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2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction to the Kentucky Sustainability Institute………………..3 2. Reasons to Go Green……………………………………………........5 3. Green Initiatives ……………………………………………………..8 4. Green Building………………………………………………………22 5. Green Infrastructure………………………………………………....25 6. Land Revitalization………………………………………………….28 7. Funding Resources…………………………………………………..32 8. Self-Assessment Tool……………………………………………….35 9. FAQs………………………………………………………………...40 10. Relevant Statistics…………………………………………………...42 11. Green Dictionary…………………………………………………….51 12. Resources……………………………………………………………53




3 Introduction to the Kentucky Sustainability Institute


















4




“The local government level is where sustainability happens.”- International City/County Management Association.

The Kentucky Sustainability Institute is a partnership between the NewCities Institute, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet- Division of Compliance Assistance, and
the Kentucky League of Cities, to promote the “greening” of the Bluegrass State through
education and resources.

Mission: The Kentucky Sustainability Institute seeks to teach municipal and county leaders, community groups, and citizens about sustainable development
techniques including Brownfield (properties that are abandoned or
underutilized due to real or perceived contamination) redevelopment, smart
growth strategies and green building practices. The intent is to get Kentucky’s
leaders and citizens actively involved in the future planning of their
communities and to inform them of programs and services that can aid them in
sustainably growing and redeveloping their community


Reference to any products, services, processes, or other information, by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, supplier, or other designation does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation thereof by Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet-Division of Compliance Assistance, the NewCities Institute, or the Kentucky League of Cities. 5

Reasons to Go Green














6 Why Go Green?
This question is at the forefront of issues across the country and is no longer one only asked by environmentalists. Living in an age where there is a constant flow of
information, we are hearing more and more about global climate change and its effects.
Environmentalists have identified numerous ways of reducing our impact on the
environment and reducing our carbon footprint. Never before has living green been more
important and feasible. As fuel prices increase at astounding rates, the benefits of being
environmentally responsible can also translate into being fiscally responsible. There are
numerous ways, which we will eventually address, in which going green has turned into
money saved. By going green on the city level we can address issues that are specific to
each community; it involves local citizens in a movement which is growing across the
nation, and it creates a better quality of life.
The extra money generated from new green projects can be used for numerous other projects in a city’s budget. If there is a city park that is in need of renovations, this
money would be a good source. It could also go to infrastructure needs in the city.
Whatever the desire, it never hurts to have extra funding in the city’s budget.
By making the transition to going green, citizens’ lives are affected in a positive way. We live in a state that ranks in the top ten for diabetes, heart disease, and obesity,
thus we need to become healthier. Cities can help change this by creating communities
that are biker and walker friendly. This also translates into less cars and traffic. That
makes for less emissions, cleaner air, healthier lungs, cheaper health bills, and happier
citizens with a better quality of life. This is just one example of the interconnectedness to
going green.
Citizen involvement is one of the most important and unique aspects of going green. The people that live their day-to-day lives in the community are the ones that
know which aspects of their local environment need help, and what the strengths and
weaknesses are in that area. By involving the community and getting local support this
movement will be very successful. These changes can occur if the local government is
setting a precedent by going green and taking the right steps. The benefits of this are
numerous—community wide financial savings, a healthier place to live, a more attractive
environment, and a better quality of life.
Sustainability
The term sustainability has been thrown around quite loosely and used to mean many different things to many different people and organizations. We define it as a
lifestyle that meets present needs without compromising the needs of future generations.
These needs include the environmental, cultural, and economic aspects of communities.
This means that actions and policy should always reflect this and be kept in mind. A
city’s local environment must be thought of and treasured. Local business and economy
should be supported and development should keep them in mind. The local culture and
uniqueness of an area should be celebrated and kept alive so that all can enjoy it for many
years. Sustainability is a concept that is mostly used when referring to the environment,
but should be incorporated into all aspects of life. 7 NewCities and Sustainability
The NewCities Institute reflects many of the ideals of sustainability in its 12 Principles of Community Building. These include the following:
• Build beautifully and steward the environment o Manage local environments for future generations to enjoy • Remain true to a city’s uniqueness o Celebrate diversity and cultural uniqueness • Recruit, retain, and generate wealth o Use local resources and diversify local communities Environmentally Sustainable Communities
Moving from the broad picture view of the importance of a green city to actually creating one can be difficult. There are several important steps that should be taken.
• First of all, the local government needs to be committed to going green—they
need to lead the city by example. By proverbially practicing what you preach,
people will be more likely to follow. • Form a committee or task force that will outline the issues that need to be
addressed and develop a plan and goals. This committee should be a combination
of elected officials and citizens that are leaders in the community. Community
buy-in and support are important—a committee or task force can make this
happen more easily. This group should create attainable goals for both the short
and long term with a timeline. • Creating actual policy to show the government’s commitment is also important.
One easy first step for the committee would be the greening of city hall and other
city buildings. Later on, different green initiatives and examples will be explored in much more depth. Green Collar Jobs
As the environmental movement progresses and the need for alternative energy sources become greater, a new job sector is emerging. The new sector is called green
collar jobs and refers to typical blue collar jobs that are focused on improving
environmental quality. These jobs exist in many areas including waste management,
energy and water conservation, solar installation, wind turbine mechanics, and so on.
These jobs are important because they are specific to the area that needs them. They
support the local economy and cannot be outsourced. The potential for this job market is
huge, and it is crucial to get a head start in this field. 8 Green Initiatives















9 Introduction to Green Initiatives
Now that the broader view of why it is important to go green has been explained, it is time to really delve down into some of the initiatives. This section highlights a range
of topics that will introduce the reader to more specific ways to go green. Green
initiatives typically refer to actual projects and policies that are being put into place to
create more sustainable communities. This section includes what cities in Kentucky are
doing as well as other cities across the country. It also includes examples of green
government policy and green purchasing policy.
Green Initiatives in Kentucky
This highlights just a few of the many cities throughout Kentucky that have already taken steps to go green.

