Advocate for Good State Policies
Through statewide organizations:
Kentucky Conservation Coalition (KCC)
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC)
Central Kentucky chapter
Kentucky Rails to Trails
By contacting KY house and senate representatives urging them to
Support energy policies reducing carbon footprint and reverse recent coal subsidizing legislation.
Perspectives on current state energy policy:
- Liquid coal wrong basis for state energy policy
- Editorial: Coal-to-liquid fuel a bad idea
- Editorial: Paper wrong about liquid coal technology
- Editorial: Clueless Legislators not serving public
Expand green building code requirements such as:
Promote “Cool roofs” approved by Energy Star. These could be simple top coats applied to an existing roof which will prolong the life and reducing the heat loads that contribute to the heat island effect. The current standard, black EPDM and asphalt roofs, require more energy to cool and have the shortest lifespan because the UV is absorbed and breaks the roof membranes down quicker.
Revise codes to promote use of pervious concrete and asphalt in hard-scapes and replacing curbs with infiltration swales, allowing the ground to absorb storm runoff.
Allow for waterless urinals now used in New York, Washington, and many desert states. These drastically reduce water usage in office and public buildings and reduce water treatment costs.
Allow for composting toilets to replace straight pipe systems, thereby improving water quality in remote areas without access to municipal sewage systems.
Support legislation requiring residential building contractors be licensed
Support legislation to require that mountain top removal mining be limited to what can be done in a responsible and sustainable manner and support the "stream saver" bill when it is reintroduced in next winter's legislative session.
