Knoxville's first Energy & Sustainability Work Plan can be found here.
This document reflects the recommendations of the City’s Energy and Sustainability Task Force and is a living guiding document.
To the many volunteers who contributed content, thank you for committing your personal time and energy to actively and positively impact our community. You reached out, took time to fully understand issues, and thoughtfully vetted action items. Your contributions absolutely matter: out of 31 recommendations, 17 are already underway. Thanks for investing in Knoxville.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
City County Building Recycling Update
Message from Public Building Authority to City County Building Dwellers:
Our combined efforts in recycling are going so well, we in the PBA have had to contact Waste Management to have the solid waste trash container collection schedule reduced by two days service versus the five day a week original schedule. We could not have given this great news without the help of our fellow partners in the City of Knoxville, Knox County, Premiere Building Maintenance, CCB Coffee Shop Management and the Sertoma Center. All have been instrumental in this new call to set an example and to challenge other government facilities in their recycling programs. We all are aware that we have areas to improve in so each step forward we believe will continue to take us all on this continued journey called recycling.
Our combined efforts in recycling are going so well, we in the PBA have had to contact Waste Management to have the solid waste trash container collection schedule reduced by two days service versus the five day a week original schedule. We could not have given this great news without the help of our fellow partners in the City of Knoxville, Knox County, Premiere Building Maintenance, CCB Coffee Shop Management and the Sertoma Center. All have been instrumental in this new call to set an example and to challenge other government facilities in their recycling programs. We all are aware that we have areas to improve in so each step forward we believe will continue to take us all on this continued journey called recycling.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Commercial Retrofit Opportunity
TVA has updated its Commercial Incentive Program. Details here.
This is a great way to bring in cash to pay for building improvements if you own businesses that consume significant amounts of energy. TVA gets reduced demand so they don't have to build new power generation facilities, and you get a check and a utility bill reduction, so it's a win-win. The City was able to catpure over $200,000 in TVA incentive through our ongoing upgrade project.
This is a great way to bring in cash to pay for building improvements if you own businesses that consume significant amounts of energy. TVA gets reduced demand so they don't have to build new power generation facilities, and you get a check and a utility bill reduction, so it's a win-win. The City was able to catpure over $200,000 in TVA incentive through our ongoing upgrade project.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Publicity for Sustainability Efforts
Check out the national blog post highlighting our Energy Service Performance Contract progress here.
Also, the City of Knoxville is named a 2011 ET Green Achiever, winning the Renewable Energy category for the third party finance agreement for solar on the convention center.
Also, the City of Knoxville is named a 2011 ET Green Achiever, winning the Renewable Energy category for the third party finance agreement for solar on the convention center.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Spring Events from Beardsley Community Farm
Wednesdays, March 23rd- May 25th, 5-7 pm, Free!
Urban Land Scout Workshops
The URBAN LAND SCOUTS are a scouting group open to all people who wish to become better stewards of the land where they live. Each Wednesday, the Urban Land Scouts will be engaged in activities ranging from cultivate native or edible plants, growing vegetables, to teaching others what they know. Bring a water bottle and wear close-toed shoes and clothing appropriate for being outside. We will meet at CAC Beardsley Community Farm, 1719 Reynolds St., (behind the Cansler Boys and Girls Club).
Email passage@urbanlandscouts.com for more information.
http://www.urbanlandscouts.com/
May 21 - CAC Beardsley Community Farm Workday/ Chicken Raising Workshop
9 AM-10 AM for the workshop, 9 AM-12 for the workday
Guest speaker Kelly Robinson will be coming to CAC Beardsley Community Farm to discuss the ins and outs of urban-chicken-keeping. Meet our chickens, bring pictures of your own, and see if urban-chicken-keeping is right for you. We will be unveiling our new chicken tractor, and discussing the new hen ordinances of Knoxville County. After the workshop, spend some time helping out on the farm in the (hopefully) lovely weather of May.
June 4 - FarmFest, 11 AM - 3 PM
Farm tours, children's activities, live music, food, craft, and plant vendors, and more.
