♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ MEETING THE NEEDS OF TODAY WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

CAN WE DO IT?

STAY WITH US AAS WE TALK WITH MISS SUMEDHA RAO DID SUSTAINABILITY NEXT ON "KENTUCKY HEALTH."

>> "KENTUCKY HEALTH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY.

>> THE CONCLUSION OF THE COP 28 WHERE U.N.

CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTED THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THOSE COUNTRIES PRODUCING THE ABUNDANCE OF GREENHOUSE GASES THAT ARE WARMING OUR PLANET AND THOSE COUNTRIES WHO ARE NOT PRODUCING THESE GASES BUT MUST WATCH AS RISING SEAS ENCROACH UPON THEIR HOMES.

MEANWHILE, WE HAVE NOT SEEN OUR HOMES IN KENTUCKY SINK INTO THE OCEAN BUT WE HAVE SEEN OUR FAIR SHARE OF FLOODS AND OTHER SUPER NATURAL DISASTERS.

SOME ARGUE THESE ARE NOT CLIMATE RELATED.

WE MUST AGREE THAT THESE UNUSUAL EVENTS ARE OCCURRING WITH AN INCREASED FREQUENCY AND FER ROSE AT THIS.

WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CHRONIC ILLNESSES TRACED TO POLLUTANTS IN THE AIR AND TOXINS IN THE FOOD AND WATER THAT WE CONSUME.

SADLY, MANY OF THE PEOPLE CONCERNED AFFECTED ARE NOT THE FINANCIAL BENEFICIARIES OF THE FINAL PRODUCTS.

JUST UNWITTING VICTIMS OF THE BYPRODUCTS.

HOW THEN TO BALANCE THE 'NEATH FOR ENERGY AND COMMERCE IN MAINTAINING HEALTHY AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT FOR US ALL?

THEREIN LAY THE CONUNDRUM OF SUSTAINABILITY.

HOW DO WE MEET OUR NEEDS WITHOUT SACRIFICING OUR WORLD?

OUR GUEST TODAY, MISS SUM SUMEDHA RAO SUM WILL HOPEFULLY EXPLAIN HOW WE CAN PROTECT OUR PLANET AND STILL HAVE OUR CREATURE COMFORTS.

SHE EARNED HER BACHELOR AGREE FROM ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE IN INDIA AND A MASTERS DEGREE IN SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST.

IN 2022, MISS RAO WAS NAMED FUTURE LEADER BY THE AS SPEN INSTITUTE AMONG 100 CLIMATE LEADERS IN NORTH AMERICA SHARING THE LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AND AN AWARD WHICH IS VERY PRESTIGIOUS AND CURRENTLY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOUISVILLE'S MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> HOW DID YOU GET INTO SUSTAINABILITY?

THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE THING THAT PEOPLE GROW UP AND SAY MAN, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO?

>> I WAS THAT KID.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> I GREW UP IN A CITY CALLED BANGLOR IN SOUTH INDIA AND WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, THE CITY HAD ABOUT 5 MILLION IN POPULATION.

AND BY THE TIME I GRADUATED COLLEGE, THERE WERE 13 MILLION PEOPLE SO I SAW THE CITY EXPLODE AND IT WAS MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE I.T.

INDUSTRY 234 INDIA AT THE TIME BREAUXING REALLY FAST, BRINGING A LOT OF JOBS AND DEVELOPMENT INTO THE CITY BUT GROWING FIRSTHAND IN APE ST I THAT WAS REALLY FAST CHANGING AND AND BOTH THE POSSIBLE TIFS AND NEGATIVES THAT COME WITH THAT.

ON THE ONE HAND YOU HAVE MORE CULTURAL DIVERSITY, MORE EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING IN THE CITY WITH ALL THE GROWTH, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE THE POLLUTION AND THE HEAT AND THE LOSS OF TREE CANOPY AND I JUST GOT REALLY INTERESTED IN SAYING, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE DO CITIES BETTER?

THERE HAS GOT TO BE A WAY TO HAVE ALL THE POSITIVES WITHOUT NECESSARILY ANY OF THE NEGATIVES.

SO THAT'S HOW I GOT INTO URBAN SUSTAINABILITY.

>> AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU DID.

LET ME SAY THAT.

HOW SIGNIFICANT A PROBLEM, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, DO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW?

