Louisville’s Sustainability News, Programs and Projects

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January 20, 2017

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Happy New Year from the Office of Sustainability! We are planning for a big year in 2017. We will release an urban heat island mitigation strategy, conduct a communitywide greenhouse gas inventory, increase our efforts to help you conserve energy and increase our tree canopy. We look forward to engaging with you on these projects in the coming year. Thank you for your continued help making Louisville more sustainable!

Maria Koetter
Director, Office of Sustainability

In this issue:

Register for the Kilowatt Crackdown

Kilowatt Crackdown Logo

Registration is open for the 2016 Kilowatt Crackdown. Louisville’s Kilowatt Crackdown recognizes non-residential building owners and operators that use less energy than their peers. This year’s competition will recognize the best performer in 2016 and the most improved from 2015 to 2016 in various building type categories.

Have you made energy efficiency upgrades to your building this year? Want recognition? Register for the Kilowatt Crackdown today. The registration deadline is February 10, 2017. 


Apply for the 2016 Kilowatt Cup

Has your company or organization...

  • Overcome unusual obstacles on the road to energy efficiency?
  • Made significant advances on a shoestring budget?
  • Earned special honors or reached an energy efficiency milestone?

If so, apply for the 2016 Kilowatt Cup, which will be presented to the owner and/or manager of a commercial, institutional, industrial, nonprofit or worship property that demonstrated superior achievement in energy efficiency in 2016. Applications are due February 10, 2017. Apply today!


Save the Dates - Tree Giveaways

The Louisville Metro Division of Community Forestry (DCF) will distribute free trees to Jefferson County property owners this spring. 

  • March 3-5, 2017  - Louisville Home, Garden and Remodeling Show (note - there is a fee to attend this event)
  • March 18, 2017 - Beechland Baptist Church, 4613 Greenwood Road, 12:00 - 2:00pm
  • March 25, 2017 - Jefferson Community and Technical College, 109 E Broadway, 12:00 - 2:00pm
  • April 15, 2017 - Location and time will be announced soon.
Tree Giveaway Banner

    Volunteers are needed to help distribute trees at the giveaways. Volunteers will learn about tree species, get to know DCF staff, and meet the tree recipients. If interested, please call (502) 574-3927 or use the Contact Us option on the DCF website


    Sheppard Square is a Leader in Green Living

    Sheppard Square HOPE VI Revitalization (Sheppard Square) is a recently completed, 310-unit complex, with 228 public housing rental units designated for low-income residents. Apartments and homes, located in Smoketown, were built to Enterprise Green Community energy efficient standards so residents have lower utility costs and a smaller environmental footprint. Residents recycle and compost their waste on-site, and units feature reflective roofs to absorb less sunlight and decrease cooling costs. 

    Sheppard Square features geothermal in eight homes, solar panels on seven multi-family units and in the recently renovated Old Presbyterian Community Center, a green roof, nine electric vehicle charging stations, electric vehicles for maintenance staff and paving materials with a high solar reflective index to help to reduce residents’ cooling needs, along with many additional green elements. All buildings are ENERGY STAR Certified, which ensures energy savings in heating, cooling, hot water, lighting and appliance efficiencies. Each unit contains ENERGY STAR appliances. 

    Developed by the Louisville Metro Housing Authority with extensive collaboration from neighborhood residents and community stakeholders, Sheppard Square successfully integrates the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability. The project allows residents to reduce their environmental impact and their monthly bills. The project maintained the neighborhood’s heritage; residents are predominantly African American. Incorporating renewable energy and sustainability elements in a mixed-income housing development, within budget, is an outstanding success for the community.  

    Seven Hope VI buildings are LEED certified. Learn more about the project.


    Install Solar in 2017

    Make your New Year's resolution to install solar in 2017. The Office of Sustainability website hosts a page called Installing Solar in Louisville. The page containing everything you need to know to install solar on your home or business. Features include a list of local installers, how to get a permit to install solar, financing options, and more. 