Ashland • Converted old railroad property into a park that runs through the middle of town. • Converted an old city pool into a park that includes a softball field and play area
Lexington: • Greening Schools o Planting gardens with students, improving indoor air quality and planting
trees strategically to help save energy. • Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Initiatives o Promote use of biodiesel o Compost yard waste and make available to citizens for mulch o Joined ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection Program o Recycling days for various appliances and waste that are not usually
picked up. o Great American Cleanup Event o Greener Buildings o Greener Fleet by purchasing hybrids (41 in total) o Buying green products o Purchase of Development Rights Program Buying conservation easements in rural farmland to help protect
water and air quality o Bike Trails o Urban Forestry Reforest the Bluegrass o US Mayor’s National Recycling Challenge Month long recycling challenge between cities. Also sponsored school contest with monetary prizes o Joining with Bluegrass Partnership for a Green Community.
10 Louisville: • Go Green Louisville o Becoming a bike friendly city—“Mayor’s Bike and Hike Day” to promote
biking. o Lists of green tips and suggestions online. o Brightside Environmental Education Center—anti-litter campaign • The Partnership for a Green City o Between Metro Government, Jefferson County Public Schools and U of L. o Statement of Environmental Principles used to guide budget and programs
decisions to be more sustainable. o Focus on education, public health, and environmental management. • City of Parks o Adding thousands of acres to park land. o Connecting parks around city with green corridors. • Sustainable Business and Community Networks
Northern Kentucky • Boone County o Ohio River sweet campaign o Created a new dog park o Plans to expand two large parks in the area o Making more greenways to connect the parks/communities • Covington o Brownfields initiative to clean up industrial waste and implement
environmental change
Owensboro • City website offers tips on how to go green as an individual.
Paducah • Green compost collection services (leaves, trimmings, brush) • Park expansion o More accessible with more trails o A greenway to connect other communities and parks to Noble Park o Perimeter walking trail around park o Tree replacement program to reforest the park
Russell • Green Jobs Initiative at a local school got students interested in alternative jobs • Installed 6 solar panels and a wind turbine. • Generate enough power to light the technology center • Saves the school district nearly $6,000 per year. • Created enough interest in students for some to pursue green collar job.

11 Initiatives across the State • Started a city bus route- the Foothills Express to promote public transportation
and low emissions • Became much more bike friendly by creating two large bike route loops • Implementing a ‘greenbelt’ that connects many different greenways • Has a portion of the city website dedicated to recycling resources

NewCities Institute Planning Suggestions for Morehead and Madisonville:

Morehead: • Link natural environment to education and preservation. • Link Main St. to Daniel Boone National Forest and Cave Run Lake. o Make downtown a “trailhead.” • Sign the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement • Maintain and develop green infrastructure. o Natural areas, parks, wildlife habitat, etc. • Create zoning that ensures environmental protection. • Create more greenways and trails. • Design “green” entrances to the city with by landscaping roadways and creating
pedestrian and bike paths. • Implement green building design.
Madisonville: • Street tree and urban forest program to make Madisonville ‘tree city USA’ o can include a bi-annual tax for planting trees and/or a tree dedication
program • Healthway trail o converted rails into a shared-use pathway for pedestrians o ties into the local hospital to help promote their healthy living initiatives o shared-use path from park to the healthway trail • County-wide greenway system o continued the pedestrian and bike system throughout the central portion of
the county o links state park to other communities o can go alongside existing roadways and railways • Sidewalks created for at least one side of all streets in the city • Plans to possibly implement the ‘walking school bus’ program o where one or two parents walk a group of children to school each day
rather than riding a bus • Member of U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement o Reduce sprawl, vehicle miles traveled, greenhouse gas emissions, etc. • Reduce the number of parking spaces in the city • Create rain gardens 12 Green Initiatives Across the U.S.
Kansas City
In the heart of the Midwest, one town is making great strides to create a greener city. Kansas City plans on having 10,000 rain gardens by 2010. A rain garden is a 4-8
inch deep garden bed with plants that help to absorb storm water run-off before it reaches
waterways. These gardens benefit the city in a variety of ways—the main one being the
city’s wastewater system. The gardens can reduce runoff by 90%, decreasing the amount
of water that wastewater systems have to process and protecting local streams from often
polluted runoff. These gardens also add to city beautification. Hundreds of gardens
around a town give the streetscape a much more appealing look. Rain gardens are also
something that citizens can do at their own homes to help. Other benefits include filtering
fertilizers, oils and other pollutants from the streams and preventing mosquitoes from
breeding. This is a simple yet effective initiative that can easily be done in any city.

Ohio Valley Creative Energy
Ohio Valley Creative Energy has been utilizing the excess methane at its landfills by creating power plants. Methane develops in landfills as waste breaks down under heat
and compression. It is usually just burned, but it can also be used to generate power. With
the amount of waste we, as Americans, throw out each year, this is considered a
renewable resource. The Ohio Valley Creative Energy group saw it as an opportunity to
also promote local artists. At these sites they have installed pottery kilns and glass
blowing furnaces for local artists to come and work. This has increased arts awareness in
the local communities.