>> IT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM, SO THE LEADING AUTHORITY ON CLIMATE SCIENCE IS A GROUP CALLED THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THIS IS A GROUP THAT REVIEWS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF RESEARCH PAPERS FROM LEADING SCIENTISTS ACROSS THE WORLD PEERED REVIEWED WORK TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT THE SCIENCE IS TELLING US AND THERE IS OVERWHELMING CONSENSUS THAT WE ARE REACHING WHAT THEY CALL A TIPPING POINT, WHICH MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY DEFINE IT AS 1.5° CELSIUS IN GLOBAL AVERAGE SURFACE TEMPERATURES OVER WHAT IT USED TO BE PREINDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

SO ONCE WE HIT THAT POINT, THE REASON IT IS CALLED A TIPPING POINT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE REVERSIBLE, BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME THAT PUT THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE AND THE BIO CHEMISTRY OF OUR OCEANS INTO A CERTAIN STATE FROM WHICH THERE IS NO COMING BACK.

SO WE ARE ALREADY SEEING SPECIES GET EXTINCT.

WE ARE SEEING INCREASING WEATHER PATTERNS LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO START SEEING A LOT MORE OF THOSE AND IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN BACK AFTER A CERTAIN POINT.

SO EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING AT COP, LIKE THIS YEAR, WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE SCIENCE ABOUT HOW WE ARE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER.

SO THE NEED FOR ACTION HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER.

LET ME ASK THOUGH.

WE OFTEN HEAR THAT CLIMATE BEING NOT JUST DAY-TO-DAY WEATHER, BUT CYCLABLE.

WE COULD BE A CYCLE.

HOW CAN WE SAY THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING?

>> SURE.

SO THERE IS A TON OF RESEARCH AGAIN AND DATA THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED ON HISTORICAL PATTERNS AND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THESE AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THEM OVERWHELMINGLY SAY IT IS BECAUSE OF HUMAN ACTIVITY THAT WE ARE SEEING THESE CHANGES AT THE RATE THAT WE ARE.

>> YOU MENTION ABOUT THE CHANGES YOU SAW GROWING UP IN BANGOR.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS THAT YOU SEE EVEN AROUND HERE THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> SHUTLY ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH I THINK IT'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULD GUESS INTUITIVE INTUITIVELY.

FOR EXAMPLE, AIR POLLUTION IS SOMETHING PEOPLE EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR HEALTH, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE LIVING NEAR SOME OF THOSE PLANTS THAT MAYBE HAVE THOSE EMISSIONS THAT ARE BEING REDUCED SO A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES ARE A HUGE SOURCE.

TRANSPORTATION ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, TAIL PIPE EMISSIONS FROM, YOU KNOW, TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH WHETHER IT'S COMMUTING OR FLYING AND BUILDINGS IN OUR ENERGY GRID IS ANOTHER SOURCE.

IN LOUISVILLE WE DID A GREENHOUSE GAS TO STUDY WHERE THE EMISSIONS WERE COMING FROM AND WE FOUND THAT THE LARGEST SLICE OF OUR EMISSIONS PIE WAS BUILDING SECTOR, SPECIFICALLY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.

NOW THIS HAS A DIRECT EQUITY IMPACT BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CLIMATE CHANGE OR WHERE THESE EMISSIONS ARE COMING FROM.

IT TRANSLATES TO HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR THEIR UTILITY BILLS.

FOR THE AVERAGE CITY, YOU MIGHT SAY THAT TRANSPORTATION IS A LARGER SPLICE OF THE PIE, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE SO DEPENDENT ON FOSSIL FUELS AND OUR BUILDING CODE IS PRETTY OLD SO WE DON'T HAVE THE MOST EFFICIENT OR WELL INSULATED HOMES HERE.

THOSE ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THAT SECTOR BEING ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF EMISSIONS.

>> RESIDENTIAL, LITERALLY OUR INDIVIDUAL HOUSES OR MULTIPLE UNIT DWELLINGS?

>> IT'S BOTH SINGLE-FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY BUT THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS TEND TO BE THE LARGEST CAUSE.

>> SO THIS THEN IS NOT ONLY IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO IMPACTING OUR POCKETBOOKS.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO THERE IS A TERM PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RENT BURDEN.