June 27 - Summer Supper 6 PM
Disappointed that you missed out on our fall fundraising event, "Raise the Roots"? You have another chance to come out and support CAC Beardsley Community Farm while eating delicious Tomato Head food, socializing with some great people and learning about urban gardening. You may purchase tickets at An individual ticket is $30, and a table of six is $200
Urban Land Scout Workshops
The URBAN LAND SCOUTS are a scouting group open to all people who wish to become better stewards of the land where they live. Each Wednesday, the Urban Land Scouts will be engaged in activities ranging from cultivate native or edible plants, growing vegetables, to teaching others what they know. Bring a water bottle and wear close-toed shoes and clothing appropriate for being outside. We will meet at CAC Beardsley Community Farm, 1719 Reynolds St., (behind the Cansler Boys and Girls Club).
Email passage@urbanlandscouts.com for more information.
http://www.urbanlandscouts.com/
May 21 - CAC Beardsley Community Farm Workday/ Chicken Raising Workshop
9 AM-10 AM for the workshop, 9 AM-12 for the workday
Guest speaker Kelly Robinson will be coming to CAC Beardsley Community Farm to discuss the ins and outs of urban-chicken-keeping. Meet our chickens, bring pictures of your own, and see if urban-chicken-keeping is right for you. We will be unveiling our new chicken tractor, and discussing the new hen ordinances of Knoxville County. After the workshop, spend some time helping out on the farm in the (hopefully) lovely weather of May.
June 4 - FarmFest, 11 AM - 3 PM
Farm tours, children's activities, live music, food, craft, and plant vendors, and more.
June 27 - Summer Supper 6 PM
Disappointed that you missed out on our fall fundraising event, "Raise the Roots"? You have another chance to come out and support CAC Beardsley Community Farm while eating delicious Tomato Head food, socializing with some great people and learning about urban gardening. You may purchase tickets at
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Free Local Spring Green Events:
Green Buildings for Cool Cities Tour
Saturday, March 26
2 PM – 4 PM
Open house at the Victorian Green House (1011 Victorian Way) from 2 PM until 4 PM
John J. Duncan Jr. Knoxville Station Transit Center Tours at 2 PM, 2:30 PM, 3 PM and 3:30 PM
Third Creek Greenway Cleanup
Saturday, March 26
12 PM – 3 PM
Tyson Park
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/Press_Releases/Content/2011/0321.asp
22nd Ijams Annual River Rescue
Saturday, April 2
10 AM-2 PM
Various sites in Knoxville
RSVP - Call Sarah Brobst at 865-577-4717 x 24
http://celebrateknoxville.com/2011/03/06/ijams-hosts-tennessee-river-clean-up.aspx
EarthFest
Saturday, April 16
10 AM - 5 PM
Pellissippi State - Hardin Valley Campus
Free Admission
Solar America Cities Ceremony
Wednesday, April 20
10:30 AM-12:00 PM
World's Fair Park Pavilion
Residential Energy Code Training
Wednesday, April 20
8 AM - 5 PM
Pellissippi State - Hardin Valley Campus
Free Admission, Lunch Provided
Commercial Energy Code
Thursday, April 21
8 AM - 5 PM
Pellissippi State - Hardin Valley Campus
Free Admission, Lunch Provided
Ongoing: Brown Bag Green Book
Thursdays, March 23, April 20, May 18 and June 15
12 PM – 1 PM
East Tennessee History Center
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/Press_Releases/Content/2011/0314.asp
Saturday, March 26
2 PM – 4 PM
Open house at the Victorian Green House (1011 Victorian Way) from 2 PM until 4 PM
John J. Duncan Jr. Knoxville Station Transit Center Tours at 2 PM, 2:30 PM, 3 PM and 3:30 PM
Third Creek Greenway Cleanup
Saturday, March 26
12 PM – 3 PM
Tyson Park
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/Press_Releases/Content/2011/0321.asp
22nd Ijams Annual River Rescue
Saturday, April 2
10 AM-2 PM
Various sites in Knoxville
RSVP - Call Sarah Brobst at 865-577-4717 x 24
http://celebrateknoxville.com/2011/03/06/ijams-hosts-tennessee-river-clean-up.aspx
EarthFest
Saturday, April 16
10 AM - 5 PM
Pellissippi State - Hardin Valley Campus
Free Admission
Solar America Cities Ceremony
Wednesday, April 20
10:30 AM-12:00 PM
World's Fair Park Pavilion
Residential Energy Code Training
Wednesday, April 20
8 AM - 5 PM
Pellissippi State - Hardin Valley Campus
Free Admission, Lunch Provided
Commercial Energy Code
Thursday, April 21
8 AM - 5 PM
Pellissippi State - Hardin Valley Campus
Free Admission, Lunch Provided
Ongoing: Brown Bag Green Book
Thursdays, March 23, April 20, May 18 and June 15
12 PM – 1 PM
East Tennessee History Center
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/Press_Releases/Content/2011/0314.asp
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Progress Update
Here's a brief update on some of the work we've been doing so far in 2011:
1.) We compiled and fleshed out the content of the Energy & Sustainability work plan many of you spent so much of your time contributing to during 2010, and have turned it into a solid working draft document. In December, Knoxville was asked to serve on a National Academies committee on incorporating sustainability into the U.S. EPA, so to take advantage of working closely with national and international sustainability experts, the draft will be circulated for comment as soon as what we're learning from that experience can be rolled into our plan as well. Additionally, we are closing in on metrics and a model to track our progress, so implementation will have measurable results.