Montpelier, Vermont
Vermont is known for its cows. With the new Cow Power Program, they are taking full advantage. A small college in Montpelier is now generating half of its
electricity from cow waste. Farmers throughout the region are generating power from the
methane gas of cow waste. Local residents can also sign up to receive this alternative
form of energy. There are now 3,500 customers and they plan on having 10,000 by 2010.
Not only does this program offer alternative energy, but it also has significant benefits for
the local farmers. Typically, these farms have over 500 cows and produce up to 3.5
million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. There are two types of leftover waste from
the electricity-making process: liquid and dry. The liquid waste is put into sprayers that
spray the fields for fertilizer, while the dry waste is used as bedding and compost for the
farm.

Austin, Texas
Austin is often looked at as a leader in the field of going green. Their annual Green City Festival brings in speakers and promotes the importance of environmentalism.
There are a variety of booths, music, and goodies promoting environmentalism. Their
Center for Environmental Research partners with local universities to research water
quality, urban ecology, and sustainability in the city. The Green Building program
provides an abundance of resources to local contractors on green building, and has even
resulted in a LEED Gold Certified City Hall. There are also many programs promoting 13 energy efficiency, commuting, biking, and composting. Austin has committed to being
green and it has resulted in great success across the spectrum.

Chestnut Hills, Pennsylvania Chestnut Hills has established a cutting-edge program to encourage its citizens to recycle. The Pay-to-Recycle Program offers $5 for every ten pounds of recyclables
collected in each household. Each can earn up to $25 per month simply for recycling
their trash. The money comes in the form of coupons for local and national businesses
such as Whole Foods, Starbucks, FedEx, etc. Not only does the program help the
citizens, it saves the city money as well. They pay $54 per ton for landfill disposal fees,
and saved $2.4 million dollars after the program was put into place. The city previously
had $40 million dollars in these fees, and ended up saving big. RecycleBank is the
company that invented this program, and they are willing to negotiate fees for other
cities. Currently their rate is anywhere from $24-30 per household. In Kentucky, we pay
about $26 per ton for landfill uses. The EPPC estimates we throw away over 566,000
tons of recyclable goods per year and, at $26 per ton, the state could spend over $14
million just in landfill fees alone. This money could be saved through the Pay-to-Recycle
program, and the excess could be used for other important programs in the state. This
program creates a win-win-win situation for recycling companies who increase their
business, retailers who feel good about benefiting society, and individual households who
can save up to $400 per year.

5 Easy Ways to go Green #1 Change Light Bulbs Replacing incandescent bulbs with compact florescent lamps (CFLs) can result in longer-lasting usage and tremendous energy savings over time. The typical CFL uses
75% less energy and lasts up to ten times longer. Over the course of one light bulb’s life,
up to $83 can be saved. Even after subtracting the costs of the more expensive CFL, $75
can be saved in total. A common question about CFLs regards their mercury hazard.
These bulbs contain 4 milligrams of mercury, and are no real health hazard if broken. In
fact, a CFL emits 2.4 milligrams of mercury over its lifetime, but an incandescent bulb
produces over 10 milligrams. CLFs should, however, be disposed of at a hazardous
waste site to avoid mercury buildup in landfills. Some stores are beginning return and
reuse programs, but www.earth911.com is a great way to find your nearest hazardous waste site. Most importantly, the Phillips brand just released a new CFL with 70% less
mercury, and these advancements are likely to continue.

#2 Support Local Farmers Over 40% of our fruit comes from overseas, while average grocery store produce travels over 1,500 miles to get to your table. The fuel it takes to get these grocery items
to your store has a huge impact on carbon emissions and overall pollution. This food
typically has to be packaged with lots of plastic so that it can stay fresh over the long trek
to the store. This increases pollution and takes up space in our landfills. Supporting local 14 farmers, however, has many benefits. To start, there is very little time wasted between
harvest and the food actually being on your table, giving you the freshest fruits and
vegetables in your area. Also, the food you get from local farmers is actually better for
you since food loses vitamins and minerals as it ages. Local food has very little time to
age and little to no pesticides and hormones. Another great thing about supporting local
farmers is that you, the buyer, can speak to the expert farmer who produces the food that
appears on your dinner table. In short, you can ask questions and form an important
rapport with your very own food producer. A great way cities can support this is by
creating a local farmer’s market. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is a great
resource to get this started,
( http://www.kyagr.com/marketing/farmmarket/documents/INSIDEPAGESASSENT.doc ) Another great way to become involved in supporting local farmers is to join a community supported agriculture program (CSA). With CSAs you can purchase a
‘share’ of the farm and, for a certain price, can receive a basket of the farm’s freshest
fruits and vegetables every week. To find your nearest CSA, visit www.localharvest.com .

#3 Let your Grass Grow Finally, a break from yard work! If grass is at least 2 ½ inches tall, there is much more surface area for absorbing sunlight. This gives the grass deeper roots requiring less
water. By letting your grass grow, you can spend much less time grooming and watering
your lawn. Another tip: let the grass clippings remain on the lawn. This will produce
much less waste for disposal, and will serve as compost for your lawn. Applying this to
city property may save money and enhance appearance.

