About Green Institute

The Green Institute empowers individuals of varying backgrounds and interests to make informed decisions about the interdependent areas of energy, the economy, and the environment.  Taking a creative, holistic approach that utilizes live expert presentations,  groundbreaking film/media, interactive take-home challenges, field trips, networking, and group creative problem-solving, the course deeply explores a wide range of issues on a global, local, and personal scale.  The curriculum covers such topics as:

•  Water conservation and management
• Smart and efficient city planning & policy
• Waste reduction, recycling & creative reuse
• Preservation, restoration, and remediation
• Transition initiatives & low-impact living
• Energy efficiency and renewables
• Multi-modal transportation
• Green architecture, design, & building
• Sustainable, local agriculture & food
• Strengthening community resilience
• Development of local living economies
• Ecology & conservation of resources

 Attendees Expectations

The 12-week course, held one weekday night per week for 2 ½ hours from late-August through mid-November, culminates with presentations by the attendees of self-designed sustainability projects based on actionable community initiatives. With these class projects, the attendees apply the information, resources and lessons learned throughout the course to real-world situations in their neighborhoods, improving the vitality and long-term sustainability of their communities and our region.

 Program Outcomes

• Annually 25-30 new community leaders or passionate citizens dedicated to improving our environment in a positive constructive manner in our community.

• Annually 20+ new transformative sustainability projects being implemented in neighborhoods across the city by Green Institute graduates.  Projects range from rain gardens to community gardens; from local recycling programs to increasing local food in schools; from revitalizing community through a time-based currency to redesigning the layout of an entire neighborhood around sustainable principles.

• An expanding network of eco-literate citizen-leaders and meaningful projects working in synergy with public and private entities to engage other citizens, increase local resilience, and improve the future of our city in a way that amplifies the important work of other groups and individuals throughout the Louisville area.

• A consistent presence at events throughout the Louisville community working to educate the public about sustainable solutions while building fruitful connections between public entities, private businesses, non-profits, communities, and individuals.

Click her to register

For more information about the program, contact Green Institute Program Director, Ben Evans at bene@centerforneighborhoods.org.