Mayor-president Melvin “Kip” Holden announced last week the official kick-off of the latest green initiative the city has endeavored, ConserveBR.

Mayor Holden made the announcement standing before the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. plant, the first green bottling plant for Coca Cola, as well as the first plant to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certificate from the U.S. Green building Council.

The initiative includes a widespread outreach campaign emphasizing energy efficiency and citizen responsibility through the “Energy Ambassador Program.”

“ConserveBR is about taking a stand, and it’s about making a change,” Mayor Holden said at the press conference.  “Without each of our citizens working together to conserve our precious natural resources, save energy, and utilize more efficient technologies, we cannot positively affect the future our children and grandchildren deserve.  This is about taking tomorrow’s future and putting it in our hands today.”

ConserveBR is just one of a number programs the Mayor has undertaken in order to transform Baton Rouge into a more energy-efficient city. Thanks to an energy efficiency and conservation block grant the city of Baton Rouge received from the Department of Energy, the city is in the midst of installing LED lighting in all government facilities – estimated to save a whopping 90 percent of money spent on old light bulbs – as well as developing a Sustainability Master Plan for the city parish, detailing specific leadership, goals, and outcomes.

“[T]hese are easy things each of us can do to make a real impact in terms of both saving money and preserving our local environment,” Mayor Holden said. “I challenge all of our citizens to join this effort and become a part of our ConserveBR Energy Ambassador team.”

Become an Ambassador!

Follow these steps to become an energy ambassador for Baton Rouge.

Be a “Starter”: The first step to becoming an energy ambassador is to start making conscious decisions about conserving energy. Turn the water off when you are brushing your teeth; change all the incandescent bulbs in your house to fluorescent, and turn off lights when you leave the room; get a programmable thermostat installed in your house, and keep the air conditioner running around 74 degrees (you don’t need to wear sweaters indoors during the summer months!); unplug electronics like radios, appliances, phone and computer chargers – even the TV – when you’re not using them.

Move to “Saver”: Start considering not just your personal footprint, but also the energy footprints of the companies, organizations and clubs you belong to. You can start with an energy control strategy at your office; recycle paper and plastics; install programmable thermostats in the office; use energy star appliances in the office; turn off printers and copiers at night and during the weekends; and reduce excess light by using desk lamps instead of overhead lights.

Own it: The last step is to become an “Owner.” Join the Conserve BR movement and become an educator. Get involved through Facebook and Twitter, and ask others to do join in; hold community meetings and invite members of the Conserve BR team to speak; and get your community involved by passing out Ambassador cards.

For more information, visit www.ConserveBr.Com