A Chattanooga nonprofit that developed a community-wide “Green Light” program for energy efficiency in buildings six years ago has added a similar “Green Leader” certification for professionals to practice sustainable programs in their organizations.
Green Spaces, aided by funding from the Footprint Foundation, developed an eight-week program to teach about environmental stewardship in Chattanooga, which seven EPB employees completed Friday in a pilot test.
“At Green Spaces, we spend a lot of time thinking about what a sustainable Chattanooga looks like with our environment, economy and society,” said Michael Walton, executive director for Green Spaces. “When we think about that shining future city on the river, a core part of that are the businesses and institutions in Chattanooga that are part of that sustainability story. To achieve what we have has taken bold and courageous leadership.”
The new Green Leaders program is designed to help teach those lessons and inspire a continued environmental focus for the community’s future, Walton said.
Kelley Cureton is named the new program director for The Chattanooga sustainability group green|spaces green|light program. (Photo from Green Spaces)The program developed by Kelley Cureton at Green Spaces is the first location-based professional sustainability credential of its kind in the country.