Congratulations to the 2014 LiveGreenLexington Games winners

August 14, 2014By 0 comment

In an awards ceremony held on July 31st, the winners of the 2014 LiveGreenLexington Games were recognized by Bluegrass Greensource, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, and their peers.  Since 2011, the Games have challenged Lexington businesses to see how green they can go; our 2014 competitors did just that, and we’re excited to share some of their accomplishments with you.

3M Ceradyne - overall winner

Overall Winner: 3M Ceradyne

3M Ceradyne earned the most points across all three categories – Energy Conservation, Waste Reduction, and Water Stewardship – making them the overall winner of the 2014 Games.  Their active Green Team keeps up with sustainability initiatives indoors and out; Ceradyne maintains a robust recycling program that extends beyond regular city pick-up, composts yard waste and uses biodegradable packing materials, and takes extra steps to ensure that their facility is energy efficient year-round.  Keep up the good work!

Energy Conservation Winner: Good Foods Co-op

Good Foods takes energy efficiency seriously, and their energy team is always busy looking for new ways to conserve!  Their building and appliances are Energy Star certified, and lighting controls in the café and market help them go dark when spaces aren’t in use.  And the Good Foods staff members do their part, too; everyone works together to make sure lights are off and equipment is shut down when not in use.

Waste Reduction Winner: Dupree Catering + Events

Dupree has made waste reduction an important part of the way they do business and their dedication has really paid off.  They have reduced their landfill-bound waste stream by 85% through a combination of composting, recycling, and use of compostable flatware, and they keep those numbers up by incorporating their green initiatives into the training of every new employee.

Water Stewardship Winner: Kentucky American Water

Kentucky American doesn’t just provide clean water to the city; they do their part to conserve and protect it, too!  Their low-flow fixtures and responsible landscaping practices keep their water consumption low, and by reducing chemical use and educating both their staff and the public on storm drain and litter issues, they’re making a positive impact on water quality as well.

Stewardship Accolade: Bullhorn Creative

Bullhorn’s impressive résumé of sustainability initiatives benefit both their staff and their community.  They compost with Seedleaf, provide bicycles for employees to ride to work, and dedicate their time and effort to partnering with other like-minded organizations to make an impact on the community at large.  100% of Bullhorn employees participated in the 2014 Downtown Trash Bash; they spend time every month working in a Seedleaf community garden; and they’re currently working with NoLi CDC on a grant that implements urban forestry and runoff abatement projects to improve storm water quality.

Education Accolade: Employment Solutions

Employment Solutions trains and educates adults with developmental disabilities to prepare them for the workforce – and they go above and beyond the call of duty to teach the value of growing and preparing food and cutting wasteful habits.  Employment Solutions staff and students have turned what was once a parking lot into a vibrant and productive garden; every individual learns to plant, tend, and harvest, and prepare their own produce and flowers, as well as care for chickens.  They have also eliminated disposable dishware from their kitchens and compost all of their food scraps to help nourish their garden.

Innovation Accolade: Bluegrass Technology Center

Bluegrass Technology Center’s Assistive Technology ReUse Program keeps waste out of the landfill by redistributing medical and technological devices that would otherwise be discarded.  BTC refurbishes computers, home medical equipment, and assistive devices for individuals with vision, hearing, mobility, and learning challenges; they then supply those items to individuals in need.

Special thanks to Blue Stallion Brewing – another one of our LiveGreenLexington Partners – for hosting the 2014 Games Awards Ceremony; and special thanks to all of our 2014 Games participants for your commitment to a more sustainable Lexington!  We hope you’ll all be back for another round of friendly competition in the 2015 LiveGreenLexington Green Business Challenge, launching soon.  To find out more about what’s new this year and how your workplace can get involved, go to www.LexGreenBizChallenge.com.

