♪ ♪ WE ALL WANT ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT SOME PURSUIT OF THIS GOAL, MUST WE ALSO SACRIFICE OUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING?

STAY WITH US AS WE TALK WITH MISS SUP SUM, AN URBAN SUSTAINABILITY EXPERT ABOUT HOW SUSTAINABILITY CAN BE INTERTWINED INTO GOVERNMENT POLICY NEXT ON "KENTUCKY HEALTH."

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

COMMUNITIES IN KENTUCKY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE ENGAGED IN VIGOROUS DEBATES ABOUT THE LOCATION OF AND OF ADVANCED COMPUTING CENTERS.

THINK DATA FARMS.

WHETHER YOU SEE A.I.

TECHNOLOGIES AS THE HOPE OF THE FUTURE OR THE END OF US ALL, THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF THESE DATA FARMS IS UNMISTAKABLE.

AS GREAT AS THE POTENTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THESE DATA FARMS MAY BE, THERE IS ANOTHER MORE PERNICIOUS SIDE; NAMELY THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CAUSED BY THE REQUISITE POWER REQUIREMENTS.

THEREIN LIES THE CONUNDRUM.

FOR CIVIC AND POLITICAL LEADERS.

HOW TO BALANCE ECONOMIC INTEREST WHILE MAINTAINING THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY.

FACING THIS AND OTHER ISSUES, THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, A DIVISION IN THE LOUISVILLE MAYOR'S OFFICE WAS CREATED.

SUSTAINED LOUISVILLE WAS DEVELOPED TO SERVE AS A FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK TO SHAPE CITY WIDE PROGRESS TOWARDS A VIBRANT, PROSPEROUS AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY: THE PLAN HAD THREE OBJECTIVES.

1: PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND REDUCE LOUISVILLE'S CARBON FOOTPRINT.

2: ENSURE THE HEALTH, WELLNESS AND PROSPERITY OF ALL CITIZENS.

AND 3: CREATE A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY.

TO EXPLAIN HOW HEALTH AND EQUITY ARE INTEGRATED INTO POLICY, WE HAVE AS OUR GUEST TODAY, MISS SUMEDHA RAO.

MISS RAO EARNED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, CHEMISTRY AND BOTANY FROM ST.

JOSEPH COLLEGE FROM BANGALORE INDIA AND MASTER OF SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSSETTS AT AMHERST.

MISS RAO HAS EXPERTISE IN URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AND FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AT THE LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT.

MISS RAO, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR.

YOU ARE NOW THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

AND IT IS OUR LOSS.

HATE TO SEE YOU GO.

>> IT'S BEEN AN EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE.

I REALLY ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW THIS COMMUNITY.

I THINK SOMETHING ABOUT WORKING IN CITY GOVERNMENT, IT MAKES YOU GET UP AND CARE EVERY DAY ABOUT THE PEOPLE HERE, AND I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL.

AND I'M MOVING ON TO A NEW CHAPTER, BUT LOUISVILLE WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.

>> WELL, AS ONE LOUISVILLIAN, I CAN TELL YOU, WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEART FOR YOU.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT ABOUT CITY WORKERS.

SOMETIMES WE GET A REALLY JADED VIEW OF THE BUREAUCRACY, AS THEY SAY BUT IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT COMING INTO WORK.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

>> NOW, WE USE THIS TERM SUSTAINABILITY.

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S ONE OF THOSE WORDS THAT WE HEAR A LOT AND SOMETIMES YOU KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FORGET WHAT IT MEANS.

BUT SUSTAINABILITY BY DEFINITION MEANS CREATING A SOCIETY WHERE WE ARE NOT ONLY LOOKING OUT FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OUR GENERATION, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AS WELL INTO THE LONG-TERM.

AND THAT REQUIRES US LOOKING AT THREE THINGS, WHAT WE CALL THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE IN SUSTAINABILITY; WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DECISION TYPICALLY REVOLVE AROUND THE ECONOMIC OUTCOMES.

BUT THEN WE ARE ADDING ENVIRONMENT AND EQUITY.

THE THREE ES ARE ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY AND EQUITY.

SOMETIMES IT'S ALSO THE THREE PS.