#4 Do Less Laundry When doing the laundry, combine half loads, choose shorter cycles, and always use cold or warm water rather that hot. This can save loads (no pun intended) on energy
while also saving time and energy tending the laundry room. If you wash two fewer
loads of laundry and one fewer load of dishes per week, you can save up to 4,500 gallons
of water per year.


#5 Watch that Thermostat! Just by adjusting the thermostat a couple of degrees lower in the winter and higher in the summer, you can save anywhere from $100-200 per year in electric costs in your
home. These savings can be multiplied in the public sector. How much would you save
at City Hall?






15 Green Suggestions for City Buildings Green Suggestions for City Buildings • Recycling Program • Replace incandescent lights with CFLs • Turn lights off when leaving rooms (reminder stickers—especially for restrooms) • Encourage recycling • Use biodegradable non-toxic cleaning products • Shut down computers and other electronics at the end of the day • Encourage two-sided copying • Carpooling (make signups available) • Encourage biking to work by offering changing rooms or showers for those who
bike • Employees bring own coffee cups or water bottles • Save packaging material or shredded paper to use for packaging • Purchase energy efficient appliances • Reduce amount of paper by utilizing electronic resources • Purchase green energy • Look into installing a green roof on top of building • Buy green paper (tissues, paper towels, bathroom tissue, etc.) • Implement ‘green teams’ consisting of representatives from different departments
to come up with ideas for making a greener place to work • Provide incentives for employees who find ways to increase energy efficiency
while lowering costs • Switch off some overhead lights when sufficient sunlight is available • Keep plastic bag in trash can and dump out the trash rather than replacing the bag • Encourage employees to use the stairs rather than the elevator (healthy choice and
saves energy) • Send out a weekly e-mail offering ‘green tips’ to help employees make green
decisions at work and at home • Bring lunches in reusable containers • Keep thermostat slightly lower or higher depending upon the season and allow
employees to dress appropriately • Allow employees to have live plants at their desks or near windows • Consider using recycled paper for handouts, new letters, and city reports


16 Green Policy
The creation of a green policy is one of the most important first steps a local government can do. This shows commitment and creates guidelines from which to start.
It also sets an example for the community as a whole on the direction of the project. The
policy itself needs to design a place that improves the quality of life, environmental
health, and adheres to the principles of sustainability. It is important to be specific and set
goals so that things will actually be accomplished. There should also be a comprehensive
plan that tracks progress. Form a task force, this group will outline the goals and figure
out ways of attaining them. Make sure that people are responsible and liable for having
specific goals accomplished. One of the most important things is not to reinvent the
wheel—use other cities’ policies as a template. The following are a few examples of this.


General Sample Environmental Statement The City of Ecopura Environmental Policy Statement As a city government, and in line with the principles set out in its Local Agenda 21, the
City of Ecopura is committed to the ideals and practices of environmental responsibility
through measures designed to: • promote good environmental practice and awareness of its environmental
policies and issues amongst City personnel; • promote the continued development of best practices and expertise in
environmental disciplines in order to provide knowledge and capacity
building related to environmental sustainability; • promote practices consistent with environmental protection, both within
and outside the city government; • minimize the negative impact of the city government on the environment,
through a process of continual improvement in environmental
performance; • take into account the principles of sustainable development in conducting
its administrative, commercial and social activities; • participate in local initiatives to improve the quality of the environmental; • Implement this policy through a comprehensive plan with measurable
goals and with monitoring and analysis of performance against the plan. The City of Ecopura will adopt a bold, policy oriented program to develop human
resources and build up capacities to support the planning and implementation of
environmentally sustainable development strategies throughout the city. The City has
already given a commitment to environmental responsibility in the Local Agenda 21 and
fully endorses the principles set out therein. 17 Inherent within our approach is a commitment to raise awareness of the effects of
Ecourbia, and of human activity in general, on the environment. Hence Ecopura intends
not only to be a leader in bridging the gap between the theory and practice of
environmental management at the macro and micro levels, but also to lead in addressing
environmental issues, in ensuring that personnel are fully aware of these issues and
contribute to their resolution and in instilling environmental responsibility as an intrinsic
feature of all its practices and procedures. Ecopura intends to provide the opportunity for
all urban stakeholders in participating in developing sound environmental policy that will
help us live sustainably. (Source: The Global Development Research Center) Portland, Oregon Sustainable City Government Partnership
Binding City Policy
BCP-ENN-3.02
PURPOSE
WHEREAS, the City of Portland has a long-standing commitment to stewardship,
prosperity, and efficiency both in its internal practices and in community-wide initiatives;
and

WHEREAS, many bureaus have demonstrated exemplary leadership in pursuing
sustainable practices in their operations; and

WHEREAS, previous coordinated resource efficiency measures have resulted in
considerable cost savings for City government, including $18 million in energy bill
savings since 1992 through City Energy Challenge projects, with more than $2.3 million
in savings in 2005-06 alone; and

WHEREAS, significant opportunities remain to build on existing bureau efforts and to
foster a collaborative City-wide effort to integrate environmental, economic and social
sustainability into municipal operations; and

WHEREAS, the City has adopted resource conservation and sustainability policies that
would be further supported and strengthened by the Sustainable City Government
Partnership, including:

· 1990 Energy Policy (Ordinance No. 162975),
· Sustainable City Principles (Resolution No. 35338),
· Local Action Plan on Global Warming (Resolution No. 35995),
· City of Portland Green Building Policy (Resolution No. 35956),
· Sustainable Procurement Strategy (Resolution No. 36061), 18 · Sustainable Paper Use Policy (Resolution No. 36146), and
· Toxics Reduction Strategy (Resolution No. 36408); and

