Home Energy Workshop Recap
By: Mallory Johnson,
AmeriCorps VISTA
Our Home Energy Workshop on December 7th was a space for diverse members of our community to come together and learn hands-on energy saving tips to take into their own home this winter!
The technical portion of the workshop was led by Chris Woolery, with assistance from Rachel Norton, both of the How$martKY program, a residential energy efficiency initiative run by the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED).
Chris led the workshop, sharing his years of experience implementing energy efficiency measures in homes and apartments. After a brief presentation, participants moved through four stations throughout Embrace Church, our host site. These stations provided opportunities for attendees to receive hands-on experience with some of the techniques they can apply to their own home. They included: duct sealing; air sealing, insulating and sealing attic access points; and a station reviewing how to install the items in the energy efficiency kits that each participant received. Representatives from the Community Action Council and Kentucky Utilities were also on hand to discuss weatherization offerings they have through their “We Care” program.
Because of the hands-on aspect of the workshop, participants helped the good folks of Embrace Church weatherize their building. This will help increase comfort this winter and save the church money, which can then be redirected into their community outreach programs.
With help from our friends at the Central Kentucky Chapter of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, we were able to survey residents on the North Side and East End neighborhoods and recruit 25 individuals to the workshop. The neighborhood surrounding Embrace Church includes many Spanish- and English-speaking families. Because of this, we decided to offer this workshop in both languages, which was a huge success due to the translation and interpretation help we received from Jennifer Hubbard-Sanchez of Kentucky State University.
At the end of the workshop, each attendee received a free energy efficiency starter kit, which we were able to provide through a generous mini-grant from the Blue Grass Community Foundation in partnership with the Kresge Foundation. Each kit included a power strip, four LED light bulbs, a swivel kitchen aerator and a bathroom aerator, a low-flow showerhead, as well as a caulk gun and two tubes of caulk.
We are so very thankful for all of our partnerships that helped this night to be as successful as it was. We also want to thank everyone again for all who were a part of making this night a success and most importantly providing our community with the resources they need to live more comfortably in their homes!
“Small energy efficiency improvements can make huge impacts on people’s lives,” said Chris Woolery. “They don’t just save energy and money, they create homes that are healthier and more comfortable. Most folks can do a lot of these improvements themselves, they just don’t know where to start. That’s why workshops like these are so important.”
Submit your 2017 Sustainable New Year Resolution!
Best Wishes for a Sustainable New Year!
By: Amy Sohner
Bluegrass Greensource
Executive Director
We have realized for a long time that many people make resolutions that they never can keep. I am guilty of that myself. As an example, I finally renewed my passport, a resolution I made five years ago!
Almost since our inception, Bluegrass Greensource has encouraged Central Kentuckians to think about New Year’s Resolutions differently. Instead of thinking only about personal goals, i.e losing weight, sleeping more, renewing your passport etc., we encourage resolutions that will have, collectively, a big impact on our local environment.
Our resolutions this year are to:
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Make my home more energy efficient
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Conserve water at my home or office
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Improve my recycling
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Ride my bike more
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Start or improve my compost practices
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Get outside more
In addition to offering an alternative to the regular resolutions, Bluegrass Greensource understands that committing to something publically increases its chances of success. By submitting your environmental goals to Bluegrass Greensource, you will be much more likely to actually accomplish them.
Since our mission is to empower the citizens to create a sustainable environment, we also want to know what you are striving to do and learn. By participating in the resolution program, we are alerted to what the needs are in our community, and can target programming to meet those needs.
And finally, as an incentive to participate in the resolution program, we have a drawing to award a $100 gift card! In my opinion, the part of the incentive that makes this great is that the gift card is tailored to what you resolve to do in 2017. If you choose to improve home composting, you can use your winnings to buy a home composting system. If you resolve to ride your bike more, you can use the money to buy a bike. We hope that the incentive will not only help you commit, but help break down any barriers that are preventing you from being successful.
Each year, we receive many resolutions, and I hope that we can empower you to make 2017 your greenest year yet!
Click here to share your 2017 resolution with us!
Green Living Lab: 2017 Workshops Announced!
From gardening to green cleaners at home, Green Living Lab offers something for everyone!
Green Living Lab is a new Saturday workshop series at Bluegrass Greensource, where staff present short, engaging workshops to help you build new skills and learn more about topics to live more sustainably. Green Living Lab continues in 2017 with three more workshop opportunities in January, February, and March!
All workshops are held at our office at 835 National Avenue.
Times and online registration are now available:
Sustainable Table
Saturday, January 21st
10 am – 12 pm
$15 registration
Reduce your environmental impact in the kitchen!
The January workshop will help you reduce your ecological footprint in the kitchen. Cooking as home with sustainable food taste better, is more nutritious, cheaper than eating out, brings friends and family together, and encourages healthy eating habits. Registration includes all food and materials for preparing and enjoying a sustainably minded meal! Click here to register for Sustainable Table.
Winter Seed Sowing
Saturday, February 25
12 pm – 2 pm
$20 registration
Start thinking about your 2017 garden plans!
The February workshop will introduce you to beneficial, native plants, and teach you a technique to cold stratify native seeds to get a head start on your spring and summer gardens. Each participant will receive a Monarch Waystation Seed Kit, and learn how to start the seeds that help to create, conserve and protect habitats of Monarchs and other pollinators. The $20 Registration includes all materials. Click here to register for Winter Seed Sowing.
Homemade Green Cleaners
Saturday, March 25
10 am – 12 pm
$15 registration
Keep your home clean and green!
The March workshop will introduce you to cleaning methods that are as safe and effective as commercial cleaners, without the environmental impacts. The $15 Registration includes all materials, including cleaners to take home. Click here to register for Homemade Green Cleaners.