PEOPLE, PLANET AND PROFIT, AS MORE OF AN INTEGRATED AND HOLISTIC WAY TO LOOK AT DECISIONS SO THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE IN THE PURSUIT OF WEALTH, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR, LOOKING OUT FOR HEALTH AND THE WELL-BEING OF OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR THE LONG-TERM.

>> IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHEN YOU WERE WITH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE PROJECTS YOU CAN PONT TO THAT HIGHLIGHT THESE THINGS, PRESERVING THE THREE ES AND OR THE THREE Ps.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ON PROJECTS THAT REALLY INTEGRATE PEOPLE, PLANET AND PROFIT.

AND A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS SOME WORK AT THAT TIME WE DID WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THINK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS SOMETHING THAT IS INTENDED TO, YOU KNOW, HELP PEOPLE, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO ATTAINABLE HOUSING SO THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE BUT IT ALSO HAS A BIG CONNECTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY AS WELL, BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONNECTION IS THAT BUILDINGS ARE A REALLY BIG SOURCE OF EMISSIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE ENERGY THAT WE BURN TO POWER ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS.

AND SO MAKING BUILDINGS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT, PUTTING MORE CLEAN ENERGY ON THESE BUILDINGS IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO HELP OUR AIR QUALITY AND CREATE A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THINGS LIKE SOLAR ALSO DIRECTLY SAVE PEOPLE COSTS.

WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON A PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RIVER CITY HOUSING, WHICH IS A LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER, TO GET, YOU KNOW, GRANTS THAT WOULD DO ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES AND PUT SOLAR PANELS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ON THESE BUILDINGS.

THEY SAW IN CASES, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS SEE A BENEFIT OF THEIR ENERGY BILLS GOING FROM HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH TO A FEW HUNDRED A YEAR.

AND THAT'S A REALLY BIG ECONOMIC IMPACT TO FAMILIES.

AND THAT'S ALSO CREATING JOBS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, PEOPLE THAT ARE SKILLED AND DOING THIS MORE MODERN AND EFFICIENT BUILDING STYLE.

SO THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO PEOPLE AND THE ECONOMY.

>> YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I HEAR FROM MY PUBLIC HEALTH COLLEAGUES, THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GET CREDIT FOR DOING SOMETHING BECAUSE WE ARE PREVENTING SOMETHING FROM TAKING PLACE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> HOW DOES IT WORK WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PROJECTS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU DON'T SEE THE FRUITION OF THIS.

IT'S NOT AN IMMEDIATE GAIN, IS IT?

IS IT SOMETHING THAT IS LONG-TERM AND PEOPLE LOSE SIGHT OF THE ACTION WE TAKE TODAY, REAPING THE BENEFITS THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD?

>> YEAH, SOME SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS CAN HAVE A LONGER RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

SOME TECHNOLOGIES ARE PROGRESSING REALLY FAST AND THE PRICES OF THOSE ARE FALLING AS THEY SCALE MORE, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE IS A SHORTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT AS WELL.

BUT, AGAIN, LIKE YOUR COLLEAGUES AT PUBLIC HEALTH SAY, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S THE AVOIDED COSTS THAT WE DON'T REALLY LOOK AT.

SO HAVING A HEALTHIER SOCIETY MEANS PEOPLE ARE LESS EXPOSED TO AIR POLLUTION, WHICH MEANS LOWER HOSPITAL BILLS AND YOU KNOW, OTHER TYPES OF DIFFICULTIES YOU MIGHT HAVE IN YOUR LIFE.

SO IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE AN INTEGRATED VISION BECAUSE ULTIMATELY SUSTAINABILITY IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE CHEAPER.

>> LOUISVILLE IS THE LARGEST CITY IN KENTUCKY.

SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT OTHER SMALLER MUNICIPALITIES MAY BE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HERE.

AND MAYBE EVEN HAVE SOME COLLABORATION.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

DO WE SEE SUCH THINGS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

DURING MY TIME, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE OTHER LARGE CITIES IN KENTUCKY, WHICH ARE LEXINGTON AND BOWLING GREEN.

BUT WE ALSO HAD REALLY INTERESTING COLLABORATIONS WITH SOME OF OUR FRIENDS IN RURAL COUNTIES AS WELL.

