Mayor Fischer has joined with over 200 mayors in signing a Climate Mayors letter to Congress, urging federal leaders to take bold action to protect our planet and build a more just economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Representing a network of 461 U.S. mayors across the country committed to upholding the Paris Climate Agreement, Climate Mayors called on Congress to invest in an economic recovery that injects more resilience, equity, and sustainability into our communities.
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Louisville Metro's Build Back Better, Together Initiative was created to ensure a robust, equitable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by a steering committee of key leaders in government, business and nonprofit sectors, community and neighborhood representatives, and co-chairs from seven focus area teams, the group is seeking engagement from all Louisvillians to help meet the needs of the entire community and create a new, more dynamic and equitable economy.
The Built and Natural Environment team will focus specifically on how projects and programs in existing transit, sustainability, and land development plans should be altered or accelerated in order to promote health and well-being and prepare for future shocks.
If you're interested in getting involved, click here.
The deadline to submit a building for the 2020 Annual Kilowatt Crackdown is August 1, 2020!
This annual event, hosted by Louisville Energy Alliance, recognizes building owners and operators that track and report their energy use with ENERGY STAR's Portfolio Manager. Awards are presented across multiple building types and recognize the best performers and the buildings making the greatest energy improvements.
Please stay tuned for updates as the LEA works to reschedule the awards ceremony during a time that is safe and healthy for everyone.
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The Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability received another round of funding to continue Louisville Metro's Cool Roof Rebate Program in Fiscal Year 2020-21! The Office currently has funding available for properties located in targeted high-heat areas, including Metro Council Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14 and 15. The program aims to combat urban warming and reduce cooling costs for districts significantly impacted by Louisville's urban heat island. The rebate provides up to $1 per square foot of cool roof that is installed with an ENERGY STAR roofing product. Rebates are available for both residential and commercial buildings and offered on a first come, first serve basis.
Curious where cool roof installations have taken place in Louisville? Check out this new ArcGIS dashboard for more details on rebate recipients and distribution.
Drive Clean Louisville (DCL), a cross-functional team led by the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District, has just launched its Green Fleet Challenge to encourage local businesses to increase the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles in their fleets.
The DCL team invites local businesses, companies, and non-profit organizations to commit to matching the number of battery electric vehicles (BEVs)/plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) currently in Louisville Metro's fleet to help achieve its goal of reducing tailpipe emissions from light- and heavy-duty mobile sources and protecting the public's health.
To find out more about the Challenge, email the DCL team here.
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Louisville Metro's Waste Management District is launching a new "Know Waste" webinar series to educate residents on everything from recycling and composting to Jefferson's complex waste collection systems. Webinars will be offered every Thursday at 3pm until August 20th. To learn more, click here.
This July marked the Zoo’s 30th year of celebrating the Earth since its first Party for the Planet celebration in 1990! In support of this celebration, the Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability contributed a virtual activity to help families and individuals understand the size of their carbon footprints and actions they can take to reduce the size of their carbon footprint.
To check out this video and other eco-partner videos, click here.
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Pop-Up Farmers Market
Louisville Metro has partnered with Louisville Grows and Black Community Development Corporation to turn a former vacant lot into Opportunity Corner, a functional space with edible landscaping, a community garden, and a shipping containers that will serve as pop-up office and retail space to support budding entrepreneurs as part of the broader Vision Russell plan. After successfully celebrating its opening on July 25, the festivities will continue with a pop-up farmers market every Saturday in August from 9am-noon.
Make sure to stop by to support your local farmers and the Russell neighborhood!
 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit
The City of Cincinnati's 2020 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit has been reimagined as a multi-day, virtual event taking place on August 5-7, 2020. The event will be centered around the theme “Cities of the Future: Becoming a Regenerative Region" and will kick off with an evening keynote by Majora Carter. The keynote will then be followed by 21 sessions with over 50 speakers, including a panel on "Best Practices of Peer Cities" featuring the Sustainability Coordinator from Louisville Metro Government, as well as other sustainability representatives from Bloomington and Cleveland.
To see the full program and list of speakers, click here.
 Louisville Grows Plant 5K
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Get ready for Louisville Grows’ inaugural PLANT 5K Run & Walk on September, 19, 2020!
This inaugural 5K event will support Louisville Grows’ mission to grow greener, healthier neighborhoods by reducing the urban heat-island effect, increasing our community’s urban tree canopy, and supporting recreation along shady routes that tree planting can create!
Cost is currently $30 to register. Price increases after September 13th. To register, click here.
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Louisville Earth Walk
The Louisville Earth Walk, a non-competitive community event including a live 5k walk, at-home participation and virtual programming, is moving to Cherokee Park for its fourth year on Saturday, October 24, 2020.
We invite you to join in support of a city-wide vision where every neighborhood has safe and clean water, air, and soil. This family-friendly event will celebrate our beautiful planet while raising both awareness and funds for the wonderful organizations in our city that work to protect and improve the quality of life for all of us.
For more information on how to register, click here.
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Crossroads: An Intersectional Series on Climate Justice
Climate Justice is Social Justice. The Louisville Sustainability Council introduces: CROSSROADS: an educational series addressing the intersection of climate change and social justice. This series will touch on the intersection of climate change and race, health, and gender; followed by resources and action steps. Follow the Louisville Sustainability Council on Facebook to stay up-to-date on the series.
Unequal Impact: The Deep Links Between Racism and Climate Change
In this interview published by the Yale School of Environment, climate activist Elizabeth Yeampierre focuses on the connections between racial injustice and the environment and climate change. In the wake of George Floyd’s killing and the outsized impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, she hopes people may finally be ready to listen.
Mitigating Louisville's Urban Heat Island
Louisville Metro's Cool Roof Rebate Program, one of the most robust in the nation, was recently featured in the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) summer newsletter. If you're interested in learning more about the actions Louisville Metro is taking to reduce its urban heat island to protect its residents, increase the resiliency of its infrastructure, and reduce cooling costs for both homes and businesses, check out this CRRC newsletter here.
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