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.

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.