AND I THINK SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE THIS SPOKEN OR UNSPOKEN URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE AND I THINK THAT'S A HUGE MISSED OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THERE IS REALLY GREAT WAYS THESE COMMUNITIES DO COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER AND CAN GOING FORWARD AS WELL.

URBAN CENTERS REALLY DEPEND ON RURAL AREAS FOR A LOT OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE FOOD AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE CONSUME.

BUT THEN THE URBAN CENTERS HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING HIGHER POPULATION DENSITIES, HIGHER TAX BASES.

A LOT OF TIMES URBAN CENTERS HAVE MORE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO START AND PILOT CERTAIN SOLUTIONS, MAYBE GO AFTER THE LARGER GRANTS THAT WE CAN THEN SHARE WITH OUR COLLABORATORS AND THE REST OF THE STATE.

AND WE DEFINITELY SAW THAT HAPPEN IN TERMS OF LARGE GRANT APPLICATIONS WOO WE WERE ABLE TO GO AFTER.

WE CREATED A POPULAR PROGRAM PEOPLE MAY HAVE HEARD OF CALLED SOLARIZE LOUISVILLE WHICH STARTED IN LOUISVILLE BUT THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE CREATED A MODEL THAT COULD THEN BE EASILY ADOPTED BY LEXINGTON, BY DANVILLE, FRANKFORT AND SO THERE IS DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT COLLABORATIONS IN THE PAST AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE IN AN URBAN OR RURAL COUNTY, IF YOU LIVE THERE, YOU KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOU KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND THERE IS A LOT THAT WE CAN-- BUT THAT WE ALL SHARE COMMON CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN WORK ON TOGETHER.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOLARIZED LOUISVILLE.

I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

I THINK IT CROSSES URBAN AND RURAL AREAS.

NOW WE HERE IN THE STATES SEEM TO BE BEHIND THE REST OF THE WORLD AS FAR AS THIS.

WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS THAT PROJECT OF SOLARIZED LOUISVILLE?

ARE WE GOING FORWARD WITH THIS?

OR HAVE YOU FOUND THAT WE HAVE HAD TO THROTTLE BACK OR EVEN STOP IT ALL TOGETHER?

>> YEAH, SO WE, THANKFULLY THOSE PROGRAMS ARE STILL GOING QUITE WELL.

AND IT'S BECAUSE, I THINK, THE COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS AND AS LONG AS THERE IS DEMAND FOR THEM, THE CITY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THOSE SOLUTIONS.

AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME AT IT FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.

LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN IT BECAUSE THEY LEGITIMATELY WANT TO SEE THOSE COST SAVINGS LONG-TERM.

SOME PEOPLE JUST WANT THE INDEPENDENCE OF, YOU KNOW, GETTING A SOLAR BATTERY SYSTEM AND BEING OFF THE GRID AND HAVING THAT RELIABILITY OF NOT LOSING YOUR POWER.

AND THE SOLARIZED LOUISVILLE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO MAKE THAT WHOLE PROCESS OF PURCHASING THAT EASY BY CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH VETTED INSTALLERS, GIVING THEM ACCESS TO DISCOUNTS, AND A NON-PROFIT THAT I WORK WITH CALLED THE KENTUCKY SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY HAS BEEN WORKING ON A VERY CONSUMER CENTRIC, YOU KNOW, EFFORT TO EDUCATING PEOPLE AND MAKING PEOPLE FEEL EMPOWERED AND NOT SCAMMED WHEN BEING APPROACHED WITH SOLAR BECAUSE THAT IS A CONCERN AS WELL.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHALLENGES IN THE PAST YEAR BECAUSE OF SOME CHANGING FEDERAL LEGISLATION.

THERE USED TO BE OR THERE STILLING A 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT FOR SOLAR, HOWEVER THAT IS GOING TO SUNSET AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

AND THE SOLARIZED LOUISVILLE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL UP TO 20% DISCOUNT AND PEOPLE HAVE UP TO SEPTEMBER 15, BASICALLY, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, WHICH COULD, DEPENDING ON YOUR TAX LIABILITY, KNOCK OFF ALMOST HALF OF THE COST OF YOUR SOLAR, WHICH, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGES HOW YOUR SAVING ARE GOING TO LOOK.