WHEREAS, the Bureau Innovation Project (BIP) Implementation Team has reviewed
and approved the BIP #18 Sustainable City Government Partnership working group’s
recommendations ( see Attachment A ) for the creation of a coordinated City-wide sustainability effort.
POLICY
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Portland City Council acknowledges
the work that has been done to date by many of the City of Portland bureaus to
implement resource conservation and efficiency practices and programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Portland City Council adopts the Sustainable
City Government Partnership to set specific goals, objectives and performance
measurements to be used by all bureaus and City Council in decision making; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that City bureau directors are directed to:

· Appoint a bureau Sustainability Liaison who has direct access to bureau management
decision makers and has experience or skills in developing or implementing strategic
plans, and
· Adopt, implement and update a bureau specific sustainability plan and progress report,
and
· Contribute to an annual City-wide sustainability report on progress; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Office of Management & Finance (OMF) and
the Office of Sustainable Development (OSD) are directed to work with bureau directors,
and their Sustainability Liaisons, to implement the Sustainable City Government
Partnership and to report progress to City Council annually; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Sustainable Development Commission is
directed to review the bureau sustainability plans and the City-wide annual report and
provide recommendations to City Council.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution will become binding City policy upon
adoption and shall be included in the Portland Policy Documents.
19 20 21 Green Purchasing
Offices consume an enormous amount of products, and buying environmentally friendly products is one of the best things that can be done to combat the environmental
impacts of all this consumption. Green purchasing is not only good for the environment,
but it can save lots of money. It is important to create a “Green Purchasing Policy” in
order to implement and stay true to buying green. Again, it is important not to reinvent
the wheel—use what has been done before. Look in the resources section to find links to
samples of this type of policy.






















22 Green Building

















23 Green Building
Green buildings have a range of benefits including energy efficiency, better health and productivity, and higher worth. Many are discouraged from considering building
green due to the preconceived notion that they are much more expensive. On average,
green buildings only have a 2% premium cost to build. This is matched with 25-30%
more energy efficient buildings that can easily recover this initial investment, and go
further. Other benefits include better indoor air quality, healthier individuals, better
lighting, and better work conditions. All of these things translate into better employee
productivity and fewer sick days being taken. The benefits easily outweigh the initial cost
of going green.
Another way of building green is to follow the guidelines set by the United States Green Building Council, in their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) certification program. LEED is a rating system for buildings that outlines
multiple areas for buildings to be green. Buildings are assessed on this scale and then
given a certification level—bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Points are based on 7
major areas—water and energy efficiency, site development, design, transportation,
materials used, renewable energy, and innovation and design. LEED has been able to
document many of it its benefits. These include:
• 30%-50% reduction in energy use • 35% reduction in carbon emissions • 40% reduction in water use • 70% reduction in solid waste 24 • Protects and improves environment • Reduces operating costs and increases value • Increases employee productivity • Better indoor health conditions LEED does charge a fee to become certified, which includes a $600 registration fee
for non-members.
Less than
50,000
Square Feet 50,000-
500,000
Square Feet More than
500,000
Square
Feet LEED for: New
Construction, Commercial
Interiors, Core and Shell,
and Schools Fixed Rate Based on Sq.
Ft. Fixed Rate Combined Design & Construction Review Members $1,750.00 $0.035/
Square Foot $17,500.00 Non-Members $2,250.00 $0.045/
Square Foot $22,500.00 LEED for Existing Buildings Fixed Rate Based on Sq.
Ft. Fixed Rate Initial Certification Review Members $1,250.00 $0.025/
Square Foot $12,500.00 Non-Members $1,500.00 $0.03/
Square Foot $15,000.00




25
Green Infrastructure














26 Green Infrastructure
According to the Center for Neighborhood Technology, green infrastructure is the
interconnected network of open spaces and natural areas, such as greenway, wetlands,
parks, forest preserves and native plant vegetation, which naturally manages stormwater,
reduces flooding risk and improves water quality. Green infrastructure usually costs less
to install and maintain when compared to traditional forms of infrastructure. Green
infrastructure projects can also foster community cohesiveness by engaging all residents
in the planning, planting and maintenance of sites.

Benefits of green infrastructure
• Reduced stormwater runoff • Reduced discharge of pollutants • Enhanced groundwater recharge • Reduced sewer overflow events • Increased carbon sequestration • Offset heat island effect • Improved human health • Increased land values
Socio-economic benefits
• Project in Philadelphia with New Kensington Community Development
Corporation and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society converted unsightly
abandoned lots to “clean & green” landscapes of mowed grass & trees. Economic
impacts from these green retrofits: Vacant land improvements resulted in surrounding housing values
increased by as much as 30% New tree plantings increased surrounding housing values by
approximately 10% Result: $4 million gain in property values with tree plantings and a $12 million
gain with lot improvements (i.e., increased tax base) • Apartment buildings surrounded by trees and greenery are safer than buildings
devoid of greenery • Compared with areas that had little or no vegetation, buildings with high levels of
greenery had 52% fewer crimes • Inner city families with trees and greenery in their immediate outdoor
surroundings have safer domestic environments than families who live in
buildings that are barren • Symptoms of children with Attention Deficit Disorder are relieved after contact
with nature • The greener the setting, the more the relief 27
The graphic below shows the impact on water flow as the levels of impervious surface
increase.
Common Green Infrastructure Elements
• Low impact development • Rain gardens/Infiltration • Rain gardens/Bioretention • Grassed swales • Green roofs • Green parking/Pervious pavement • Conservation Development
Useful Websites
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure.cfm http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/green infrastructure.htm http://www.cnt.org/natural-resources
Information courtesy of Maryann Gerber, US EPA
28
Land Revitalization