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Bluegrass Greensource and Kentucky American Water present the Water Stewardship School Program

August 14, 2014By 0 comment

KAW logo

Bluegrass Greensource is excited to kick off a new school program this fall.  In partnership with Kentucky American Water, Greensource is offering a water quality and conservation education program for fourth grade students in Bourbon, Clark, Owen, Scott, and Woodford Counties.  Participating schools will spend two days working with Bluegrass Greensource educators in the classroom.  Students will be able to learn about where their drinking water comes from here in Central Kentucky – through Kentucky American Water’s pumping and filtration stations.  Students will also examine their watersheds and learn how they have a direct impact on the water they are drinking.  After exploring issues like point source and non-point source pollution, groundwater, and the water cycle, students will participate in a project that allows them to take action in their communities to improve local water quality.  All activities are aligned with Kentucky science standards and are hands-on learning opportunities for students.

If you are a teacher in one of these counties and are interested in participating, please contact Blair Hecker to schedule!

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Bluegrass Greensource and Bluegrass Conservancy Partner for Elkhorn Cleanup

August 14, 2014By 0 comment

riddle cleanup

Friday, July 18th was a cloudy, drizzly day here in Central Kentucky but that didn’t stop volunteers and staff from Bluegrass Greensource and Bluegrass Conservancy from heading out to the South Elkhorn Creek in Scott County to clean up litter and debris. Owned by Bob and Laura Riddle, the Riddle Farm off Fisher’s Mill Road features a one-mile section of the South Elkhorn that unfortunately captures a lot of trash and litter as the Elkhorn flows from Fayette County and through Scott County, especially during the flooding season in the spring. Participants climbed down the bank and into the stream around 10am and continued cleaning up until 1pm, collecting over 1150 pounds of material from the stream and its banks. Items collected included 20 bags of trash, nine tires, a bale of metal fencing, and even the dashboard from an old piece of farm machinery. Most trash was easily picked up with litter grabbers but the tires, some of which were sunk into the mud, had to be partially dug out and then pulled out with the use of chains and Mr. Riddle’s tractor. As for the impact of this cleanup, Mr. Riddle talked extensively with Rebecca Smith of WKYT about how he remembers thousands of ducks visiting the Elkhorn in his childhood, but over time those numbers have dwindled. Since he has been working with Bluegrass Conservancy to help preserve his property, the ducks have started to return. And that, he thinks, is a very good sign.

This cleanup was held in partnership with Kyle Goodwin, Georgetown City Engineer.

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Large Turnout for Spring Rain Barrel Workshops

July 10, 2014By 0 comment

In May and June, Bluegrass Greensource hosted seven rain barrel workshops in Bourbon, Clark, Scott, and Woodford Counties, sponsored by Kentucky American Water.  Representatives from Bluegrass Greensource taught workshop participants about water conservation, its importance, and the purpose of rain barrels, as well as demonstrated for participants how to make a rain barrel. After the demonstration, each participant put together his or her own rain barrel to take home.

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Thanks to generous support from Kentucky American Water, local citizens can participate in a workshop for just $10 per person. Over 140 people participated in the spring workshops.

If you are interested in learning to make your own rain barrel, Bluegrass Greensource will be hosting more rain barrel workshops this fall in Bourbon, Owen, and Scott Counties with the support of Kentucky American Water.  The dates of these workshops will be announced in early August. If you are interested in attending, please visit www.bgGreensource.org to get the registration information, or join our mailing list to be among the first to receive the schedule!

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Volunteer Opportunities Available Throughout the Year

July 10, 2014By 0 comment

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering are enormous to you, your family, and your community. The right match can help you meet new friends, make a positive impact on your community, and learn new skills.

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mont middle volunteers

Regardless of your work experience we have a volunteer opportunity for you!  Volunteer opportunities change throughout the year.  Spring and fall are perfect for the volunteer that likes to work community outreach events.  Winter offers opportunities for the volunteer that would like to express their artistic side.  Summer is the best time for the volunteer that likes to work with children.  And all year long we need volunteers to assist with waste reduction at events, help with litter cleanups, and to assist in our office.