SO THERE IS A SHORT TIMELINE NOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SAME WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THERE IS A DEADLINE BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TAX CREDITS THERE.

SO SOME OF THESE FEDERAL INCENTIVES ARE GOING AWAY, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT HARDER FOR FAMILIES TO ACCESS THESE BENEFITS.

SO I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ANYONE WHO IS CONSIDERING IT, NOW IS THE TIME TO MAYBE LOOK INTO SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND TRY TO MAKE THE DECISION WHILE YOU CAN GET THOSE FOR CHEAPER.

>> UNFORTUNATELY AS PEOPLE WATCHING THIS NOW WAS THE TIME.

SO UNLESS WE CAN TRAVEL BACK IN TIME,.

TELL ME WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOLAR POWER, ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT, OR ARE YOU TRYING TO SAVE PEOPLE MONEY OR IS IT BOTH?

>> IT'S DEFINITELY BOTH.

I THINK, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THAT TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE APPROACH, WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND DOING IT IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY HELPS PEOPLE AND REDUCES THEIR DOST COST.

SO IF IT IS THE COST THAT APPEALS TO SOMEBODY, THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT AS WELL.

>> YES, THERE HAS BEEN SOME CHANGE IN OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES.

SINCE THE LAST PRESIDENT UBL-- SINCE THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL, ELECTION.

HOW ARE CIVIC GROUPS AND MUNICIPALITIES WORKING TOGETHER TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OR CAN THEY COME TOGETHER TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, IT REALLY MATTERS WHAT COMMUNITY THINKS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE VOTING, THAT ARE SPENDING THE DOLLARS, THAT ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THEM ON A COMMUNITY LEVEL.

AND WE ARE SEEING THAT, YOU KNOW, I, IN MY ROLE SAW THIS AND ALSO CONTINUE TO SEE IT IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE IN THE FIELD, THAT PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.

THEY WANT TO HAVE A HEALTHY FUTURE FOR THEIR KIDS, AND THEY WANT TO HAVE A SAFE BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE WEALTH THROUGH THAT.

SO I THINK THAT BECAUSE IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO PEOPLE, THERE IS SOME MOMENTUM THAT IS CONTINUING.

IT'S NO DOUBT THAT SOME OF THE VOLATILITY WITH POLICY, ESPECIALLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, IS CREATING A LOT OF CHALLENGES BUT THERE ARE GREAT, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ADVOCACY GROUPS OUT THERE THAT ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON YOU THAT, TRYING TO EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS REALLY INFORMED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

>> FROM YOUR OBSERVATION, SITTING IN THESE DISCUSSIONS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS TO DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABILITY POLICY?

AND/OR INSTITUTING SOME OF THESE THINGS?

AND IS IT REALLY WE ARE NOT SEEING THE LONG PICTURE?

>> YEAH, SO I MEAN THE FIRST THING I ALWAYS HEAR IS ALL OF THAT SOUNDS GREAT, BUT IT'S GOING TO COST TOO MUCH.

AND SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ICE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR TO US THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COST DIFFERENTLY.

I THINK THAT THE CURRENT FLATULENCE THE MAINSTREAM LENS FOR LOOKING AT COST TENDS TO BE SHORT-TERM OR VERY NARROWLY FOCUSED ON CERTAIN THINGS.

BUT I THINK THAT IF WE WIDEN THE TIMEFRAME AT WHICH WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE, WE ARE GOING TO SEE UNDENIABLE RETURNS AND BENEFITS NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF LOOKING AT THE EXTERNALITIES OR THE SIDE EFFECTS OF SOME OF THESE DECISIONS, LOOKING AT THAT MORE HOLISTICALLY OVER A LONGER TIMEFRAME.

>> SOMETIMES IT'S PRESENTED TO US THAT IF WE CHOOSE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY VERSUS ECONOMIC GROWTH, WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN ONE OR THE OTHER.

IS THAT REALLY A FALSE CHOICE?

OR IS IT A REAL THING AND CAN WE REALLY DO BOTH?

>> SO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT SUSTAINABILITY IS GOING TO CREATE WEALTH, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO DO SO FOR EVERYBODY OR FOR THE LONG-TERM.

BUT SUSTAINABILITY, ALMOST ALWAYS BY DEFINITION, IS GOING HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS.