USUALLY IF YOU ARE PAYING MORE THAN 30% OF YOUR INCOME ON RENT, THEY CALL THAT RENT BURDEN BUT THERE IS ALSO ENERGY BURDEN THEY DEFINE AS 6%.

IF YOU ARE PAYING MORE THAN 6% OF YOUR INCOME, THEN IT MEANS THAT YOU ARE HIGHLY ENERGY BURDENED BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN YOU TYPICALLY SHOULD BE PAYING AND WE ARE SEEING THAT THERE IS DISPARITIES IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, IN OUR OWN CITY IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE PAYING, DEPENDING ON HOW OLD THEIR BUILDINGS ARE AND HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE TREE CANOPY.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENTAL AS WELL AS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND HOW IT IS IMPACTING YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.

>> EXPLAIN TO ME IF YOU WILL BECAUSE WE KEEP HEARING THIS TERM, NET ZERO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HERE IN LOUISVILLE HAVE SET A TARGET TO BE THERE BY 2040.

THAT SEEMS RATHER AUSPICIOUS.

>> IT IS AMBITIOUS BUT IT'S NECESSARY.

SO IT IS REALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET TO 0 EMISSIONS, EVEN THOUGH WILL YOU SEE A LOT PEOPLE USING THOSE TERMS INTERCHANGEABLY.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN A SCENARIO WHERE THERE ARE NO EMISSIONS COMING FROM ANYWHERE BUT WE CAN BE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE AND BRING THOSE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE AND WHAT YOU CAN'T AVOID TO TRY TO OFFSET THAT BY EITHER PLANTING TREES AND INCREASING GREEN SPACE THAT WILL SEQUESTER SOME OF THE CARBON OR USE OTHER TECHNOLOGIES TO DO THAT.

>> SO WE ARE NEVER-- THE GOAL IS ZERO BUT WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GET THERE.

WE HAVE TO SUPPLANT IT BY REMOVING WHAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT.

>> NET ZERO ULTIMATELY MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO ULTIMATELY GET TO A NET ZERO.

>> CASH EMISSIONS.

IS THAT A BIG PROBLEM FOR US?

>> IT'S HUGE.

IN OUR CITY, OVER 95% OF PEOPLE MAYBE EVEN HIGHER THAN THAT, TAKE PRIVATE CAR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR COMMUTING AND, YOU KNOW, CITIES THAT HAVE REALLY ROBUST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR MORE WALKABILITY AND BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT IS A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.

SO THE FACT THAT WE ARE VERY DEPENDENT ON OUR CARS IS DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTING TO THOSE EMISSIONS FROM CARS.

>> ARE WE A LITTLE BIT WORSE HERE IN THE-- BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE LOUISVILLE METROPOLITAN AREA BUT EVEN THROUGHOUT ALL OF KENTUCKY, I DON'T RECALL SEEING A GREAT DEAL OF MASS TRANSIT BEING A BIG DEAL.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE A BUS SYSTEM THAT WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR, BUT I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS ABOUT HOW PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THAT EXPANDED, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WANT TO SEE LIGHT RAIL.

WE JUST HAD AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE ARE DOING A STUDY TO SEE IF WE CAN BRING AMTRAK TO OUR CITY.

SO THERE IS DEFINITELY A LOT OF INTEREST IN OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.

BUT WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

>> WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT BECAUSE THERE IS A QUESTION OF COST, COST BENEFIT FOR US.

BEFORE I ASK YOU ABOUT ELECTRICAL VEHICLES, POWER PLANTS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE ENERGY.

>> YES.

>> WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THAT?

>> THAT IS A BIG QUESTION.

THE ENERGY TRANSITION IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE HAVE TO DO AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WE HAVE A GOAL AT LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT TO GET TO 100% CLEAN ENERGY AS WELL BY 2040.

THERE WAS A LOT OF METRO COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR IT, A LOT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR IT AND LGNE HAS RECENTLY, THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT THEIR PLANS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ABOUT HOW THEY'RE PLANNING FOR THEIR FUTURE GENERATION CAPACITY AND WE HAD SOME WINS BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPANDING THE AMOUNT OF SOLAR THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD.

THEY ARE REPLACING SOME COAL WITH SOME NATURAL GAS, WHICH TENDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, LESS POLLUTING IN TERMS OF EMISSIONS.

SO THEY HAVE THEIR OWN GOALS THAT THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION.

