Sustainability Roundtable: Brent Fryrear, Partnership for a Green City
| When |
Sep 25, 2020
from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Where | online |
| Contact Name | Tamara Sluss |
| Contact Phone | (502) 529-1602 |
| Add event to calendar |
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Please join us for UofL's Sustainability Roundtable on alternate Fridays throughout the fall at 11am.
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
Or join by phone at 502-792-9582 (Conference ID: 430 698 464#)
Our speaker on September 25th will be Brent Fryrear, the Director of Louisville's unique Partnership for a Green City. This partnership was launched in August 2004 between Louisville Metro Government (which includes Louisville Metro-Department of Public Health and Wellness), Jefferson County Public Schools and the University of Louisville to protect the environment and improve overall quality of life in the community. Jefferson Community & Technical College joined the Partnership more recently.
The Partnership has been described as “a model based on bottom-up collaboration, top-down support, stated goals and objectives and a focused plan of action.” The process has convened peers from each public entity to share ideas and address problems. Peer pressure, rather than top-down decision-making, has produced significant changes in operating procedures within each partner. Over 150 employees participate on Partnership teams, which consult with external individuals or organizations to receive additional assistance.
The objectives include environmental education, public health and environmental management. The partners collaborate on services and cost savings by leveraging their buying power on big-ticket items together and sharing information on environmental challenges. The partnership already has made significant strides toward meeting its goals:
- Saving $8,000 a year in landfill disposal costs;
- Increasing recycling efforts;
- Identifying other cost savings through energy audits and management;
- Attracting $880,000 in outside grants and contracts for local environmental projects;
- Teaching environmental education to public school teachers and creating outdoor classrooms at six local schools; and
- Creating a new joint position to improve the health of schoolchildren
The format is a 30-40 minute presentation from a variety of speakers throughout the year, followed by 20-30 minute open discussion.
Anyone with an interest in sustainability can give talks at the speaker series and participate in the audience, including faculty, staff, students, practitioners, teachers, government officials, and members of the public.
If you would like to give a presentation, or would like to hear a particular speaker, please contact Tamara Sluss.