SO I THINK THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO SAY SUSTAINABILITY VERSUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S A FUNDAMENTAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SUSTAINABILITY OFFERS BECAUSE FOR A SOLUTION TO BE SUSTAINABLE, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SCALABLE AND THAT ISN'T GOING TO SUCCEED, SO A LOT OF TIMES WE ARE SEEING-- WE HAVE SEEN AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS ARE BRINGING INVESTMENT, THEY ARE CREATING JOBS, THEY ARE DELIVERING SAVINGS.

SO THEY ARE ALREADY INTEGRATING A LOT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S JUST THAT IT GOES BEYOND THAT TO ALSO CREATE THESE POSITIVE IMPACTS FOR HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT THAT ARE GOING TO BE REALLY BENEFICIAL BEYOND JUST THE IMHED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS.

SO I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD STOP ASKING THAT QUESTION AND SHOULD START THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE LOOK AT-- HOW TO WE LOOK AT BOTH SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MORE HOLISTICALLY.

>> ARE ALL COMMUNITIES AFFECTED THE SAME?

>> NO.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A CLEAR DISPARITY.

OFTEN TIMES THE COMMUNITIES THAT BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AREN'T THE ONES THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THE SIDE EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BRING AN EQUITY LENS TO SUSTAINABILITY WORK AND THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE AND THE EQUITY IS BUILT INTO THE DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THIS GREEN TRANSITION OF MORE INNOVATIVE, EFFICIENT MODERN SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND POLICIES AND DECISIONS, THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT ULTIMATELY EVERYONE IS BENEFITING FROM IT, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THAT ARE KIND OF ON THE FRONT LINES OF EXTREME WEATHER AND, YOU KNOW, POVERTY AND HEALTH IMPACTS AND THAT ARE ALREADY FACING A LOT OF THESE CHALLENGES THAT WERE CREATED BY, YOU KNOW, A SYSTEM THAT DID NOT MAKE HOLISTIC DECISIONS TO BEGIN WITH.

>> IF I'M LIVING IN AN AREA THAT IS REAPING BENEFITS FROM AN INDUSTRY THAT IS PLACED IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY, WHERE IS MY INCENTIVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT COMMUNITY?

>> YEAH, I MEAN I THINK PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ULTIMATELY WITH THESE SHORT SIGHTED DECISIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME IMPACTS LONG-TERM, AND I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT DATA CENTERS IN YOUR INTRODUCTION AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT.

THIS COULD APPLY TO ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

BUT THAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING WE ARE HEARING A LOT ABOUT RECENTLY, WHERE THERE IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BENEFIT TO IT IN TERMS OF IT'S CREATING NEW INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

I THINK A.I.

IS VERY INTERESTING IN TERMS OF WHAT IT IS ABLE TO DO AND IT'S JUST-- I THINK A CELEBRATION OF HUMAN TECHNOLOGICAL ACHIEVEMENT.

BUT IT MUST BE DONE RESPONSIBLY AND THAT IS THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE AS A SOCIETY, IS TO SAY CAN WE DO BOTH?

CAN WE EMBRACE THIS AND CAN WE ALSO THINK THROUGH HOW DO WE HAVE PROACTIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOMETHING NEW THAT IS COMING TO THE COMMUNITY?

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ARE UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS AND ARE OKAY ABOUT IT.

IF THERE IS A WAY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE IMPACTS, THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND THEY NEED TO BE HAD.

>> WE HEAR THE TERM URBAN HEAT ISLANDS.

WHAT ARE THEY AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO MITIGATE THESE THINGS?

>> SO A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT EXTREME WEATHER, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT TORNADOES AND HURRICANES.

THERE IS ACTUALLY A STUDY THAT SHOWED THAT OF THE TOP 10 COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY DISASTERS, FIVE OF THEM ARE IN KENTUCKY.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT WILL SURPRISE ANYBODY WHO IS HEARING THIS BASED ON OUR COMMUNITY'S EXPERIENCE OF, YOU KNOW, THE STORMS AND WEATHER AND FLOODING; HOWEVER, SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE, BUT IS EQUALLY LETHAL IS URBAN HEAT.

