About LIVE Green
LIVE Green at a Glance
The LIVE Green ApproachMission: To build strong and healthy communities through environmental projects
How LIVE Green is FundedIn the past, LIVE Green was supported entirely by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). This funding is no longer available and, given the state’s budget crisis, unlikely to be restored. We are therefore working diligently to raise funds from private foundations, individuals, and direct income initiatives (such as workshops and rain barrel sales). We greatly appreciate your financial support. Key Accomplishments of LIVE GreenTraining our workforce for green jobsLIVE Green secured $112,850 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. The grant was used to develop the first ever green jobs curriculum at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, through their Office of Workforce Development and Continuing Education. LIVE Green, in conjunction with the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board (WIB), continues to support the six courses that comprise the curriculum. The relationship and experience of this program led directly to LIVE Green and Thadeus Stevens College of Technology partnering with other local organizations to form the Center of Excellence in Renewable Energy housed at the WIB in Lancaster city. The formation of this center has brought together key stakeholders from throughout the county and is the stepping stone to further green job training programs and the implementation of renewable energy projects. Greening our buildings
LIVE Green secured $27,000 from the Lancaster County Community Foundation to develop and launch the Green Facilities Partnership. This partnership with the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Green Seal matched experts with Lancaster nonprofits interested in reducing waste, conserving energy, and using environmentally sensitive cleaning products. Composting our trashAs an extension of the Green Facilities Partnership, LIVE Green coordinated the first institutional composting effort in the city of Lancaster. Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster General Health, Central Market, and Edie Waste are now moving forward to compost food waste. The benefits of this program include preventing much of the pre-consumer food waste from reaching landfills and hauling it instead to a state-approved composting site immediately outside Lancaster city. At the composting site it breaks down into a valuable organic soil amendment.
Through our partnership with the Lancaster County Environmental Center and ComposTumbler, LIVE Green has educated county residents about the benefits of composting food waste in their back yards. LIVE Green has distributed more than 100 ComposTumblers to residents of Lancaster County. Reducing our storm water pollutionThrough LIVE Green’s Urban Watershed Initiative, we have:
Helping city homeowners save money and conserve energy
We are partnering with PPL Electric Utilities to increase awareness of the variety of incentives they offer homeowners to reduce their electricity consumption. Support this Important WorkMost of our projects and programs are made possible by grants. In order to secure and implement those grants, however, LIVE Green relies on donations from individuals like you to cover our annual operational expenses. Please consider supporting LIVE Green financially. |
 Ron Ford at the Cool Cities signing Board of DirectorsAndrea Campbell Patrick Hopkins Tim Donnellon, P.E. Anita J. Hanna, Esq. Douglas Campbell Laurie Ulrich Fuller Antonia Hinnenkamp Daniel Klotz Representative P. Michael Sturla Patrick H. Zaepfel, J.D. |
LIVE Green secured $284,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Energy Harvest Fund to upgrade facilities at the Lancaster city YWCA and Thadeus Stevens College of Technology to conserve and produce energy, improve air quality, and reduce water consumption. These upgrades now save the YWCA and the college a combined $50,000 a year in energy and water bills.
Large institutions see value in this program because it leads to significant savings in landfill tipping fees, which are charged by weight. Since food waste is nearly 80 percent water, food waste is particularly heavy. The first collection of food waste took place in spring of 2010.
distributed more than 250 rain barrels to Lancaster County residents since the spring of 2008. Collectively, these rain barrels divert more than 3 million gallons of rain water from overwhelmed storm sewer systems. The distribution of these rain barrels, done in partnership with the Lancaster County Conservation District, has been combined with hands-on workshops that educate citizens on the nature and impact of urban storm water pollution, and design solutions including rain gardens and bio-swales to compliment the installation of rain barrels.
exceeds capacity, the overflow—about 1 billion gallons of untreated water annually—goes into the Conestoga River. The city’s green infrastructure plan addresses this problem in the most affordable and effective way.
LIVE Green’s Energy Solutions for City Homes workshops are held in partnership with Pure Energy, a Lancaster-based home performance and energy conservation services company. These workshops assist Lancaster city residents in assessing their current energy usage, implementing strategies to conserve energy, and working to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.