Green Living

The Green Living program educates citizens on how to live a sustainable lifestyle by recognizing neighborhoods that achieve predetermined criteria with a Green, Silver, Gold or Platinum certification. The certification levels are awarded through a points-based system. Points are obtained based on the percentage of neighborhood households that accomplish program criteria.

To register your neighborhood for participation in this program, sign up here! Once initial registration is completed, please click here to complete your Green Living Neighborhood Certification Checklist. We will notify you of your certification level within 7-10 business days of completion. Upon certification, your neighborhood will be marked as such on our One Bright City interactive map

The Green Living Neighborhood Certification program was developed in partnership with former Office of Sustainability as part of the larger One Bright City initiative. 

Recognition

There are four recognition levels within the Green Living program: Green, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Recognition levels are awarded based on the achievements a neighborhood can demonstrate. For example, a neighborhood that reaches 150 points will receive a Gold Green Living Certification. Neighborhoods are encouraged to register for Green Living to indicate participation in the program, even if they do not qualify for a recognition level.

Certification Levels

Points

Platinum

>160

Gold

141-160

Silver

121-140

Green

50-120

Registered

Signed Up

 

Upon receipt of certification, a neighborhood will be recognized with a Green Living certification logo that can be placed on their neighborhood association website. The neighborhood will also be recognized on the ONE BRIGHT CITY interactive online map.

Defining Your Neighborhood

The Green Living program accommodates different types of neighborhoods and households, including single-family, multi-family and rental units. For participation in the program, a neighborhood includes a minimum of ten housing units in a contiguous geographical area, such as an apartment complex, a street or a grouping of streets. Exceptions to the ten-unit minimum can be made on a case-by-case basis.

Participation

Neighborhoods interested in participating in the Green Living Program can register on the Brightside website. The registration form asks for the designation of one or two “Green Captains” to help their neighborhood obtain certification. Green Captains collect information on the sustainable activities taking place in their neighborhood.

Online resources available to Green Captains and all Louisville residents:

  • The Criteria Definitions page defines household and neighborhood achievements listed in the Green Living criteria.
  • The Green Living Toolkit serves as a resource and how-to guide for household and neighborhood achievements. This document also includes ideas for going above and beyond the identified Green Living Program criteria.

Certification Criteria

The Green Living Program awards points for household and neighborhood achievements listed in the charts below. Achievements are defined on the Criteria Definitions page.

Household Achievements

Minimum % of Households

Points

Air Quality

  1. Grow More Mow Less (Replace turf grass with plants that do not need to be mowed)
  2. Idle Free (Turn off car or truck engines when stopped for more than 10 seconds)
  3. No-fuel and electric lawn equipment – Lawn Care for Cleaner Air

 

5%

 

30%

 

5%

 

5

 

10

 

5

Alternative Transportation

  1. Alternative transportation methods

 

20%

 

10

Energy

  1. Demand Conservation Program[1]
  2. Energy Star Pledge[2]
  3. Water heater temperature

 

30%

30%

30%

 

10

15

10

Health and Wellness

  1. Regular exercise
  2. Tobacco and smoke-free home

 

50%

50%

 

15

15

Healthy, Local Food

  1. Maintain a vegetable garden
  2. Purchase local food

 

5%

5%

 

5

5

Stormwater Management

  1. Native plants
  2. Plant and maintain a tree
  3. Rain barrels or disconnected downspouts
  4. Rain gardens
  5. Reduce graywater[3] during rain events

 

5%

30%

5%

5%

30%

 

5

10

5

5

15

Waste Reduction

  1. Composting
  2. Recycling
  3. Reusable shopping bags

 

5%

50%

30%

 

5

15

10

Water Conservation

  1. Check pipes for water leaks
  2. Water conservation devices

 

30%

5%

 

10

5

 

Neighborhood Achievements

Minimum % of Households

Points

Neighborhood Engagement

  1. Petition for neighborhood policy change
  2. Successfully achieve a neighborhood policy change

 

n/a

n/a

 

5

10

 

 

[1] By signing up for LG&E’s Demand Conservation program, LG&E will install a device on your central air conditioner or heat pump to reduce energy use during peak demand days and save you money monthly.

[2] The Energy Star Pledge, a program developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program, asks participants to complete a checklist that indicates the actions they will implement in order to use less energy.

[3] Graywater is wastewater coming from washing basins such as dishwashers, showers and washing machines.

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