Go Green

The 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 will allow 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 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.

In addition, the Festival is creating Green Teams. These groups of volunteers will be assisting in the collection of recyclable materials at major events such as Thunder Over Louisville, Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon, Krogers Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront and the Republic Bank Pegasus Parade.

The Festivals pin program is also becoming more environmentally conscious. The popular plastic Pegasus Pins are made from recycle plastic. More than 300,000 of these plastic pins are created and sold each year at Festival time. A new biodegradable pin is also being added to the pin program. This Go Green!! pin is made from corn oil with packaging made from recycled plastic and paper.

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 Krogers Fest-a-Ville.
   3. Car pool to Derby Festival events.
   4. Purchase a Derby Festival Go Green! Biodegradable Pin.
   5. Join the Derby Festival and purchase Green Energy for your home or office, visit: www.eon-us.com.

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

Go Green logo