    Partner Events and More

    Provide Feedback on MSD's 20 Year Repair Plan

    MSD has identified the community's critical wastewater, stormwater and flooding protection needs. The results are included in the draft 20-year Critical Repair & Reinvestment Plan. MSD seeks your feedback on this document. Read the plan and provide feedback here.

    Volunteer with the Louisville Food Co-op

    Louisville Food Co-op logo

    What: Louisville Food Co-op Fundraising Meeting
    When: Sunday, January 22nd from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
    Where: Main Library, 301 York St, Centennial Room

    The goal of the Louisville Food Co-op is to create a cooperatively-owned and operated community-based grocery that is accessible to all, inclusive, and affordable. The Co-op will aim to source products locally, supporting the local economy as much as possible. 

    One of the Louisville Food Co-op's most pressing needs is funding.  Please join the Co-op team on Sunday, January 22nd from 1:30-4:30 p.m. for a fundraising planning meeting. If you have ideas for raising funds, connections to funding, budget writing experience, and/or energy or time to put towards talking to people and getting the message out about the need for funds, please attend!

    If you would like more information about the Louisville Food Co-op, attend their next public meeting on February 2nd from 6:00-7:30pm at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3640 W River Park Drive. If you haven’t, please take the Louisville Food Co-op survey and follow their Facebook page for upcoming opportunities to get involved. 

    Engage with Louisville's Community Bike Shop

    Falls City Community Bikeworks logo

    What: Falls City Community Bikeworks Meeting
    When: Sunday, January 22nd from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
    Where: Center for Neighborhoods, 507 S 3rd St

    Falls City Community Bikeworks (FCCB) invites you to attend its first-ever annual meeting on Sunday, January 22nd, 2017. This will be a great opportunity to get an overview of the past year at FCCB, to learn about what’s in store in 2017 and beyond, AND to find out ways to get involved. FCCB is looking for people to serve on committees to help the organization fulfill its mission.

    Check out FCCB online or watch a video about what they do.

    Learn about Landscape Management

    What: Landscape Management Workshop
    When: Saturday, February 4th from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
    Where: Historic Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Lane

    The Louisville/Jefferson County Environmental Trust is hosting a workshop on land stewardship issues. It can be a daunting task to tackle an invasive plant removal and landscape restoration project. This workshop will give you the resources, knowledge and inspiration to get started.

    Speakers will report on the latest research, lessons learned, and future plans for invasive plant management, ecological restoration, healthy tree canopy and historic landscape management. All sessions will include discussion and practical considerations for landowners who have questions about how to improve their own piece of the earth or those who want to help the on-going work in public parks and preserves.

    Cost of the workshop is $35 for regular attendees and $15 for students. The cost includes a box lunch. Reservations are required by January 30. Download the registration form or call (502) 574-PARK (7275) for more information.

    Save the Date - Tree Symposium

    What: Tree Symposium
    When: Saturday, April 15th
    Where: Louisville (exact location TBD)

    The Partnership for a Green City is working with the Louisville Metro Division of Community Forestry, Trees Louisville, and Louisville Grows to provide a day long educational event for the public to learn more about trees. Attendees will learn about:

    • Species  selection,
    • How to plant a tree,
    • How to maintain and care for a tree,
    • Louisville's tree canopy history, 
    • Tree friends and foes, and
    • How to advocate for trees locally.

    Get Involved

    The Office of Sustainability partners with the non-profit Louisville Sustainability Council (LSC). The LSC’s mission is to engage and collaborate with the community to facilitate the achievement of Louisville’s sustainability goals. The organization works to improve health and quality of life in Louisville by catalyzing community action to promote citywide sustainability. Everyone is encouraged to get involved.

    four star community rating

    Louisville is rated as a 4-STAR Community for its sustainability achievements. The rating was awarded in August 2015 by STAR Communities.