Congratulations to our 2024 Resilient Success Stories Honorees!
Congratulations to our 2024 Resilient Success Stories Honorees
Momentum is building throughout the Kansas City region to transform our community in ways that create greater levels of sustainability and climate resilience.
To embrace and accelerate positive change, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) and Climate Action KC will highlight selected local and regional Resilient Success Stories at the Kauffman Foundation. You’re invited to learn more about our four incredible honorees for 2024 and to hear presentations from up-and-coming participants in our first-ever Resilient Ideas Pitch Competition!
Date: Friday, December 13
Time: 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. CST
Location: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 4801 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO 64110
The Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium
The Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium has adopted a holistic approach to sustainability, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050 through its Pathway to Net Zero plan, which includes fleet electrification, renewable energy use and waste reduction. Electric trains and golf carts have replaced gas-powered motors. And the new Sobela Aquarium has achieved LEED certification for building energy efficiency. Additionally, the KCZA is looking to expand its nearly 20-year-old composting program.
KC Can Compost
KC Can Compost and its Green Core Training (GCT) program have been diverting food waste from landfills since 2019. The initiative aims to increase usable nutrient-rich compost and to provide environmental literacy and green jobs training for individuals facing employment barriers. GCT has trained over 200 residents of disadvantaged communities with a U.S. Dept. of Labor-certified curriculum, helping over 100 graduates achieve pre-apprenticeships as Environmental Specialists. And KC Can’s bright orange cans have appeared at major events like Irish Fest in Crown Center, as a way to bring composting into the mainstream. To that end, they recently launched a new wave of self-serve kiosks for compost disposal across the city.
Empower Northeast
Empower Northeast is a program that installs rooftop solar systems on low-income households in the Historic Northeast neighborhoods of Kansas City, Missouri. Focused on community resilience, the program hires and trains local immigrants and refugees for installation work. Income-qualified families can access a 25-year, no-interest loan to cover project costs, allowing for low monthly payments and savings. The initiative creates both jobs in the green construction industry and reduces energy burdens in an Environmental Justice community, all while lowering its carbon footprint and supporting American-made products.
JCCC PowerSwitch
The Johnson County Community College (JCCC) PowerSwitch program has significantly advanced sustainability in the region since 2008, achieving roughly a 75% reduction in carbon emissions at the college. Their aggressive energy efficiency initiatives have decreased electricity usage by around 40%, resulting in over $10 million in energy savings. Additionally, JCCC has a wind power purchase agreement. Guided by a campus-wide sustainability policy, and supported by a student green fee, these projects have collectively put the college on track to hit 75% of its 2050 zero carbon goal by the end of this year.