University of Louisville Sustainability Council

09/07/2026

On this Labor Day edition of Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, sits down with Dr. Phillip Kuan for a conversation about how the healthcare industry can reduce its environmental footprint without compromising patient care. Listen now at https://soundcloud.com/wfmp-forward-radio/sustainability-now-phillip
Dr. Kuan is a quadruple board-certified anesthesiologist. With a foundation of rigorous training from UT-Southwestern, UC-San Francisco, and Harvard, Dr. Kuan has honed his clinical acumen to deliver outstanding patient care. An avid hiker and backpacker, he finds solace in the great outdoors, relishing the tranquility and challenge of nature’s trails.

The U.S. healthcare sector is responsible for an estimated 8.5% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, yet sustainability is rarely part of the broader conversation around environmental impact. While many industries are facing growing pressure to reduce their footprint, healthcare providers face a unique challenge: balancing environmental responsibility with patient safety.

One area drawing increased attention is nitrous oxide. Commonly used in medical and dental settings, nitrous oxide is also a potent greenhouse gas. Despite growing awareness, many healthcare facilities continue to use it. At New Look New Life in NYC, Dr. Phillip Kuan and his team made the decision to eliminate nitrous oxide entirely.

The decision is part of a broader effort to reduce waste where possible. New Look New Life has transitioned to largely paperless operations and has replaced select single-use materials with reusable alternatives where appropriate. While no healthcare organization can eliminate waste entirely, some providers are finding practical ways to reduce their environmental impact without compromising quality of care.

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

09/03/2026

Pedal with the Provost kicks off Cards Commuter Challenge

Provost Katie Cardarelli joins UofL Sustainability for a bike ride through Cherokee Park to launch the 2026 Commuter Challenge. A revival of an old tradition met a new generation of UofL leadership on Aug. 30 during Pedal with the Provost, a cycling event that kicked off the 2026 Cards Commuter Challenge. Organized by the UofL Sustainability Council, Cardinals took off from Amelia Place, the official home of the University of Louisville president, and enjoyed a 4.5-mile bike ride through Cherokee Park’s scenic loop during Olmsted Parks Conservancy's monthly car-free Sunday....

09/03/2026

UofL and TreesLouisville release updated Louisville urban heat mitigation study

As another heat wave hits the local region this week, the University of Louisville Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, in partnership with TreesLouisville, has released results and recommendations in this 2026 follow-up study that analyzes Louisville’s tree canopy and urban heat island. Residents are well acquainted with the challenges caused by urban heat, such as higher utility bills and serious health problems that disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities and residents with pre-existing health conditions....

09/02/2026

In week 1, Cards Commuter Challengers logged 94 trips on foot, bike, bus, or carpool, mitigating 561 pounds of carbon pollution, saving $513, and burning 14,016 calories over 1001 miles! Congrats to all! It’s not too late to participate and enter to win our $50 grand prize! Ditch the car, log your trips & tap into sustainability through Sept. 30th! Learn more at https://directions.louisville.edu/hub/challenges/6a7cf1d27a96b5ec4fd1e3c1

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, sits down with UofL alum Monica E. Unseld, Ph.D, MPH, founder and director of Until Justice Data Partners (https://www.ujdp.org/). Until Justice believes that data can be a powerful advocacy tool. Listen now at https://soundcloud.com/wfmp-forward-radio/sustainability-now-monica
Their mission is to support organizations in finding reputable data sources and providing suggestions for messaging around the data. Until Justice Data Partners also seeks to encourage more community-based research and community-based research partnerships, creating a community of justice researchers.

UJDP has several focus areas, including: Beauty Justice; FencelineData.org; Science Communication; Research United Data Core; and Data Consulting. And you can find helpful resources available on their website about: Safer Cosmetics; and Chemical Disaster Resources for Communities.

Monica recommends checking out https://louisvillecharter.org.

Stay connected with Monica's work by following UJDP on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/until_justice_data_partners/

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

08/29/2026

Dust off your ride and get ready to join us for the inaugural
Pedal with the Provost!
Sunday, Aug. 30th, 1:30pm, Amelia Place (2515 Longest Ave)
UofL's Sustainability Council is thrilled to revive a new version of a fun annual tradition from our early years, the Pedal with the President that the Sustainability Council and Get Healthy Now organized from 2010-2015. To help kick-off the Cards Commuter Challenge 2026 and get you excited to try a cleaner, healthier way of getting around, we invite everyone to join Provost Katie Cardarelli for a casual Sunday bike ride from the University President's official residence, Amelia Place, through Cherokee Park. Enjoy a 30-minute, 4.5 mile ride around the Scenic Loop without the danger, noise, and air pollution of cars during the Olmsted Parks Conservancy's Car-Free Cherokee (last Sundays 8am-4pm). Please bring your own bicycle, helmet, and water. https://localist.louisville.edu/event/pedal-with-the-provost

08/28/2026

In case you missed today's fantastic UofL EcoReps Lunch & Learn on Building a Bikeable Louisville, you can watch it now at https://youtu.be/93usBscY90g
All are welcome to join us for our monthly EcoReps workshops on last Fridays at noon in UofL's Center for Belonging, Access & Engagement room 176 (and online), featuring locals making a difference in sustainability and a free vegetarian lunch! We kicked off the fall series on August 28, 2026 with "Building a Bikeable Louisville: LouDOT’s work growing and supporting cycling across Jefferson County." This presentation highlights how Bike Louisville, a program within Louisville Metro Department of Transportation, is working to make cycling a mainstream and viable mode of transportation by fostering partnerships with local nonprofits, advocacy groups, community riders, and city leaders.

Our speaker was Chris Butz, the Program Manager for Bike Louisville at Louisville Metro Department of Transportation, a role he has held since 2023. A Louisville native and daily bike commuter, Chris is passionate about making bicycling a safe, practical, and accessible transportation option for people of all ages and abilities.

Chris earned his Master of Urban Planning from the University of Louisville in 2020 and began his career in transportation planning with the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) before joining Metro. He believes that streets should be designed with vulnerable road users at the forefront, and he works to advance policies, partnerships, and infrastructure that support a more connected and bikeable Louisville. When he's not advocating for better streets, Chris enjoys spending weekends with his wife and their toddler exploring the Louisville Zoo and Metro Parks.

The UofL Sustainability Council’s EcoReps program is designed to move students, faculty & staff beyond talk to action for a more sustainable UofL! We provide basic training & resources, service opportunities, and leadership positions as a point-person & peer-to-peer advocate for sustainability. More info at https://my.louisville.edu/sustainability/operations/eco-reps