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.
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.