A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD ARGUE THAT IT'S NOT FAST ENOUGH BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT.

>> BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS KIND OF MANDATING THAT WE USE COAL IN THE POWER PLANTS.

HOW CAN A MUNICIPALITY GET AWAY WITH NOT USING THAT GIVEN THE MANDATE FROM FRANKFORT?

>> WELL, SO WE DON'T-- SO, YES, IT IS A BARRIER IN THE SENSE THAT WE DON'T CONTROL THE UTILITY GRID.

IT'S PRIVATE INVESTOR OWN AND STATE REGULATED GRID.

SO WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR WHAT OUR GOALS ARE AND ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE DIRECT CONTROL OVER THAT.

HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER SPECIFICALLY WHAT CITY GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT FACILITIES USE.

>> I SEE.

>> AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, MAKE A DENT THERE, LET'S TRY TO LOOK AT OUR OWN CITY GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND HOPEFULLY TRY TO EXPAND THOSE SOLUTIONS.

>> YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE THE MODEL FOR US ALL TO SAY HEY, IF WE CAN DO IT, AND THESE ARE THE SAVINGS, THEN THE REST OF US.

>> EXACTLY.

>> I LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> NOW WE ALL TALK ABOUT USING ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

BUT TO ME THERE IS A PIECE THAT IS LEFT OUT OF THIS, WE HAVE TO PRODUCE THE ELECTRICITY.

ARE WE ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL?

>> UH-HUH.

>> WE ARE?

>> WELL, YES, IT'S NOT JUST ELECTRICITY, EITHER.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY CREATE THOSE ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND A LOT OF TIMES MINING THE LITHIUM FOR THE BATTERIES CAN HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES I DON'T THINK WE HAVE EASY SOLUTIONS OTHER THAN THE MORE EFFICIENT FORM OF TRANSPORTATION IS PUBLIC TRANSPORT BIKING AND WALKING, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER THAN THOSE THINGS AND ELECTRIFICATION STILL IS BETTER BUT ONLY IF THE GRID IS CLEANER.

>> YOU HEAD IT A COUPLE TIMES, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT A BUILD ENVIRONMENT WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE.

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF BEING IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

YOU ARE NOT SITTING OUT HERE IN A DESK TWO BLOCKS AWAY BUT YOU ARE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

IS THAT A PLUS OR MINUS FOR YOU?

>> IT'S A HUGE PLUS.

I THEIR SUSTAINABILITY, WE LOOK AT IT MORE-- IT'S LIKE EQUITY.

THE LENS IN WHICH YOU DO THINGS.

IT'S NOT A SEPARATE SILOED AREA OF WORK IN ITSELF THERE IS NO WAY THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY WILL ACHIEVE THE NET ZERO GOAL BY OURSELVES.

THE WAY WE SEE OUR ROLE IS MORE HELPING COORDINATE ACROSS THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE DOING THIS WORK, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE COMMUNITY AND TO BE SITUATED IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE REALLY HELPS TO HAVE BRT COORDINATION, BETTER VISIBILTY, LEADERSHIP SUPPORT FOR THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AND TO MOVE FASTER ON THESE GOALS.

IT IS GREAT TO BE SITUATED IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

>> THE VISUAL ALONE TELLS US THAT YOU THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> TO THAT DEGREE THEN AND YOU TOUCHED UPON IT ALREADY.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR TOWNS HERE AND THEN OF COURSE THE STATE?

WHAT DOES THAT INTERFACE LOOK LIKE?

>> YEAH, WE TRY TO COLLABORATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THERE IS A LOT THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM OTHER CITIES.

WE PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL AS WELL AS MORE REGIONAL COHORTS OF OTHER CITIES AND THEIR SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENTS TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING, LEARN FROM THE GOOD THINGS THAT THEY DO AND MAYBE SHARE SOME BEST PRACTICES.

AND IN TERMS OF COLLABORATING WITH OUR PARTNERS IN KENTUCKY, WE RECENTLY APPLIED FOR A LARGE GRANT FOR TO GET SOLAR ON LOW INCOME HOMES AND WE PARTNERED WITH LEXINGTON AND BOWLING GREEN AND ALL OF THE 54 APPALACHIAN COUNTIES.

