The ninth class of Green Check businesses has officially begun the certification process! These 13 local businesses represent a wide variety of industries, come in all sizes and have gone above and beyond in making Lexington a greener place to live and work.
Artworks is an art and cultural arts center located at the Carver School, managed by Parks & Recreation. They host a biannual swap for dance shoes and clothing that children have outgrown, reuse props for multiple programs and recycle clay in their pottery studio.
Big Ass Fans designs and manufactures large-diameter ceiling fans for industrial and commercial use. Not only do they have a Green Team dedicated to implementing sustainability initiatives, 100% of their lighting is LED. They have been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2016 ENERGY STAR® Award for Excellence in Energy-Efficient Product Design.
Centered Holistic Health serves as home to massage therapy, yoga, Reiki, acupuncture and more. Clients are offered water in reusable cups and mugs, and the space is filled with a high number of plants, improving both mood and air quality. Centered owner Lauren Higdon donates used yoga mats for recycling through a dedicated program.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary is a 346-acre nonprofit nature preserve located along the Kentucky River in Fayette County. Floracliff staff offer environmental education opportunities through guided hikes. They also minimize light pollution at both the Nature Center and Trail’s End Lodge, and have switched to all digital waivers to reduce paper waste.
Junkluggers of Kentucky is a junk removal service with a focus on doing things the green way. They partner with local charities and nonprofits to donate items for reuse and upcycling whenever possible. “Our goal is to donate, rehome, and recycle everything we possibly can, minimizing what ends up in the landfill,” said Dylan Curry, the Vice President of Business Development & Marketing.
Kenwick Community Center opened its doors in 1930 and has been a staple in the Lexington community ever since. Following its use as a church, the City purchased the building to be used as a community center operated by Parks & Recreation. They have a community garden and composting on site, as well as encouraging summer camp attendees to participate in a litter pick-up.
Lexington Salt Cave opened in 2021 as a dedicated space for halotherapy. The cave is constructed of responsibility sourced, natural Himalayan salt, and other environmentally sound materials. The space is largely filled with secondhand items, embodying a “reuse first” philosophy.
Have you heard of “a library of things”? The Lexington Tool Library is one such example. The year-old nonprofit is a lending library for all sorts of tools, including power tools, hand tools, kitchen equipment, camping gear, and more! They wanted to join Green Check because, according to volunteer tool librarian Tim Hahn, “We believe it could be mutually beneficial to connect with other organizations and businesses to share ideas and processes on reducing waste and reusing existing resources in the community.”
Lisa Chiffolo, Realtor, decided to join Green Check to, “create personal accountability to share sustainable goals for my business & hopefully inspire others in the real estate industry to consider more eco-friendly practices.” She gives a native tree to every buyer she represents to help them start their sustainable home ownership journey.
Paladin is the go-to place for commissioning, engineering, and sustainability consulting. They decided to attempt Green Check certification, because, “sustainability is not only part of our business offerings, but it’s also a core pillar in our workplace. Green Check certification would allow us to highlight these efforts and demonstrate its importance to both our community and our organization.”
Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center is home to top-quality concerts and entertainment in downtown Lexington. During its recent renovation, the facility implemented new sustainability features targeting LEED certification. According to Director of Complex Events Theresa Lloyd, “[We] are such focal points in our Central KY community, it only seems fitting that we set examples on how we and other businesses can do better in ‘green initiatives’.”
Savané Silver was founded by jewelry designer Rachel Savané in 1996. As an avid reduce-reuse-recycle practitioner, Rachel uses 100% recycled sterling silver in all of her designs. She also sources local materials, such as Kentucky agate, and reuses packing material.
Tuk Tuk Snack Shop opened late last year, and is the brick-and-mortar cousin to the popular pop-up restaurant, Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites. They are committed to reducing waste as much as they can. They limit the use of paper menus and have a green wall, which helps improve air quality and reduces noise levels.