29 Land Revitalization
Land Revitalization is the restoration of contaminated or potentially contaminated sites to
productive use. Targets for land revitalization can include superfund sites, sites with
underground storage tanks and brownfields.
Graphic provide by U.S. EPA

The state of Kentucky has a program that emphasizes the redevelopment of brownfield
sites.
Brownfields are properties that are abandoned or underutilized due to real or perceived
contamination. They can include old factories, former dry cleaning establishments, meth
labs, mine scarred lands, old service stations, hospitals and schools just to name a few.

How do brownfields impact my community?

Brownfields can: • Cause harm to human health and the environment • Reduce employment opportunities and tax revenue • Contribute to neighborhood crime • Reduce surrounding property values • Limit economic growth and development



30 Why redevelop a brownfield?

A brownfield is a unique opportunity to turn a perceived problem property into an
economic development project or a community-enhancing recreation area. By
remediation and redevelopment of brownfield properties, a city or town can restore
properties to active use, increase the job and local tax base, mitigate public health and
safety concerns, and improve community image.

The Kentucky Brownfield Program, housed within the Division of Compliance
Assistance, is here to help individuals, corporations, nonprofits and communities with
their brownfield projects. We offer a variety of services to those who are interested in
turning problem properties into economic and community development opportunities.
Our services include:

Assessments
The Kentucky Brownfield Program can provide Targeted Brownfield Assessments
(TBAs) to local governments and nonprofits free of charge. The TBA includes an “all
appropriate inquiry” (phase I environmental assessment), a full phase II environmental
assessment, cleanup options and an estimate of cleanup costs.

Tax Incentives
Kentucky offers tax incentives for redevelopment of qualified properties. The Kentucky
Brownfield Program can help determine if your site is eligible.

Help Desk
The Brownfield Help Desk connects you with a member of the Kentucky Brownfield
Program team that can serve as a liaison, ombudsman and interagency coordinator for
your project, provide information about financial resources, inform stakeholders about
liability protection, help determine site status, answer questions about statutes,
regulations and policies, and review grant applications.

Information and Education
The Kentucky Brownfield Program is striving to provide more learning opportunities,
informational programs and materials. If you are interested in future trainings, such as
grant writing workshops, mailings and newsletters, contact us and we will be happy to
put you on our brownfield distribution list. Our staff is also available to provide one-on-
one sessions and group presentations.

Brownfield Inventory
Do you own a brownfield that needs to be redeveloped, or are you interested in
purchasing a brownfield? The Kentucky Brownfield Program has established a voluntary
brownfield inventory. Sites submitted to the inventory are marketed by the brownfield
program staff and are potentially eligible for free site assessments, grants, low interest
loans and tax incentives. Check out the program Web site at www.dca.ky.gov for more
information.
31 Another resource available on the brownfield program website is the The Kentucky
Toolbox for Cleanup and Redevelopment of Contaminated Sites in Small Cities and
Rural Communities . This takes the reader through the steps of redevelopment from assessment to redevelopment. It can be found on the program website at www.dca.ky.gov/brownfields .



























T h e K e n t u c ky T o o l b o x f o r C l e a n u p a n d R e d e v e l o p m e n t o f C o n t a m i n a t e d S i t e s i n S m a l l C i t i e s a n d R u r a l C o m m u n i t i e s 32
Funding Resources













33 Funding for the Public Sector Free Assessments
The Kentucky Brownfield Program can provide Targeted Brownfield Assessments to
municipalities, quasi-governmental agencies and nonprofit agencies free of charge. A candidate
site should have redevelopment potential and suffer from the stigma of potential environmental
liability. A limited number of these assessments are performed each year, so they are considered
on a first-come, first-served basis.

Grants
Grants for cleanup are available from a variety of sources. Eligibility depends on the type of
project and end use of the property. Many of the brownfield grants available can be found on the
U.S. EPA web site: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/pilot.htm.

Loans
Revolving loan funds are another resource option. An entity can apply for an EPA grant to
establish its own revolving loan fund for brownfield projects. Check the EPA web site for more
information: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/rlflst.htm

Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Tax increment financing is a tool that uses future gains in taxes to finance the current
improvement projects that will create those gains. When a project such as a road, a school or
hazardous waste cleanup is carried out, there is an increase in value of the surrounding real estate.
These improvements often spark new investment in the area as well. This creates more taxable
property, thus creating more tax revenues. Those revenues are dedicated to finance debt issued to
pay for the project. TIF creates funding for distressed areas where redevelopment might otherwise
not occur and funding for projects that are unaffordable for municipalities. TIF projects will be
approved and administered through the Finance and Administration Cabinet by the newly created
State Tax Increment Financing Commission. More information can be found at:
http://finance.ky.gov
Other Resources
Other resources may be available for the public sector, the private sector and individual
brownfield redevelopers dependent on the planned end use of the property. Contact the
brownfield program staff to determine if your project may be eligible for other resources.

