Programs and Initiatives

Education and Outreach

Mayor's Workplace Challenge

In March 2012, Mayor Karl Dean launched the Mayor's Workplace Challenge to engage businesses and organizations to encourage health, community service and sustainability in the workplace. The Green Workplace Challenge engages organizations to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations and buildings by providing property owners, managers, and office tenants with information and resources to lower their water and energy profile, reduce waste and promote alternative transportation. For more information or to register, visit mayorsworkplacechallenge.com

Nashvitality Mobile App

The NashVitality app is a mobile guide to a healthy, active and green lifestyle in Nashville. Inside this app there are interactive maps for all types of activities including walking, hiking, biking, water access, and much more. Plus, learn about how to be greener with tools such as where to recycle or what incentives are available to be more energy efficient. Every section of the app has the "Explore Near Me" option when clicked will display all category results in your immediate vicinity. Downloading the new NashVitality app is simple. Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play from your iPhone, iPad, or android device and type "NashVitality" into the Search display. Select NashVitality app and click Download. Learn more about the app by downloading the NashVitality Video.

Energy and Building

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

In February 2009, the Metropolitan Health Department, under the direction of the Green Ribbon Committee and Nashville Electric Service, completed a baseline greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for Nashville and Davidson County. The year 2005 was selected as the baseline, in part because it has been used as the baseline for other municipalities. 

A subsequent GHG inventory of Nashville and Davidson County is currently in progress to provide an update to the published 2005 report. 

Download a copy of the 2005 Greenhouse Gas Inventory 

Nashville Energy Works (NEW)

Funded by the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance as part of the Department of Energy's BetterBuildings initiative, Nashville Energy Works is a partnership between the Mayor's Office, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Nashville Electric Service to provide incentives and informational resources to Davidson County homeowners who complete TVA's In-Home Energy Evaluation pilot program and achieve at least 15 percent projected energy savings through their completed energy-saving improvements. The program features an in-home evaluation by a certified energy adviser, a comprehensive list of recommended improvements, access to TVA's Quality Contractor Network, a post-installation quality assurance inspection and up to $700 in rebates for qualifying homeowners. For more information or to register for NEW, visit NEW.

Sustainable Communities

The Mayor's Office of Environment and Sustainability supports Pathway Lending's Sustainable Communities initiative, which includes a $10 million commitment to finance commercial energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Nashville-Davidson County. For more information visit Pathway Lending's Sustainable Communities Initiative web page.  

Electric Vehicle (EV) Project

In 2012, as part of a Department of Energy grant in partnership with electric transportation vendor Ecotality, Nashville completed installation of electric vehicle charging stations at targeted parks, community centers and public facilities across Davidson County. Feature locations include Centennial Park and Sportsplex, Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, the Metropolitan Courthouse and the Nashville Public Library.

Mobility

Complete Streets Policy

In October 2010, Mayor Dean signed a Complete Streets Executive Order making Nashville's streets streets safer and more comfortable for all users.

“For decades Nashville roads were built with only cars in mind. We have come a long way in recent years in terms of adding sidewalks and bikeways, and making mass transit more convenient for people to use. This Executive Order will ensure that now and in the future we continue to take all reasonable measures to develop new and reconstructed streets in a way that makes all of these modes of transportation more accessible. It’s important for the health of our citizens and for our city’s long-term sustainability.” - Mayor Karl Dean

Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee

The Nashville Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) is an advisory committee for the Metropolitan Government established by Mayor Karl Dean to promote and encourage safe bicycling and walking to further Nashville’s goal of becoming a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly city. Learn more about Nashville's BPAC.

Bike- Share Programs

Nashville BCycle

This is the city’s new, fee-based bike-share program that is designed to offer a low-cost, convenient and healthy transportation option for short trips within the urban core. Nashville B-cycle includes 190 bikes at 20 automated kiosks within a three-mile radius of downtown.

