Resolution Results

February 16, 2016By 0 comment

2016NewYearResolutionsSlider

With the beginning of the new year, Bluegrass Greensource asked you to tell us in which areas of your life you resolved to make sustainability improvements.

Your responses were wonderful and demonstrated your deep commitments to making the small changes that lead to big impacts in our local environment. Almost everyone who participated committed to making changes in more than one area of their lives. Of the four resolution categories, 27% of respondents said they wanted to get outside more; 22% resolved to make their homes more energy efficient; 20% resolved to conserve water at the home or office; and 20% committed to improve recycling and/or composting at their homes. Perhaps most exciting were the 11% of respondents who resolved to make improvements in areas other than those listed. While these responses varied, a good many involved a desire to grow more food, make more purchases from local vendors, educate friends and neighbors about sustainability issues, and more consciously reduce their own personal consumption.

As part of the campaign, Bluegrass Greensource entered all respondents into a drawing for a $200 gift that can be used to give a jump start to the winner’s resolution efforts. We’re happy to announce that the winner of our drawing was Julie Riggs of Lawrenceburg. Congratulations Julie!

In addition to your commitment, your responses give us a great idea of the types of resources that you want and that we can provide or develop to help you along the way. Thanks to everyone who participated and resolved to increasing your efforts to become more sustainable in 2016!

READ MORE

Green Waves Radio: January 29, 2016 | Guest: Tresine Logsdon, Fayette County Public Schools

January 29, 2016By 0 comment

Green Waves Radio: January 29, 2016 
Host: Ashley Bryant Cheney, Environmental Educator
Guest: Tresine Logsdon, Fayette County Public Schools

Ashley interviews Tresine Logsdon, Energy & Sustainability Curriculum Coordinator for Fayette County  Public Schools. Tresine shares information about some of the impressive sustainability initiatives the school system has implemented, including accomplishments by students of the Bluegrass Sustainability Youth Council.

READ MORE

Green Waves Radio: January 15, 2016 | Guest: Lane Boldman, Kentucky Conservation Committee

January 15, 2016By 0 comment

Green Waves Radio: January 15, 2016 
Host: Chris Porter, Development Director
Guest: Lane Boldman, Kentucky Conservation Committee 

In this episode, Chris interviews Lane Boldman with the Kentucky Conservation Committee. Based in Frankfort, the KCC is a coalition of individuals and organizations working for a healthy environment and strong protections of Kentucky’s natural resources and places.

READ MORE

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!

READ MORE

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/

READ MORE

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!
READ MORE