautiful places on Earth. With over 3 million visitors annually, the choices we make every day directly impact the environment that defines who we are.
Sustainability isn't just an environmental buzzword. It's a necessity for preserving what makes our area special. When we live sustainably, we ensure that our children and grandchildren will inherit the same natural wonders that inspire us today. We protect the wildlife that calls this place home, conserve our precious water resources, maintain our award-winning dark skies, and preserve the scenic beauty that attracts visitors from around the world.
Keep Sedona Beautiful believes that in Sedona and the Verde Valley, the environment is our economy. Protecting our natural resources isn't just the right thing to do. It's essential for our community's long-term prosperity and quality of life.
Some Simple Ways to Live More Sustainably
Conserve Our Precious Water
We live in a desert! Replace thirsty lawns with native xeriscaping using plants like agave, prickly pear, and desert marigold. Fix leaky faucets immediately. A single drip wastes 3,000 gallons yearly. Take shorter showers and install low-flow fixtures. Water outdoor plants early morning or evening to minimize evaporation
Reduce Single-Use Plastics
Bring reusable bags when shopping, carry a refillable water bottle instead of buying plastic bottles, use metal or bamboo straws, and choose products with minimal packaging. Our beautiful red rock landscapes shouldn't be marred by plastic waste that takes hundreds of years to decompose.
Practice Leave No Trace
When hiking or exploring, pack out everything you pack in. Stay on designated trails to prevent erosion and protect fragile desert vegetation. Don't build rock cairns. They confuse hikers, cause erosion, and destroy small animal habitats. Respect wildlife by observing from appropriate distances.
Protect Our Dark Skies
Use warm-colored, downward-facing outdoor lighting that illuminates only what's needed. Turn off unnecessary lights at night. Install motion sensors and timers. Our International Dark Sky Community status is precious. Light pollution not only obscures the stars but also disrupts wildlife behavior and wastes energy.
Support Local Businesses
Shopping locally reduces transportation emissions and keeps money circulating in our community. Choose businesses that demonstrate environmental responsibility through sustainable practices, such as our Business Sponsors and those recognized by KSB's Awards of Excellence program. Ask about and support companies with green initiatives.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
In that order! First, reduce consumption by buying only what you need. Reuse items whenever possible. Donate usable goods, repurpose containers, repair instead of replace. Use the Tool Lending Library. Finally, recycle properly by learning what materials your local facility accepts. Compost food scraps to enrich soil and reduce landfill waste.
Eliminate Chemical Pesticides
Chemical pesticides harm beneficial insects, pollute our waterways, and damage soil health. Use natural pest control methods instead: encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs, plant pest-deterrent herbs like basil and marigolds, use physical barriers, and accept that a few imperfections are signs of a healthy ecosystem.
Drive Mindfully
Combine errands into single trips, carpool when possible, maintain proper tire pressure for better fuel efficiency, and consider walking or biking for short distances. If exploring off-road, stay on designated routes, manage speed and noise in residential areas, and never drive off-trail. Tire tracks scar the desert for decades.
Conserve Energy at Home
Switch to LED bulbs, unplug devices when not in use (phantom energy drain accounts for 10% of home energy use), use programmable thermostats, seal air leaks around windows and doors, and consider solar panels. Arizona sunshine is an abundant renewable resource we should harness.
Get Involved!
Join KSB as a volunteer Litter Lifter, attend our monthly Preserving the Wonder™ Speaker Series presentations, nominate deserving individuals for Awards of Excellence, and spread the word about sustainable practices. Community engagement multiplies individual impact exponentially.
Together, we can protect the scenic beauty and natural environment of Sedona and the Verde Valley for generations to come.