Funding for the Private Sector
The commonwealth of Kentucky offers tax incentives and credits to individuals or businesses that
complete a cabinet-approved cleanup on a qualified property. A qualified property means that the
cabinet has made the determination that
• All releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum
products on the property occurred prior to the property owner's acquisition of the
property. • The property owner made all appropriate inquiries into previous ownership and uses of
the property in accordance with generally accepted practices. 34 • The property owner or a responsible party has provided all legally required notices with
respect to the contaminants found at the property. • The property owner is in compliance with all land use restrictions and does not impede
the effectiveness or integrity of any institutional control. • The property owner complied with any information request or administrative subpoena
under KRS 224. • The property owner is not affiliated with any person who is potentially liable for the
release of the contamination through direct or indirect family relation, any contractual or
corporate, or financial relationship, or reorganization of a business that was potentially
liable.
For qualified parties, the state and local property tax rates on a remediated property are reduced.
For three years following the cleanup, the property will not be subject to local ad valorem
property taxes. The state ad valorem property tax rate will be reduced from 31.5 cents per $100 of
assessed value to one point five cents per $100 of assessed value.

Qualified parties can also receive up to $150,000 worth of income tax credits for expenditures
made in order to meet the requirements of the cabinet-approved cleanup. The allowable credit for
any taxable year is a maximum of 25 percent of the credit authorized. The credit may be carried
forward for 10 successive years. The Cabinet for Economic Development offers incentives for
companies that relocate or expand in Kentucky. Please visit the cabinet's Web site to see what
assistance is available. http://www.thinkkentucky.com/
The Kentucky Brownfield Program
300 Fair Oaks Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
800-926-811 www.dca.ky.gov/brownfields Herb.petitjean@ky.gov- Brownfield Coordinator Amanda.lefevre@ky.gov- Brownfield Outreach Coordinator







35
Self-Assessment Tools

















36 Self-Assessment Tools
Self-assessment tools can be a great starting point to evaluate where your city stands. The following tool is based on the NewCities Institute’s 12 principles of
Community Building. It divides assessment to fall into the four categories of the
principles—perspective, place, people and prosperity. This tool should be used by city
officials to assess their government and city.
KSI Green Tool
Perspective • What is the general attitude of the environmental movement in your community? • Is there much of a knowledge base on going green (why, how, its benefits, etc.)? • Do the community leaders have any training or background in going green? • Is there any formal government plan or policy on becoming more sustainable? • Is there much skepticism around green practices/will change come difficultly? • Does your community look to other cities as benchmarks on how to go green? • Does your community use outside resources provided by agencies such as the
EPA or DCA? • Does your community collaborate with its surrounding neighbors to come up with
solutions? If yes, how so? • Do the local media address environmental issues or publish green tips? • Are there initiatives you have seen in other communities that you would like to
see done in your own? • Do local businesses offer green alternatives to purchase? • Does your community support local agriculture? • Are the schools educating students on environmentalism?
Place • Does your community have a permanent green belt to prevent sprawl and protect
its identity? • Is there a sufficient system of parks with easy access for all community members? • Are there any natural areas in your community that need to be preserved or
protected? • Are there any unique natural features or natural heritage that sets your community
apart (Ecotourism)? • Does your community support local business, artists, restaurants, or farmers? • Is there a local farmers market? • Is there a restaurant that features local food? • Do the schools practice green standards or use green products? • Do the schools serve healthy local food? 37 • Is there an active local environmental organization in the community? • Is there any sort of green festival or expo that educates the citizens and promotes
environmentalism? • Is there policy protecting your community’s environment and preventing sprawl? • Are small parks required in new developments? • Is there policy requiring land and cost efficient development patterns? • Is there alternative transportation? Bikes, buses, carpooling…? • Is there a no cars day where a street is shut down and citizens come enjoy a part
of the community with out cars? • Is there a policy to require future government and school buildings to be LEED or
energy efficient? • Are there tax breaks for building LEED or energy efficient? • Is your community biker and pedestrian friendly? • Are the parks appealing for citizens? Art? Ball fields? • Does your community have highly visible green space? • Is there a recycling program and is it used? • Does your community regulate vehicle emissions? • Does your community have a brownfields cleanup program? • Has your mayor signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Commitment • Is there an Earth Day event (cleanup, plant a tree with the mayor, etc)?
People • Does your community have a green task force or committee to spearhead green
initiatives? • Is there a time line or a list of goals to be accomplished? • If there is a committee, of whom does it consist? If not, of whom should it
consist? • Are there active environmental grass roots groups? • Are there active neighborhood associations who would be interested in forming
green communities? • Are the youth involved in environmental organizations? • Are there environmental education opportunities for citizens? • Does the local government inform citizens of its initiatives? • Who are the key players in making your community greener? • What steps would you like to see taken?
Prosperity • Is your community environmentally healthy? • Are the residents health/environmentally conscious? • Are there public parks with trails for walking/biking that are easily accessible? • Are the neighborhoods walkable/within easy distances to schools? • Is smoking restricted? 38 • Are there plenty of recreational activities for the youth? • Are citizens aware that going green coincides with saving money and a healthier
life? • Is green industry encouraged to come to your community? Are there incentives? • Is there green infrastructure in your community? • Are there partnerships between local groups (school board, city government,
county government, etc) to work together to become more sustainable? • Are there any tax incentives for going green (building, buying…)? • Is it possible to purchase green energy though local providers? Does the local
government? • Does your community take energy saving measures? • Is recycling available? • Is there a green procurement policy?
The following assessment tool deals with many of the same issues and questions, but should be used for citizens. The questions are not as specific about the government and
will allow citizens to assess their city. This will give the city an idea of the citizens’
perspective on their city’s greenness.