If you would like to learn more about volunteering with Bluegrass Greensource please click here.  Or contact our volunteer coordinator for upcoming opportunities.

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2014 LiveGreenLexington Games wraps up with awards ceremony on July 31st

July 10, 2014By 0 comment

Thanks to our dedicated LiveGreenLexington business partners, another successful round of the LiveGreenLexington Games is in the books!  Competition wrapped up on June 30th, with eighteen local businesses participating in this year’s green business challenge.

Special thanks to all of our 2014 participants:

3M Ceradyne
A Sense of Order
alt32 ARCHITECTURE | DESIGN
Cardinal Hill Hospital
CDP Engineers
Dismas Charities, Lexington
Dupree Catering + Events
Element Design
Good Foods Co-Op
Graybar
Growing Together Preschool
Kentucky American Water
Lexington Habitat ReStore
Lexington Public Library
Lextran
Richards Electric
Salon Asa, LLC
Town Branch Tree Experts, Inc.

But who’s the greenest of them all?  Swing by the awards ceremony and find out!

The 2014 LiveGreenLexington Games Awards Ceremony will be held at Blue Stallion Brewing, Thursday, July 31st, from 5-7pm.  In addition to recognizing overall and category winners, we’ll be awarding innovation, education, and stewardship accolades to businesses who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to become more sustainable (nominate a business here – nominations will be accepted through Monday, July 21st).  The awards ceremony is also a great opportunity to network with other sustainably-minded folks in the Lexington business community, and there’s no better way to share great ideas than over a cold, locally-brewed beer.

The awards ceremony is also your first chance to check out all of the exciting changes coming in the next round of competition, starting September 1st!  Lexington is one of only four cities nationwide selected to receive a generous grant from the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives for the purpose of expanding and improving our green business challenge.  Just a few of the new perks coming on September 1st include an activity-based format with more than 100 activities to choose from and complete; GreenPSF (Per Square Foot) software for managing utility data, monitoring challenge progress, keeping an eye on the leader board, and so much more; and expanded trainings, services, and educational resources for participating businesses and their staff.  Registration for the 2015 LiveGreenLexington Green Business Challenge officially opens at 5pm on July 31st – test out the software, register, or simply find out more while you enjoy the awards ceremony!  We’ll even start you off with 50 extra points if you register by August 31st.

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Locations for Move Out Madness

June 27, 2014By 0 comment

New MOM banners

How does Move-Out-Madness work?  Hippo Crate has donated storage crates to be placed at two Lexington apartment communities – Newtown Crossing and Campus Courts at Red Mile.  The crates will be placed at each property for one week during their busiest move-out times this summer, allowing tenants to place their unwanted furniture and items inside.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore will pick up the furniture and home items from the crates while God’s Pantry will collect non-perishable food items.  Tenants will be encouraged to take unwanted clothing items to Goodwill, the Hope Center, or Salvation Army.

How can I get involved? Look for the banner in the photo above on the Hippo Crate at Campus Courts at Red Mile from July 16 to July 23, or at Newtown Crossing from July 26 to August 2.

Click here to view our locations.

Move Out Madness is sponsored by the Greater Lexington Apartment Association’s Green Committee, LFUCG, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, Bluegrass Greensource, Hippo Crates, and God’s Pantry.

Please contact Lisa Conley or Beth Oleson with questions at 266-1572.

Poster

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Greensource to Offer Rain Garden Workshop at Annual Whippoorwill Festival

June 12, 2014By 0 comment

Bluegrass Greensource will be hosting a series of Rain Garden Workshops in Woodford, Clark, and Madison Counties this summer and fall. Residents of Woodford, Clark, and Madison Counties that attend a workshop are eligible to apply to receive a grant of $250 to construct a rain garden at their homes.

RainGarden

The first event in the series will be hosted in Madison County at Homegrown Hideaways on July 11 and 12. This workshop will be one of many workshops offered that day, focused on a variety of sustainability topics, at the Whippoorwill Festival.

