Go Green

The Kentucky Derby Festival is taking steps to Go Green! and making a long-term commitment to become more environmentally friendly.

As part of this effort, in 2008 KDF became the first Kentucky Business to purchase Green Energy from Louisville Gas and Electric Company.  The initiative allows the Festival to take a more eco-friendly approach to its daily business operations. Through the Green Energy purchase, the Festival will totally offset the more than 18 tons of carbon dioxide created each month by its electricity use at its headquarters on South Third Street in Louisville.

The Kentucky Derby Festival's "Go Green!" initiative steps up in 2012 through a partnership with the Louisville Water Company.  The company provides approximately 13,000 gallons of water to Marathon and miniMarathon participants and is phasing out its use of bottled Louisvlle pure tap in favor of cups filled directly from tapping into existing water mains along the course.  The Louisville Water Company will also supply water at Thunder Over Louisville, Republic Bank Pegasus Parade and WineFest.

The Festival's "Go Green!" program, which is sponsored by LG&E and the Louisville Water Company, is also assisted by the Festival's concessionaire, Concessions by Cox, with pro-active programs such as: composting of inedible food waste; donation of edible food; use of compostable products; yellow grease recycling and on-site recycling.  Pop-a-Can personnel also assists "Go Green!" efforts by recycling drink cans at KDF events.  Their "Green Teams" assist in the collection of recyclable materials at major events such as Thunder Over Louisville, Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon presented by Walmart, Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront and the Republic Bank Pegasus Parade.

The Festival is also raising awareness of recycling at its more than 70 events held each spring.  Through a partnership with the City of Louisville and Rumpke, more recycling bins will be added throughout event venues.

The Festival's pin program is also more environmentally conscious.  The popular plastic Pegasus Pins are made from recycled plastic.  More than 300,000 of these plastic pins are created and sold each year at Festival time. 

Here are some ways you can Go Green! with the Kentucky Derby Festival:
   1. Use recycling bins at Festival events.
   2. Ride your bike to Thunder and Kroger's Fest-a-Ville.
   3. Car pool to Derby Festival events.
   4. Join the Derby Festival and purchase Green Energy for your home or office, visit:  www.lge-ku.com.

For more tips on how you can Go Green!, visit these websites:
LG&E
Go Green! Louisville
Brightside
Rumpke Recycling