Every time it rains on campus, thousands of gallons of water move across rooftops, sidewalks, and construction sites before entering storm drains. Without proper controls, that water can carry pollutants into nearby streams and rivers. As the...
Adreonna Rainey
Katelin Ralenkotter
Category - Model environmental excellence
Vision: Position UK as a national leader in sustainability by demonstrating innovation, compliance and stewardship across all facets of campus operations.
University of Kentucky receives STARS silver rating for sustainability achievements
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 12, 2026) — The University of Kentucky has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in...
Carlie LaughlinUK’s Utilities and Energy Management team receives grand award for stormwater harvesting system
The University of Kentucky’s Utilities and Energy Management team in Facilities Mangement was honored with a Grand Award at the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards, presented by the American Council of Engineering...
Jennifer Allen
Ella Sides
Embracing sustainability at UK HealthCare: A commitment to a healthier future
At UK HealthCare, we believe that a commitment to health extends beyond the exceptional patient care we provide; it encompasses our environment and the communities we serve. As a leading healthcare system, we recognize...
2024 Sustainability Showcase recognizes outstanding students, faculty, and staff for contributions to sustainability
The annual Sustainability Showcase was presented by the Office of Sustainability, The President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, and the...
Katherine Johnson
How UK cares for over 13,500 trees
There are over 13,500 trees on the University of Kentucky campus providing beauty, shade and solace for the campus community in addition to tremendous ecosystem services. A team of three full time arborists from UK...
The Food Connection publishes annual UK Dining report, showing strong local purchasing performance
The Food Connection, an applied food systems center in the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, has recently published the FY23 dining report. The report’s analysis...
Free commute planning assistance available through Transportation Services
Parking and Transportation Services. Photo by Pete Comparoni | UKphoto Do you need help discovering the best way to get to, from and around the University of Kentucky’s campus? UK Transportation Services staff can...
Meet the team merging nature and health on the University of Kentucky Medical Campus
The University of Kentucky Medical Center strives to provide a nurturing and healthy environment for all its users including patients, families, hospital staff, faculty and students. UK has already led the way among...
Pollinator Gardens at the University of Kentucky
In the Fall of 2020, I was hired to serve as the Built Environment Intern through the Sustainability Internship Program, facilitated by the Office of Sustainability. Through this internship, undergraduate students...
Water Harvesting: Maximizing Partnership
The design process is complete on an effort projected to save the University more than 25 million gallons of water annually. UK’s annual water usage averages 600 million gallons a year so the savings from this project...
Shane Tedder
AcademicsMake the pursuit of sustainability an integral part of the student experienceModel environmental excellence
Lewis Honors Students Plant 1,200 Trees, Help Restore Appalachian Forest
Students from the University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College recently traveled to Daniel Boone National Forest to help restore native forests on a surface mined site. The group partnered with Green...
UK Project Tackles Student Mental Health and Sustainable Landscapes
The mental health of college students is a growing concern, and for good reason: college can be a stressful time for most students. Around 40 percent of college students that utilize campus counseling centers present...
Preparing our urban forests for our changing climate
There’s no doubt that the climate is changing rapidly, at a pace that is both undeniable and faster than previously projected. Our changing climate will impact ecosystems, including urban forests, in ways that will...
Evaluating twenty years of urban reforestation in Lexington
Established in 1999, Reforest the Bluegrass is a highly successful urban reforestation initiative that has, over its twenty-year history, planted over 140,000 trees with the help of more than 16,500 volunteers on over...