SO THAT WAS A REALLY EXCITING WAY FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS LOCALLY AND SAY WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER AND HOW CAN WE BRING OUR STRENGTHS TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE IN LOUISVILLE, I BELIEVE THE LARGEST OR THE MOST RAPIDLY RISING HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

BUT THIS IS NOT A BURDEN SHARED EQUALLY THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS DISPARITY IN TERMS OF HOW THE HEAT ISLAND IMPACTS DIFFERENT RESIDENTS.

WE COMMISSIONED THE GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TO DO A STUDY A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT URBAN HEAT ISLAND AND THEY CREATED THESE GREAT MAPS AND YOU SEE THAT THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY HISTORICAL RED LINING AND OTHER UNJUST PRACTICES HAVE MORE PAVED AREAS, LESS TREE CANNES CANOPY AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HIGHER TEMPERATURES IN THE AREAS.

WE DEFINITELY SEE, YOU KNOW, PARTS OF THE CITY, PARTICULARLY WEST AND SOUTH LOUISVILLE WHERE YOU SEE SOME OF THE DISPARITIES ALSO EXPERIENCE GREATER URBAN HEAT.

AND THE WAY THAT WE AS CITY GOVERNMENT ARE TRYING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP IS FOR ONE THING, WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM CALLED THE COOL ROOF INCENTIVE PROGRAM, WHICH BASICALLY GIVES YOU SOME MONEY BACK FOR INSTALLING A MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT ROOF THAT REFLECTS MORE HEAT, KEEPS YOUR HOME COOLER, KEEPS YOUR BILLS DOWN AND WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF THOSE FUNDS DEDICATED TO THOSE AREAS SO THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE BENEFIT FROM THAT INSENTIVE PROGRAM.

AND A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS AND PARKS ARE REALLY INVESTING IN A LOT MORE TREE CANOPY AND NATURAL AREAS AND PARKS EFFORTS IN THE AREAS TO BRING UP THE TREE CANOPY AND ABATE SOME OF THE URBAN HEAT.

>> SOME WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES YOU ARE SEEING FROM THIS AND DO YOU SEE IT MORE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE SEE THAT THERE IS MORE AND MORE HIGH HEAT DAYS EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT A LOT MORE CALLS ARE BEING RECEIVED FOR HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES AND FOR HEAT STROKES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTING PEOPLE'S HEALTH.

WE TRY TO SEND OUT HEAT ADVISORY UNDERSTANDS AND INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE STAY SAFE IN THE SHORT-TERM BUT LONG-TERM IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE AND INDUSTRIAL CHANGES TO BRING THOSE IMPACTS DOWN.

>> WHICH GETS TO THE QUESTION OF , WHICH WE OPENED WITH, THERE IS A BALANCE THAT HAS TO BE REACHED, I GUESS, AT SOME POINT BETWEEN IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE STUFF, THERE ARE GOING TO BE POLLUTANTS BUT THE BURDEN OF THOSE THINGS IS NOT EQUAL.

SO HOW DO YOU GO SO SAID COMPANY A AND SAY YOU ARE POLLUTING TOO MUCH AND THEY SAY FINE, WE'LL LEAVE AND GO SOMEPLACE ELSE?

>> I THINK I WOULD TRY TO QUESTION THAT THAT ASSUMPTION THAT PRODUCING THINGS HAS TO CREATE POLLUTION.

LIKE THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE WE MAY NOT HAVE A SOLUTION YET, BUT WE SEE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES OUT THERE THAT ARE TRYING TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE ON HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS PROGRESS GREENER, HOW CAN WE CAP PURR THE POLLUTION BEFORE IT GETS 234509 ENVIRONMENT AND THERE IS A LOT OF INNOVATION HAPPENING IN THE INDUSTRY TO REDUCE WASTE AND POLLUTION AND TO MAKE BUSINESS GREENER AND SUPPORTING THAT AND ENCOURAGING THAT IS REALLY CRITICAL TO THIS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE HIT HARDER HIGHER DENSITY OF POLLUTANTS THAN OTHERS.

IS THERING?

THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT TO HELP THEM OUT?

>> I THINK AGAIN IT'S A COMBINATION OF A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.

THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY SOLUTION UNFORTUNATELY BUT I THINK WORKING WITH THOSE INDUSTRIES TO TRY TO REDUCE THOSE POLLUTANTS, BUT ALSO LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, INCREASING, YOU KNOW, TREES AND ACCESS TO HEALTH AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS FEWER POLLUTANTS IMMEDIATELY IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE WE ALSO TALK ABOUT LEAD PAINT AND WATER POLLUTION AND ODORS AND ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES KIND OF ADDRESSING EACH OF THOSE SECTORS INDIVIDUALLY AND PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH SOLUTIONS.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT A COOL ROOF.

SO ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT I'M NOW GOING TO PLANT GRASS ON MY ROOF?

>> SO THOSE ARE GREEN ROOFS.

>> TELL ME ABOUT GREEN ROOFS.

>> GREEN ROOFS ARE TYPICALLY VEGETATIVE ROOFS.

IT CAN BE A ROOF THAT IS TYPICALLY IT HAS TO BE STRUCTURALLY SOUND SO IT'S NOT EASY FOR ANYONE TO DO IT.

IT HAS TO TAKE THE WEIGHT OF PUTTING SOIL IN GROWING AND SOME PEOPLE WILL GROW GRASS OR POLLINATORS OR FOOD AND LANDSCAPE, DEPENDING ON YOUR BUDGET AND HOW FAR YOU WANT TO GO WITH IT.

SO THAT IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN KEEPING TEMPERATURES DOWN.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE COOL ROOF PROGRAM, WHICH IS MUCH SIMPLER OR LOWER COST WHERE YOU JUST USE YOUR REGULAR SHINGLE OR PAINT OR TPO OR SOMETHING ON YOUR ROOF.

>> WHAT IS TPO.

>> THERMAL PLASTIC-- ONE OF THE MEMBRANES THEY HAVE ON SOME OF THE FLATTER ROOFS BUT, AND THOSE ARE LIGHTER COLOR OR MORE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL SO THEY REFLECT A LOT MORE HEAT AND IT CAN SAVE A LOT OF ENERGY COSTS FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE YOU DON'T ABSORB AS MUCH AS A DARK ROOF DOES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A NICE BIG FLAT ROOF OR EVEN IF IT IS PITCHED, IT FACES SOUTH, I GUESS, SOLAR.

>> YES.

>> AM I-- CAN I PUT SOLAR THINGS ON MY HOUSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> OR BUSINESS?

>> YES.

WE DO HAVE A PROGRAM FOR THAT, TOO.

IT'S CALLED SOLAR OVERLOUISVILLE.

AND THE WAY-- THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS THAT THE CITY BASICALLY VETS INSTALLERS BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF SCAMMERS OUT THERE.

I'M SURE PEOPLE HAVE SEEN ADVERTISEMENTS SAYING FREE SOLAR AND ALL OF THIS STUFF, AND IT CAN BE-- IT IS JUSTIFIABLY SHADY.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE TRUST AND FOR GOOD REASON BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN NEGATIVE NEWS COME OUT OF THAT.

BUT THE BENEFIT OF THIS IS THAT WE VET THE INSTALLERS SO CONSUMERS COULD BE ASSURED THIS PERSON IS LICENSED AND HAS BEEN THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE ALSO NEGOTIATE A WHOLESALE DISCOUNT SO IF MULTIPLE PEOPLE SIGN UP TO GO TOGETHER, LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE ABOUT A 20% DISCOUNT FOR EVERYBODY PARTICIPATING.

>> WOW.

>> SO WE HAD THIS LAST YEAR, BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE, WHICH IS WHEN WE STARTED THE PROGRAM, OVER 150 PEOPLE HAVE GONE SOLAR THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

SO, YEAH, ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO SAVE ON YOUR ENERGY BILLS AND-- >> THAT'S WAY WANTED TO KNOW.

IS IT REALLY A SAVINGS?

AND SOMETIMES WE HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE EVEN GIVING BACK TO THE GRID.

>> UH-HUH.

>> YOU CAN DO THAT, TOO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S CALLED NET METERING WHERE YOU CAN SELL SOME OF THAT ENERGY BACK TO THE GRID OR YOU CAN GET A CREDIT FOR ON YOUR UTILITY BILL.

SO IT DOES DEPEND ON THE HOME.

SO WE ACTUALLY, THROUGH OUR PROGRAM DO A PRESCREENING.

IF SOMEONE HAS A TREE OVER THEIR HOME, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO PUT SOLAR ON THAT.

WE TELL YOU RIGHT AWAY SO WE DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.