Citizen Green Questions
Perspective: • What is the general attitude of the environmental movement in your community? • Is there much skepticism around green practices? Will change come slowly? • Does your community look to other cities as benchmarks on how to go green? • Does your community collaborate with its surrounding neighbors to come up with
solutions? If yes, how so? • Do local businesses offer green products to purchase as an alternative to
conventional products? • Does your community support local agriculture? • Are the schools educating students on environmentalism?
Place: • Does your community have a permanent green belt to prevent sprawl and protect
its identity? • Is there a sufficient system of parks with easy access for all community members? • Are there any natural areas in your community that need to be
preserved/protected? • Are there any unique natural features or natural heritage that sets your community
apart (Ecotourism)? • Does your community support local business, artists, restaurants, or farmers? • Is there a local farmers market? • Do the schools practice green standards or use green products? 39 • Do the schools serve healthy local food? • Is there any sort of green festival or expo that educates the citizens and promotes
environmentalism? • Are small parks required in new developments? • Is there alternative transportation? Bikes, buses, carpooling…? • Is there a no cars day where a street is shut down and citizens come enjoy a part
of the community with out cars? • Is your community biker and pedestrian friendly? • Does your community have highly visible green space? • Does your community regulate vehicle emissions? • Is there an Earth Day event (cleanup, plant a tree with the mayor, etc)?
People: • Does your community have a green task force or committee to spear head green
initiatives? • If there is a committee, of whom does it consist? If not, of whom should it
consist? • Are there active environmental grass roots groups? • Are there active neighborhood associations who would be interested in forming
green communities? • Are the youth involved in environmental organizations? • Are there environmental education opportunities for citizens? • Does the local government inform citizens on its initiatives? • Who are the key players in making your community greener? • What steps would you like to see done?
Prosperity: • Is your community environmentally healthy? • Are the residents health/environmentally conscious? • Are there public parks with trails for walking/biking that are easily accessible? • Are the neighborhoods walkable/within easy distances to schools? • Is smoking restricted? • Are there plenty of recreational activities for the youth? • Are citizens aware that going green coincides with saving money and a healthier
life? • Is it possible to purchase green energy though local providers? • Does your community take energy saving measures? • Is recycling available? 40 Virginia Municipal League’s Assessment Tool Take the Green Government Challenge
Click on "see background materials" to read a detailed description of each action. In addition, view examples, links and explanations of how to score points or partial points. Total Possible Points Points for Pre- 2008 Actions Points for 2008 Actions Government Policy Adoption 1 Formal adoption of a sustainability plan, climate protection resolution, or similar commitment by the governing body See background materials 10 Energy Efficiency 2 Create an Energy Improvement Plan (EIP) See background materials 10 3 Register with the EPA's Energy Star Challenge and use their tools, or an equivalent system, to conduct a baseline emissions inventory of your government facilities See background materials 10 4 Conduct an energy audit of two or more of your government facilities and implement at least one recommendation See background materials 10 Points Points 5 Purchase electric power from renewable sources or install renewable energy technology (solar, wind, or geothermal) for use in government facilities. The total of purchased renewable energy and on-site produced renewable energy must equal at least 2.5% of the energy use of all government facilities See background materials 5 6 Create a separate real-estate classification and lower tax rate for buildings that are 30% more efficient than required by building code (Code of Va. §58.1-3221.2) See background materials 5 7 Develop a policy to utilize energy efficient and dark sky compliant outdoor light fixtures See background materials 5 8 Establish an energy manager position/responsibility or management team within the government See background materials 5 Green Building 41 9 Establish a policy of LEED certification for all new government facilities See background materials 5 10 Approve or build a LEED certified government or school building OR renovate an existing building to the LEED certified level. See background materials 10 Points Points Waste Management 11 Implement an internal government program that reduces, reuses, and recycles paper, plastic and other materials See background materials 5 12 Establish a procurement policy of a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content for everyday office paper use (consistent with the current federal government policy) See background materials 5 13 Establish a community-wide recycling collection program See background materials 5 Vehicles 14 Adopt a "Green Fleet" policy that incorporates, at a minimum, the purchase of low emitting fuel-efficient vehicles for vehicle fleet replacement and the use of alternative fuels (biodiesel, natural gas, ethanol) in fleet operations See background materials 10 Points Points 15 Offer personal property tax break for low emitting fuel- efficient vehicles See background materials 5 Land Use / Transportation 16 Adopt land-use plans that allow higher-density development either near public transit nodes or in areas with existing infrastructure AND encourage mixed-use communities See background materials • • 5 17 Promote the use of permanent conservation easements on private property within your community and/or implement a permanent conservation easement on public land See background materials 5 18 Adopt a land use or development tool that preserves open space, farmland and forests such as Purchase of Development Rights (PDRs) or Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) See background materials 5 42 Water / Air Quality 19 Develop and implement a plan for tree preservation & planting See background materials 5 20 Adopt a Low Impact Development (LID) storm water management policy and/or Environmental Site Design (ESD) guidelines See background materials 5 21 Adopt an anti-idling policy for school/government fleet vehicles See background materials 5 Employee Incentives 22 Provide employee benefits for ride sharing, walking, biking, or taking transit to work See background materials 5

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