Kilowatt Crackdown Challenge

In November of 2007, the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program adopted Louisville as a new model partner – one of only a few in the country.  That specialized partnership has launched an aggressive effort to make Metro Government facilities more energy efficient.  In this time of tight budgets and rising energy prices, conserving energy makes sense – and saves money.  Part of Mayor Jerry Abramson’s latest budget outlines plans to reduce energy consumption in city buildings by 10 percent. 

Energy efficiency is a major building block of our new “Go Green Louisville!” initiative.  Commercial buildings use $200 billion worth of electricity and natural gas annually and are responsible for nearly 50 percent of our national emissions of greenhouse gases.

Six commercial real estate associations – BOMA, IFMA, CCIM, IREM, ICSC and CREW – have partnered with Metro Government to create the Louisville Energy Alliance (LEA),  a group that can make powerful strides toward energy efficiency in our community. 

On July 1, the Louisville Energy Alliance kicked off the Louisville Kilowatt Crackdown Challenge, a 16-month competition to promote energy efficiency in commercial buildings.  LEA and ENERGY STAR will provide all the necessary tools and training – free of charge – so building managers may properly assess their buildings’ energy usage and determine ways to make improvements.  The highest-performing buildings will be publicly recognized and will receive awards for their work.

Energy conservation can begin with changes as simple as turning up the thermostat in the summer and turning off lights and computers at the end of the workday.  Improvements to infrastructure – such as new HVAC systems or new windows – can have a more drastic effect on energy use.

To sign up for the Kilowatt Crackdown Challenge, visit LEA’s website at www.louisvilleenergyalliance.com.