The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

Green Initiative

At The Kentucky Center, we take pride being a leader in Kentucky’s vibrant arts community. We also embrace the truth that art is about more than what happens on our stages. There is an art to living, and we are equally serious about being leaders on that front, too. That is why we are committed to demonstrating environmental responsibility through several green initiatives reflecting our dedication to energy conservation and waste minimization.

Waste Minimization

At The Kentucky Center, recycling involves everyone. From the front of the house to backstage, people are encouraged to recycle glass, paper, plastic, aluminum and cardboard in the many receptacles placed throughout the facility. The recycling program was launched in three phases: Employee & Artist Areas, Non-theatrical Event Rental Areas and Patron Areas. We have currently implemented the first and second phases, and we are working to place appropriate receptacles in visitor areas.

In addition to traditional recycling, The Kentucky Center is excited to have implemented an E-cycling program, safely and responsibly recycling obsolete electronic equipment and properly destroying hard drives onsite.

Of course, just as important as recycling efforts are plans to reduce the production of waste material to begin with. At the Center, we have taken our first steps in that direction by programming computers whenever appropriate to print double-sided copies as the default setting. The Kentucky Center also encourages employees to maintain digital paperwork, rather than hard copy files, reducing the overall amount of printing.

Conservation

The Kentucky Center is embracing efforts to manage our energy consumption more efficiently, including maintenance programs that will eventually replace all old equipment like chillers and boilers with newer, more energy efficient alternatives to reduce the energy demand.

Lighting throughout the building is also being gradually replaced with more energy efficient LED lights that burn more economically and last longer. According to a recent study, LED lamps can last as much as 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs while using only about 1/7 the electricity.

We are also working on water conservation by replacing all faucets in restrooms and backstage areas with new, low-flow models to conserve water.

Future Plans

We’re not stopping there; we have already started thinking of ways to take our green initiative to the next level. For example, plans are in the works to replace our indoor and outdoor signs with electronic versions that will further reduce the amount of paper we use. We are also looking at “occupancy sensors” which monitor when certain spaces are not in use and automatically adjust the temperature.

And, of course, we always look for the finest “green friendly” cleaning products for our custodial staff. After all, being green at The Kentucky Center is far from a one-time project. It is an ongoing program that will involve everyone, from staff to artists to patrons.

Results

Recently, the Bluegrass chapter of Net Impact, a global organization of students and professionals using business to improve the world, presented the Center’s Executive Projects Director and the head of our Green Team, Abby Shue, with the Impact at Work Award for her efforts leading the Green Team at the Center. It’s an award that we’re all proud of, and it’s just the beginning.

We take our role as Kentucky’s premier performing arts center and a leader in the arts throughout the Commonwealth very seriously, and just like the arts themselves, responsible energy consumption is not a cost-saving luxury. It is a social necessity.

To learn more about the green initiative, email green@kentuckycenter.org or call 502.562.0782.