Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest received the Acorn Award for Green Leadership to a Non-Profit Group on Friday March 5. Created by The Green Building in Louisville, the Acorn Award is a new competition that champions institutions achieving and promoting sustainable initiatives in the region.
Bernheim’s Executive Director, Dr. Mark K. Wourms, was on hand to accept the award presented by Mayor Jerry Abramson and Congressman John Yarmuth during Brightside’s Green Tie Bash. “It is an honor to be recognized by another leader in sustainability, The Green Building. Gill Holland and Augusta Brown Holland are to be applauded for all of their efforts in moving green thinking forward in Louisville,” said Wourms.
The winning entry is included here:
Bernheim’s emphasis on sustainability grows out of a long history of looking to nature for the embedded wisdom that helps people envision and create healthy communities. Bernheim’s Visitor Center received the first USGBC LEED® Platinum award in a six-state region, and later was awarded two EPA Lifecycle Building Challenge awards (professional building and building with best greenhouse gas reduction), with a Congressional Record tribute soon following. The building sits lightly on the native landscape that Bernheim celebrates daily, inspiring projects as far away as Brazil and helping move good design forward regionally. It signals grander intentions to practice intelligent environmental design across all Bernheim endeavors. Our leadership in environmental conservation, restoration, preservation and education serve as models that are increasingly being examined by others. From stream restoration to protection of endangered ecosystems, good trail design to living roofs, we willingly share our experiences with private and public “greening” efforts on a regular basis. We serve as a vital laboratory for the exploration of how people can protect soil, air, water, natural communities and increase utilization of renewable energy. Bernheim, with nearly 15,000 acres, is a less than zero carbon operation, banking more than we spend.
We share the journey of exploring sustainable thinking in everything we do, including CONNECT, a community-minded event that captures imaginations on an immediate level for the green revolution. Bernheim has a spirit of exploration that inspires people to live in agreement with nature – taking a journey that grows with each experience and celebrates each success.
Bernheim received a plaque designed by Louisville Stoneware and prize of $1,000.00, which will be used to further sustainable efforts at the organization.
To learn more about the competition:
http://www.thegreenbuilding.net/acorn-awards/
To learn more about Bernheim’s LEED® Platinum Visitor Center:
http://www.bernheim.org/news_recent.html