2.) The East Tennessee Quality Growth group has been hard at work developing a spring conference - March 30-31 are the dates, at the convention center.
3.) The Solar America Cities Grant is in its final months, with a 100-fold increase in grid connected solar since 2007. Jake Tisinger, our Sustainability Coordinator who is currently funded through that grant will now be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) through 2012, so we are fortunate DOE was flexible with that.
4.) The City has hit all of the DOE EECBG spend deadlines to date, and the work is 36% complete. Highlights so far include:
- Weatherization of 19 local homes;
- 11 HVAC replacement in City Fire Stations;
- Earthcraft training will be available for free February 28 and March 1, and Energy Code Training dates are April 20-21 (865-539-7167 to register);
- Rollout of the City's single stream curbside recycling program marketing campaign for sign-ups starting in May; and
- Contract drafting for CAC administration of a 2011 solar and appliance rebate program, and contract drafting for third party financed solar on the convention center in progress.
5.) An Electric Vehicle Hosting Partners Forum will be at the Chamber February 24 from 10 AM to 12 PM. Interested parties can attend to learn about hosting a charging station. City right of way locations for both solar and non-solar electric vehicle infrastructure have been assessed and the contract with ECOtaility is being negotiated currently. Installation schedules are dependant on final DOE approvals.
6.) Knoxville's Transportation Planning Authority was awarded a grant to supplement a car-share program; the City and UTK will partner with them to host parking spaces on campus and downtown for those vehicles. That request for qualifications will be posted on TPO's website soon.
1.) We compiled and fleshed out the content of the Energy & Sustainability work plan many of you spent so much of your time contributing to during 2010, and have turned it into a solid working draft document. In December, Knoxville was asked to serve on a National Academies committee on incorporating sustainability into the U.S. EPA, so to take advantage of working closely with national and international sustainability experts, the draft will be circulated for comment as soon as what we're learning from that experience can be rolled into our plan as well. Additionally, we are closing in on metrics and a model to track our progress, so implementation will have measurable results.
2.) The East Tennessee Quality Growth group has been hard at work developing a spring conference - March 30-31 are the dates, at the convention center.
3.) The Solar America Cities Grant is in its final months, with a 100-fold increase in grid connected solar since 2007. Jake Tisinger, our Sustainability Coordinator who is currently funded through that grant will now be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) through 2012, so we are fortunate DOE was flexible with that.
4.) The City has hit all of the DOE EECBG spend deadlines to date, and the work is 36% complete. Highlights so far include:
- Weatherization of 19 local homes;
- 11 HVAC replacement in City Fire Stations;
- Earthcraft training will be available for free February 28 and March 1, and Energy Code Training dates are April 20-21 (865-539-7167 to register);
- Rollout of the City's single stream curbside recycling program marketing campaign for sign-ups starting in May; and
- Contract drafting for CAC administration of a 2011 solar and appliance rebate program, and contract drafting for third party financed solar on the convention center in progress.
5.) An Electric Vehicle Hosting Partners Forum will be at the Chamber February 24 from 10 AM to 12 PM. Interested parties can attend to learn about hosting a charging station. City right of way locations for both solar and non-solar electric vehicle infrastructure have been assessed and the contract with ECOtaility is being negotiated currently. Installation schedules are dependant on final DOE approvals.
6.) Knoxville's Transportation Planning Authority was awarded a grant to supplement a car-share program; the City and UTK will partner with them to host parking spaces on campus and downtown for those vehicles. That request for qualifications will be posted on TPO's website soon.
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