AND IT'S KIND OF A SILENT KILLER BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES HEAT STRESS AND URBAN AREAS TEND TO BE SEVERAL DEGREES WARMER THAN RURAL AREAS SOMETIMES BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF URBAN CANOPY AND USE OF MATERIALS LIKE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT THAT HOLD MORE HEAT AND THAT'S WHERE THE TERM URBAN HEAT ISLAND COMES FROM.

AND AS HEAT INCREASES, HEAT STRESS CAN HAVE A LOT OF OTHER IMPACTS; FOR EXAMPLE, IT CAN, YOU KNOW, INCREASE THE INCIDENTS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

SO A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL ATTRIBUTE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE IS A DEATH OR AN ILLNESS THAT IS THE RESULT OF HEAT, IT'S OFTEN ATTRIBUTED TO THINGS LIKE CARDIOVASCULAR ILLNESS EVEN THOUGH THE HEAT MAY HAVE BEEN WHAT BASICALLY ULTIMATELY EXACERBATED THAT CONDITION: SO URBAN HEAT IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT.

IT ESPECIALLY IMPACTS VULNERABLE PEOPLE LIKE THE ELDERLY OR YOUNG CHILDREN OR THE HOUSELESS.

AND IT HAS A LOT OF IMPACT ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND HEALTH AND LOUISVILLE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN SEEN TO BE ONE OF THE FASTEST WARMING URBAN HEAT ISLANDS BASED ON A STUDY DONE A FEW YEARS AGO.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY IS VERY FOCUSED ON.

AND THE MAIN WAYS TO MITIGATE THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE ADDING A LOT MORE GREEN SPACE AND, BECAUSE VEGETATION AND TREES HELP BRING DOWN TEMPERATURES AND ALSO TO THINK THROUGH, YOU KNOW, MORE REFLECTIVE MATERIALS, WHETHER IT'S A COOL ROOF OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT BASICALLY REFLECTS HEAT OFF AND KEEPS YOUR BUILDING A LITTLE COOLER.

IT ULTIMATELY HELPS WITH ENERGY BILLS AS WELL AND MAKES, YOU KNOW, WALKING OUTSIDE MORE PLEASANT, BUT IT ALSO HAS A DIRECT HEALTH IMPACT.

>> I SEEM TO REMEMBER TALKING TO YOU ONCE BEFORE AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING GARDENS ON ROOFTOPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

DOES THAT ACTUALLY WORK?

>> WELL, YES.

SO PEOPLE DO A LOT OF THINGS TO KEEP ROOFS COOL AND MORE EFFICIENT.

ONE OF THEM IS CALLED A COOL ROOF WHICH IS BASICALLY PAINTING YOUR ROOF WHITE OR USING A WHITER SHINGLE.

THAT REFLECTS HEAT AND IS OFTEN THE CHEAPEST SOLUTION AND LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT HAS AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR THAT AS WELL.

BUT THEN GREEN ROOFS ARE ANOTHER GREAT OPTION.

THEY DO TEND TO BE A LITTLE BIT HARDER, ENGINEERING WISE, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE STRUCTURALLY SAFE AND YOU DON'T HAVE A LEAKING ROOF AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT IF YOU CAN EXECUTE IT, IT'S A GREAT SOLUTION.

>> SO WHEN WE SIT DOWN, SHOULD LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHEN THINKING ABOUT POLICY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE BAKED IN AT THE TIME THE POLICY IS BEING DERIVED?

OR IS IT AN ADD ON, OKAY WE HAVE OUR POLICY, LET'S BRING IN MISS RAO BY ANY OTHER NAME WE SHOULD LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY.

HOW SHOULD THAT WORK?

AN INTEGRAL PART AS WE ARE DEVELOPING IT?

>> SUSTAINABILITY IS MOST EFFECTIVE THE EARLIER YOU INTEGRATE IT INTO THE PROCESS.

SO, IN FACT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A POPULARLY USED GREEN BUILDING SYSTEM CALLED THE LEAD RATING SYSTEM STANDS FOR LEADERSHIP IN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.

PEOPLE MAY HAVE SEEN LEAD CERTIFIED BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A FEW IN LOUISVILLE.

