The 2026 class of Green Check businesses is well on their way to being certified! Green Check is a free program for businesses, non-profit organizations and places of worship in Lexington to earn recognition for their environmental efforts. With guidance from Lexington’s Division of Environmental Services, the groups learn about ways to become greener and reduce their environmental impact. The Green Check certification program was established in 2016. To date, more than 80 businesses have achieved Green Check certification; levels include member, bronze, silver and gold.
In 2026, six businesses are working towards achieving certification. They include:
Bluegrass Youth Ballet, a nonprofit ballet school, uses refillable cleaning products and cloths instead of paper towels. They sell secondhand shoes and leotards to extend the life of these items and to offer a lower cost option for their students and families.
The newly-renovated Douglass Aquatic Center takes advantage of natural light to light offices and work spaces. They educate staff members about sustainability practices during the onboarding process and have signage posted in both English and Spanish.
Dunbar Community Center hosts several Earth Week events every year, as well as compost workshops. They repurposed wood from the gym’s original bleachers for an art installation.
Everburn Manufacturing utilizes motion-activated lights to cut down on electricity use and energy costs. They conduct regular energy audits and have installed a pollinator garden on the grounds.
Greater Kentucky Credit Union offers paid volunteer time to their employees. They provide bottle filling stations and have a “no Styrofoam” policy for events.
International Book Project (IBP) is all about giving books a second life! Not only do they ship books to international partners, they support local programs such as Title 1 schools, prisons and homeless shelters. IBP also houses a used bookstore that is open to the public and hosts Free Book Friday events four times a year.