Nashville GreenBikes

Nashville GreenBikes is a system of free, cruiser-style bikes available at Metro Parks Community Centers and Greenways for exercise or leisure that give residents and visitors a healthy way to experience Nashville. Riders can enjoy Nashville's urban core as well as our extensive system of GreenWays, bike lanes and parks.

Music City Bikeway

The Music City Bikeway (MCB) is a continuous bicycle route linking Percy Warner Park in western Nashville-Davidson County to Percy Priest Dam in eastern Nashville-Davidson County.

Mass Transit

The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is Nashville's public transportation agency consisting of city buses and paratransit that serves Nashville and Davidson County. MTA has added several new energy efficient fleet, bicycle racks on all buses, a new Bus Rapid Transit light line, and a free circulator bus serving downtown Nashville called the Music City Circuit. In addition, MTA also now runs the Music City Star, a commuter rail service running between Nashville and Lebanon, Tennessee.

Natural Resources

Open Space Master Plan

Following a key recommendation of the Green Ribbon Committee to develop and execute the most progressive open space plan in the region, Mayor Karl Dean and the Land Trust for Tennessee unveiled the Nashville Open Space Master Plan in April 2011. The plan calls for the preservation of 22,000 acres of open space by the year 2035 to achieve four primary objectives: 1) connect wildlife and water networks, 2) support urban and rural farming, 3) connect people to green infrastructure and 4) preserve historic and iconic resources. To learn more, download the Nashville Open Space Master Plan.

Land Use Planning

Metro Government is part of a broad coalition of community stakeholders, including business leaders, educators, religious institutions, nonprofit organizations and individuals working to provide vision and direction for Nashville and Middle Tennessee's development in the next 25 years. Learn more about the General Plan.

Trees

Through Executive Order 42, Mayor Dean created the Metropolitan Landscape Coordination Program to align the work of Metro Departments and community stakeholders involved in the management of Nashville's landscapes and green spaces. The program is designed to preserve, develop, expand and enhance Nashville’s natural beauty by supporting ongoing and future projects, ranging from tree plantings to community beautification events.

Food and Farming

The Nashville Farmers' Market is the largest farmers' market in Davidson County. It is home to farmers, artisans, restauranteurs, and local business merchants throughout the year. The  Farm Side consists of two large covered sheds and a middle market area home to anywhere from five to one hundred farmers, artisans, craftsmen, & merchants. The Farm Side with farmers & produce merchants and is the busiest during the "growing season" approximately June-November each year. 

Another component of the Farmer's Market is the Grow Local Kitchen,a community kitchen space dedicated to promoting locally grown and sourced foods.  They offer hands-on classes and demonstrations using the bounty of ingredients available in the Nashville Farmers' Market and the region. The Kitchen also serves as a business incubator for up and coming food entrepreneurs, a classroom for continuing culinary education and promotional space for Nashville Farmers’ Market vendors.  

Water

To meet the Green Ribbon Committee's goal of removing 100 percent of Davidson County's streams from the Environmental Protection Agency's 303(d) list and to comply with the Clean Air Act, Metro Government has instituted several policies and programs to mitigate stormwater pollution, promote green infrastructure development and reduce sewerage overflow. Most significantly, Mayor Dean led the passage of legislation in 2009 that has helped fund $500 million in capital projects for Nashville’s water and sewer systems and more than $50 million in stormwater capital projects. For more information, visit the Metro Water Services.

Air

Metro Government has taken a holistic approach to fulfilling the Green Ribbon Committee's goal of meeting and outperforming National Air Quality Standards. Metro Planning and the Metropolitan Planning Organization are examining ways to reduce the vehicle miles traveled by local and regional commuters, and Mayor Dean formed a Fleet Advisory Committee through Executive Order 41 to review priority replacements, including adoption of alternative fuel vehicles, and fuel management policies in Metro's fleet. When it comes to energy, Metro Government is leading by example by: requiring all construction or renovation of Metro buildings above 5,000 square feet to be designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, retrofitting public buildings for maximum energy efficiency and participating in utility demand response programs that reduce Metro's electricity load during periods of peak demand.