AND BASICALLY YOU GET POINTS IN THAT RATING SYSTEM NOW IF YOU CAN START THE SUSTAINABILITY CONVERSATION EARLIER IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN PROVEN BY DATA THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT REALLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE SUCCESS OF A PROJECT BECAUSE IF YOU ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY YOU ARE BUILDING A HOUSE AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AT THE FRONT END OF THAT DECISION, YOU ARE GOING TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO I ORIENT THIS HOUSE SO THAT MY ROOF GETS THE MOST SOLAR OR I GET THE MOST, YOU KNOW, PASSIVE SUNLIGHT IN DAYLIGHT AND I'M USING NATURAL SUNLIGHT AND ENT-- VENTILATION TO HEAT AND COOL MY HOME.

HOW DO I PROTECT CRITICAL HABITAT OR THINGS ON THE PROPERTY THAT I WANT TO PRESERVE.

SO ALL OF THOSE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE ON THE FRONT END.

A LOT OF TIMES, IF YOU ALREADY PLAN SOMETHING AND THEN TRY TO BRING THE SUSTAINABILITY CONVERSATION IN, IT'S GOING TO START LOOKING EXPENSIVE BECAUSE YOU ARE HAVING TO REVERSE A BUNCH OF DECISIONS YOU ALREADY MADE.

SO THE EARLIER YOU CAN START THINKING THROUGH THAT, THE EASIER IT IS AND THE MORE COLLABORATIVE AND STRONGER THE SOLUTIONS WILL BE.

>> JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY.

DO YOU SEE MASS TRANSIT AS SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE OR DO YOU SEE IT AS REALLY SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT?

>> IT IS TOTALLY CRITICAL.

A LARGE PORTION OF OUR, YOU KNOW, AIR POLLUTION EMISSIONS COME FROM THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR.

AND IT'S ALSO A HUGE EQUITY ISSUE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO OWN A CAR, WHICH IS QUITE AN EXPENSIVE ASSET, JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND AND GET THROUGH WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO EVERY DAY.

SO HAVING A GREAT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM IS ULTIMATELY REALLY EFFICIENT BECAUSE IT'S COMMON INFRASTRUCTURE THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE USING AND IT'S ACCESSIBLE AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, CAN BE USED BY YOUNGER PEOPLE, OLDER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SAFER AND SO I DO THINK THAT TRANSIT NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION THAT ALL CITIES NEED TO RECKON WITH.

>> ONE MINUTE BEFORE YOU LEAVE LOUISVILLE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD TAKE HOME AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY?

WHAT ARE THE THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND?

>> SURE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT SUSTAINABILITY IS JUST AN INEVITABLE PART OF OUR FUTURE AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT IS HOPEFULLY SOMETHING WE ALL SHARE I BELIEVE IT IS SOMETHING WE DO BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYONE WHO IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE DOING THAT WORK IN LOUISVILLE, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY THE DATA IS ON YOUR SIDE.

THE COMMUNITY IS ON YOUR SIDE AND WE HAVE POLICIES THAT ARE ALSO ON YOUR SIDE THAT BASICALLY SAY SUSTAINABILITY IS IMPORTANT AND WE FEED NEED TO BE MAKING DECISIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE.

SO IT'S GOING TO FEEL DIFFICULT AT TIMES.

THE WORK CAN FEEL LIKE A BIT OF AN UPHILL BATTLE BUT IT'S ROOTED IN THE TRUTH.

IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY, SO JUST CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT WORK AND COLLABORATE AND I WISH EVERYBODY ALL THE BEST.

>> WELL, WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVOR AND WE WILL MISS YOU HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

SADLY, NEITHER THE ECONOMIC REWARDS NOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SOME BIG PROJECTS ARE SHARED EQUALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, THROUGH DELIBERATE PLANNING AND CONSIDERATION FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, PERHAPS WE CAN ACHIEVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PRESERVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

IF YOU WISH TO WATCH THIS SHOW AGAIN OR WATCH AN ARCHIVED VERSION OF PAST SHOWS GO TO ket.org/HEALTH F. YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS, WE CAN BE REACHED AT KYHEALTH@ket.org.

I HOPE WILL YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT WE HAVE HEARD.

WE CAN ALL BE PART OF STAINLT SUSTAINABILITY.

WE CAN EACH DO OUR PART NO MATTER HOW SMALL YOU THINK IT IS.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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