OR IF YOU ARE COMPLETELY NORTH FACING, YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAVE THE BEST SUN EXPOSURE.

SO WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR ROOF ON MAPS AND GIVING YOU A YES YOU ARE A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR THIS OR YOU MAY WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

AND THAT GIVES THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MORE INFORMED WHEN IT GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEY CAN GET A FREE QUOTE, FIGURE OUT IF IT MAKES SENSE IF THE PAYBACK WHAT IS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OR NOT.

>> I DON'T THINK WE ARE READY FOR WIND HERE IN THE CITY LIMITS BUT YOU KNOW, TRAVELING 65 NORTH, ONCE YOU GET OUTSIDE LAFAYETTE, ALL THESE WINDMILL FARMS.

>> YES.

>> SO IS THAT A VIABLE OPTION FOR THOSE OF US HERE IN KENTUCKY AT SOME POINT THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE WINDMILLS ESPECIALLY ON SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE THE MOWN MOUNTAIN TOP COAL MINING HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE.

>> I HAVEN'T HEARD TOO MUCH ABOUT WIND DEVELOPMENT HERE.

I'M GUESSING IT'S BECAUSE THEY'VE CALCULATED THE WIND SPEEDS MAY NOT BE IDEAL FOR IT.

WE HEAR MORE ABOUT SOLAR AND OTHER FORMS VERSUS WIND IN KENTUCKY.

>> WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT-- WE ARE NOT READY FOR THAT YET.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT PLANTING TREES.

THE ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE AT LOUISVILLE HAS LOOKED AT TREE BEING PLANTED FOR CARDIAC HEALTH >> YES!

>> BUT WE CAN ALSO USE TREES TO COOL OUR HOUSES DOWN, TOO APPARENTLY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TREES HAVE A COOLING EFFECT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THEM.

NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHADE BUT BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, WATER THAT IS PART OF THE TREE'S REGULAR PROCESSES SO THESE HAVE POSITIVE BENEFITS ON THE AIR QUALITY AND JUST KEEPING AREAS COOLER.

SO, YEAH.

>> CAN YOU GIVE ME A QUICK EXAMPLE OF THE BENEFIT OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAD?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION LET'S SEE, SO WE DID-- THIS IS-- SO THERE IS ONE THAT IS NOT YET A SUCCESS BUT IS HAPPENING THAT I WILL TALK ABOUT WHICH I'M EXCITED ABOUT BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH LGNE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET OUR CITY OPERATIONS TO MORE CLEAN ENERGY SO BUILDING OUT LARGE SOLAR PANELS THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, LARGE SOLAR FIELD THAT WILL HELP POWER OUR UTILITY USE.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THAT WILL WORK OUT FEASIBLY FOR THE CITY.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WE STAY IN TOUCH WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WE LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM THAT WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT MAKING SURE THEY'RE MEETING E.P.A.

REGULATIONS ON AIR POLLUTION AND, YEAH, OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> LAST QUESTION, ARE YOU STILL THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY OR IS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE WITH YOU IN THERE?

>> THERE ARE MORE.

THERE ARE THREE OF US NOW.

>> FANTASTIC!

BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB ALL BY YOURSELF.

MISS RAO, I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU HAVE BROUGHT UP SOME VERY NICE POINTS.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO HEAR ABOUT THE GOOD STUFF THAT'S GOING ON.

THAT'S REALLY GREAT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SUSTAINABILITY IS AND HOW WE CAN ALL GET INVOLVED.

IF YOU WISH TO WATCH THIS SHOW AGAIN OR WATCH AN ARCHIVED VERSION OF PAST SHOWS, PLEASE GO TO WWW.ket.org/HEALTH.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT ABOUT THIS OR OTHER SHOWS WE CAN BE REACHED AT KYHEALTH@ket.org.

PLEASE PLANT A TREE.

CALL THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY HERE IN LOUISVILLE OR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND SEE ABOUT GETTING SOLAR OR EVEN SEEING ABOUT GETTING SOME OTHER WAYS YOU CAN REDUCE NOT ONLY YOUR COST FOR MAINTAINING A GOOD ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR US ACTUAL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THE NEXT "KENTUCKY HEALTH" SO BE SAFE, BE CAREFUL AND PLEASE THINK ABOUT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

KENTUCKY HEALTH IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY.