Summer Fun (and Learning!) with Bluegrass Greensource

June 23, 2016By 0 comment

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It’s Time for Summer Camp!

Bluegrass Greensource educators are working with a variety of organizations this year to provide environmentally focused activities and lessons at summer camps in the Central Kentucky area! With activities ranging from Recycle Relay to testing water quality, campers have fun learning about the environment and how we all have an impact. Check out the list below to see if Bluegrass Greensource is coming to a camp near you!

    • Burnamwood Camp | June 14th
      Northside YMCA | July 25th – 29th
    • Consolidated Baptist Church | July 18th – 21st
    • William Wells Brown Community Center | June 7th, 14th and July 5th, 12th, & 19th
    • Lansdowne | June 20th – July 7th
    • Parks & Recreation: ACE & Liberty | June 29th
    • Northern Elementary | June 22nd

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Water Warrior Camps

  • Water Warriors at Toyota Daycare, Scott County | June 13th –17th
  • Camp Kenwick | June 22nd, July 1st, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, and August 3rd
  • Water Warriors at Owen County 4H | June 20th – 22nd
  • Water Warriors at Owen County Youth Services Center | June 27th – July 1st
  • Sadieville Water Warriors | August 1st- 3rd
  • Woodford Water Warriors at Buckley Wildlife Center | July 18th- 22nd
  • Paris-Bourbon County YMCA | July 18th- 22nd 

Don’t see your camp listed, but want to get in on the Greensource fun? Ask your camp coordinator to schedule a lesson by emailing Pattie Stivender at pattie@bggreensource.org or calling 859-266-1572!

 

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Lucky's Impact Day: Wednesday, July 13th

June 22, 2016By 0 comment

Support Bluegrass Greensource at Lucky’s Impact Day!

Wednesday, July 13th, ALL DAY!

Shop for a GREAT cause!

We are thrilled to be the beneficiaries of Lucky’s Impact Day this summer. When you shop at Lucky’s Market (1030 South Broadway, Lexington, KY 40504) on Wednesday, July 13th, Bluegrass Greensource will receive 10% of the day’s total sales! Proceeds from the event will directly support our work in classrooms to bring the science of sustainability alive for Central Kentucky kids.

Meet our educators and enjoy Lucky’s Vendor Fair!

Want to say hello? Our staff will be on site from 11 am – 6 pm! From noon until 4:00, Bluegrass Greensource educators specializing in trees, native plantings, and rain gardens will be available to answer your questions. And, from 4:30 – 5:30 pm, our staff will help you make your own reusable bag from an upcycled t-shirt! 

Lucky’s Market will also host a fair of local vendors in the parking lot from 4:00 – 7:00 pm, AND be having a sale on beer (20% off!). So, come by, say hello, purchase some delicious fresh food, and help support environmental education in Central Kentucky. See you there!

Lucky’s Community Project

We are so thankful to Lucky’s for selecting us as their beneficiary this quarter! We encourage you to take a moment to watch the video below- it really captures Lucky’s commitment to being a part of the communities where they open their stores!

Lucky’s Market Community Project from Lucky’s Market on Vimeo.

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2016 Artistic Rain Barrels Now Available Online!

June 22, 2016By 0 comment

2016 Artistic Rain Barrels

The 2016 Artistic Rain Barrels are now available for purchase online!
Each rain barrel is $200 (with tax), with all proceeds benefiting Bluegrass Greensource’s environmental education activities throughout Central Kentucky. Check them out below!

Purchase yours today!

Click the button below to purchase your barrel! Remember the name of the barrel and select it from the drop down menu. Sales tax applies. Barrels must be picked up from Bluegrass Greensource offices, located at 835 National Avenue, Lexington, KY 40502.


Rain Barrel


What do rain barrels do for the environment?

Rain barrels connect to your downspout, decreasing the amount of rain that runs off your property, which aids in preventing water pollution and flooding. Every time it rains, unabsorbed water rushes to storm drains and directly to local waterways. This water carries with it pollutants such as pet waste, automotive fluids and fertilizer.

The water saved in rain barrels can be used for watering flowers, gardens and lawns all through the summer, even in times of drought. Reduced water demand will lower your use of municipal water supplies, saving you money!

There’s a rain barrel I LOVE, but I don’t want to purchase online. What do I do?

No problem! Please contact michelle@bggreensource.org to purchase, or call our office at 859-266-1572.

Can I purchase a plain rain barrel?

Yes! Bluegrass Greensource sells rain barrels year round. The rain barrels are made out of plastic, 55 gallon, reused, food grade barrels. The price for one is $75, plus tax. If you are interested in buying a rain barrel from Bluegrass Greensource, call Michelle at 859-266-1572 or email either Michelle@bgGreensource.org or info@bgGreensource.org.

 

 

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Bluegrass Sustainable Business Summit: Conference Agenda

June 7, 2016By 0 comment

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Wednesday, June 15th
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Locust Trace Agriscience Center


2016 Schedule of Events:

8:30 am – 9:15 am      Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:15 am – 9:30 am      Welcome and Introductions

9:30 am – 10:30 am      Session A

    • Option 1- Berea Sustainable Development Panel

      Berea College Dorm (LEED Platinum certification and Petal Recognition under the Living Building Challenge)
      Joan Pauly
      Sustainability Coordinator, Berea College

      Berea Municipal Community Solar Farm and Energy Efficiency Programs
      Joshua Bills, CEM
      Energy Efficient Enterprises Program Coordinator,
      Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED)

      Berea Urban Farm and the Old Town Urban Agriculture District
      Cheyenne Olson
      Executive Director, Sustainable Berea ​

    • Option 2-Creating a Fossil Free Portfolio

      Carrie B. Van Winkle,
      Socially Responsive Investing

    • Option 3- Ecological Management – Compliance, Planning, and Sustainability

      Ward Wilson, Director of Development
      Eco-Tech Consultants, Inc.

10:45 am – 11:45 am  Session B

  • Option 1- How a Carbon Fee Could Benefit Kentucky Business

    Jason Bailey, Executive Director,
    Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

    Zach Bernstein, Manager, Research and Social Media
    American Sustainable Business Council

  • Option 2- Sustainable Spirits

    Paulette Akers,
    Division of Compliance Assistance

  • Option 3- Energy Star Portfolio Manager for Businesses

    James Bush,
    LFUCG

12:00 pm – 1:15 pm    Lunch, Keynote, Exhibits
Keynote Speaker- Michele Muller, Environmental Manager at L’Oreal

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm      Session C

  • Option 1- Getting to know the Kentucky Sustainable Business Council

    Heather Warman, Executive Director, Kentucky Environmental Foundation and Interim Director of the Kentucky Sustainable Business Council

  • Option 2- Sustainable Sites Initiative

    Nancy Church, Director, Community – Kentucky,
    U.S. Green Building Council
    Scott Southall, RLA, LEED AP BD+C, ASLA,  AIC
    CDP Engineers

  • Option 3- Green Check Program

    Rob Gates, Outreach Specialist,
    Bluegrass Greensource

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm     Session D

  • Option 1- EcoDistricts, LSC, Green Umbrella, and Bluegrass Forever Green

    Bobby Clark,
    Sustainable Business Ventures Corporation

  • Option 2- Energy Efficiency & Waste Reduction Solutions for Business

    Lissa McCracken,
    Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center

  • Option 3- The Business Case for Passive House

    David Horton,
    Green Building Consulting, LLC

4:00 pm – 4:15 pm      Door Prize Announcements and Closing

4:30 pm -5:00 pm     Tour of Locust Trace Agriscience Center

5:30 pm -7:00 pm      Happy Hour at Ethereal Brewing Company!

The Bluegrass Sustainable Business Summit is generously sponsored by:

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Thank you for supporting our work!

January 6, 2016By 0 comment

This fall, our goal was to raise $7,500 to support three mission-critical areas of our work. We are so excited to report that with your help and that of many other friends and supporters, we reached our goal. At 11:51 p.m. on December 31st, we received our last donation through the GoodGiving Guide Challenge, which pushed us over the top! Throughout November and December, we received 82 donations totaling $7,571.

This support is essential to furthering our work in three critical ways:

  • Help us provide 150 students an opportunity to participate in Outdoor Learning Days, where our education staff lead a daylong learning event at the Dupree Nature Preserve in Garrard County. Funds help to pay for transportation costs, materials for the students to use during the day, and our staff time.
  • Help us provide 33 free weatherization kits that will be given to low-income families that participate in our energy efficiency home weatherization workshops. Because winter utility bills are one of the greatest financial burdens low-income families face, making homes more energy efficient is one of the most immediate ways to reduce bills, save energy, and save money for families. And because even a small upfront cost can be a barrier to a low-income family being able to implement energy efficiency measures, we are raising funds this winter to provide these kits, which will increase access to energy efficiency and personal comfort, while also helping to reduce a family’s financial burden and carbon footprint.
  • Help support our 3rd annual Main Street Clean Sweep, which is a volunteer-led litter clean up that Bluegrass Greensource organizes in Central Kentucky communities. Last year, we had almost 1,000 volunteers who collected nearly 4 tons of litter throughout 17 communities. This year, our goal is to engage 2,000 volunteers, expand to 19 communities, and collect eight tons of litter.

We couldn’t have achieved this success without you. Thank you for helping us get 2016 off to a wonderful start!

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Weatherization Workshops and Tips

December 16, 2015By 0 comment

If your winter heating bill is over $200 per month, chances are that you would benefit from some home weatherization improvements. Here are a few tips that could be useful in keeping your home warm for less money:

  1. The two biggest sources of energy use is your HVAC system and your hot water heater. Keeping your house well insulated, as well as preventing air leaks and maintaining a proper temperature for hot water can lead to great cost savings, and a more comfortable home.
  2. Air leaks around your doors and windows allow cold air into the home during the winter months. This prevents your HVAC system from maintaining a target temperature, keeping it constantly running and unable to actually warm your home. Fight this problem by air sealing your windows and doors!
  3. LED light bulbs can save you money on energy use because they only use 20% of the energy & last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs. Replacing five of your most used light bulbs to LEDS can save up to $75 annually.
  4. For the best savings on your hot water heater, install a hot water heater blanket for insulation and adjust its temperature to 120 º.
  5. Arrange furniture so that no vents in the home are blocked. Keeping all vents open and clean will allow the air flow to be better circulated and make it easier for your HVAC system to heat your entire home.
  6. Change your air filters every 3 months in order to keep your HVAC system running properly and maintain healthy air quality in your home.
  7. Check out an energy audit kit at Bluegrass Greensource or your local Lexington public library in order to find out where weatherization is needed the most in your home. Each home is different so don’t assume where weatherization is needed and find out yourself by doing a home audit with one of our rental energy audit kits.

This list of weatherization tips for your home is a good start, but it is important to keep in mind that every home is unique and will need different weatherization to keep it running effectively. For more information on how to weatherize your home in order to save money this winter on utility costs, join us at one of our free weatherization workshops. In this workshop you will learn different air sealing techniques, energy saving tips, a comprehensive look at our energy audit kits, and information on energy-related assistance programs in Lexington, KY. For a list of dates and locations please visit our website at: https://bggreensource.org/what-you-can-do/energy-efficiency/weatherization/

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Fundraising Update

December 16, 2015By 0 comment

Just two weeks left!

The holidays are upon us, and New Year’s is just around the corner. That means that the GoodGiving Guide Challenge is also entering its final weeks.

This fall, we have a goal of raising $7,500 to help support three critical areas of our mission. At the moment, we have raised $4,100 toward that goal. Now is the time to make your donation. Here are three easy ways that you can support Bluegrass Greensource this year:

  1. Go to our GoodGiving Guide Challenge page and make a one-time, tax deductible donation: https://bggives.razoo.com/giving_events/bg15/home
  1. Come join us Monday, December 21st, at Blue Stallion Brewing Company, where we are the featured nonprofit for Mission Mondays. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy some good beer, good company, and support a great cause—Bluegrass Greensource will receive 10 percent of the sales for the evening. So come out Monday night and help us turn the Blue Stallion green!
  1. Right now, our good friends at Synergy Home have made an incredible offer to Bluegrass Greensource. For every new “like” they receive on their Facebook page from now through December 31st, Synergy will donate $1 to Bluegrass Greensource. Synergy Home is a new business in Lexington that is your one-stop shop for energy efficiency and renewable energy services. Check out their Facebook page here, give them a “like,” and help support Bluegrass Greensource!
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