The first day of the workshop will promote best management practices for stormwater and is designed to educate homeowners about the benefits of installing a rain garden and improving water quality. Participants will learn how to determine the right location, how to build and maintain a rain garden, and what types of plants are most successful and environmentally beneficial. Additionally, the participants will have the opportunity to take part in planting native plants in a rain garden near the workshop.

The second day of the workshop will promote planting of milkweed and other native plant species that help support monarch butterflies lifecycle. The workshop will discuss why the Monarchs need our help and what benefit native plant species have to the butterflies and other pollinators. It will also cover how to construct a waystation and what plants to choose.

Both sections of the workshop will offer a hands-on component, while constructing a rain garden/ monarch waystation at Homegrown Hideaways.

Please check updates to Bluegrass Greensource’s website for more Rain Garden opportunities coming soon.

This work was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under §319(h) of the Clean Water Act.

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Water Week Makes a Splash with Local Professionals

June 12, 2014By 0 comment

TBWWT Tour_1

Above: Water Week participants tour the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The first week of June was Water Week for LiveGreenLexington Partners and LiveGreenLexington Games participants, and it went swimmingly!  Representatives of Lexington businesses and organizations participated in events ranging from presentations to community service projects, all with one goal in mind: to raise awareness of water quality and conservation issues, and help our professional family get involved in making changes for the better.

Storm drain stenciling_1

Above: A newly stenciled storm drain on Walton Avenue.

Over the course of Water Week, 26 individuals representing 7 businesses and organizations came together to learn, converse, and take action on water quality and consumption issues at work, at home, and in the community.  An educational lunch and learn on June 3rd provided ideas, resources, and information on developing a more sustainable and water-friendly workplace.  On June 4th, we toured the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant for an eye-opening (and fragrant) behind-the-scenes look at how Lexington’s wastewater is treated.  At the end of the week, our focus shifted from wastewater to stormwater; intrepid volunteers picked up 77 pounds of trash and 12 pounds of recyclables that littered a local stream on June 5th, and stenciled more than a dozen storm drains on June 6th with an anti-littering message to remind their fellow citizens to keep our water clean.

Thanks and kudos to our LiveGreenLexington Partners and Greensource staff for making Water Week 2014 a success!  We had an educational and entertaining week, and we’re already hoping that Water Week 2015 will be even better.

If you represent a Fayette County business or organization that places value on sustainability, ask us about becoming a LiveGreenLexington Partner today!  You’ll join over 700 other Lexington organizations working toward a more sustainable future.

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Tired of Tenants Leaving Furniture on the Street after Move-Out?

June 12, 2014By 0 comment

abandoned furniture

Unwanted furniture and home items often find their way to the curb when apartment tenants move out. Unless otherwise collected, these materials create an eyesore and typically end up in landfills.  The Greater Lexington Apartment Association’s Green Committee has partnered again this year with Bluegrass Greensource, LFUCG, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Hippo Crate, and God’s Pantry to develop Move-Out-Madness.  The goal is to collect gently-used items left behind by tenants and make it possible for them to find new homes.

How does Move-Out-Madness work?  Hippo Crate has donated storage crates to be placed at two Lexington apartment communities – Newtown Crossing and Campus Court at Red Mile.  The crates will be placed at each property for one week during their busiest move-out times this summer, allowing tenants to place their unwanted furniture and items inside.  Habitat for Humanity ReStore will pick up the furniture and home items from the crates while God’s Pantry will collect non-perishable food items.  Tenants will be encouraged to take unwanted clothing items to Goodwill, the Hope Center, or Salvation Army.

How can I get involved?  Deliver gently-used, unwanted items to the Hippo Crate at Campus Court at Red Mile from July 16 to July 23, or to Newtown Crossing from July 26 to August 2.  Please contact Lisa Conley with questions or to get your property involved: lisa@bggreensource.org  or 266-1572, ext. 237.

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