The next big thing is a bunch of small things!

OES Director Ollie Kroner got the chance to sit down with WVXU and talk about the City’s climate goals in the Green Cincinnati Plan and progress throughout 2025. 

“I think a lot of people feel despair when it comes to climate anxiety, and I think one of the best cures is taking some form of action. For many people, that starts with recycling and grows into maybe composting too, or thinking about your diet, or purchasing an electric vehicle, thinking about solar on your own rooftop.”



-Director Kroner 

Join the Electrify Cincy Contractor Network at no cost today to take advantage of fast approaching trainings. 

Cincinnati is shifting toward cleaner, healthier, and more efficient buildings —and we need skilled contractors to help make it happen. The Electrify Cincy Contractor Network (ECCN) is designed to connect companies trained to perform energy efficiency, electrification, and clean energy building improvements with interested customers. 

As a network member, contractors will receive free exposure, training opportunities, and updates on incentives that can help grow your business and help customers save money. 

Click here to learn more and join the network today. Those who reply soon may be eligible for trainings being offered this spring!

The fourth neighborhood in the City’s food scrap collection program has officially launched in Clifton.

There are 11 drop-off locations in the Clifton/CUF/Coryville area, including several city parks and recreation centers. All sites are publicly accessible, and residential participation is free for 3 months, followed by a small monthly fee to continue. In 2025, thanks to folks in Northside, Hyde Park, Oakley, Downtown, OTR, & West  End the program diverted close to 26,000 lbs. of vegetative food waste out of the landfill and into local composting efforts.  

The City & Queen City Commons are looking to expand the program to 5 additional neighborhoods over the next couple of months. If you would like this program in your neighborhood, please contact Robin Henderson or QCC for  more details on how to be part of this  growing effort in Cincinnati! 



Interested in hearing progress OES and partners have made towards building resilience in Cincinnati?

A new webpage on OES' website showcases past and current projects that focus on climate adaptation and resilience.  We'll be updating the page weekly with success stories, progress reports, and other updates on resilience work developing across the city.  



Check back often to stay up to date on how your community is improving its climate readiness and response.

No better way to learn than to be able to see it applied in so many cool ways by your neighbors! 

Multifamily Solar Tour brings together partners to green our building stock.

Last month, OES had the opportunity to host several partners and friends for a Multifamily Solar Tour with Matrix Holdings at the Altura property in Governors Hill. It was a great success and a meaningful chance to see firsthand how solar can be integrated into a multifamily building. 

During the tour, attendees were able to learn more about the real benefits of on-site solar, from reducing operating costs to creating opportunities for residents to access green energy at lower rates. We also had honest, practical conversations about what it takes to make this work, whether for new construction or existing buildings. 

It was exciting to create space for developers, lenders, policymakers, and partners to ask questions, share ideas, and think through how we can scale solutions like this locally. 

If you’d like to learn more, reach out to Jamiya Barnett and she can connect you with the Matrix team. 

Save the Date for Earth Day Celebration and Cincy Climate Week!

Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Coalition is hosting this year’s largest, local Earth Day celebration at Washington Park on April 19th. The student poster contest is going on until March 17th and organizations and neighborhoods can sign up today to be exhibitors at the celebration.  

Then, June 8-14, Green Umbrella has partnered with the Climate Week Network  to host the first ever Cincinnati Climate Week  with the flagship event being the annual Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit on June 12th. Want to host an event during climate week? Check out the Cincy Climate Week website for all updates. 

OES is looking forward to seeing you out at many of these exciting events as spring and summer roll along! 

Does your home need repairs or do you know someone that does? 

LISC Greater Cincinnati is offering low-stress, low-interest loans for home repair work such as roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, accessibility improvements, and more through the Revive + Thrive Home Repair Loan Program. This program aims to support eligible homeowners in Cincinnati and Hamilton County, even when they’ve  been turned down elsewhere. LISC will manage the repairs with vetted contractors, and it’s just 2% interest  for the life of the loan. 

This is a great opportunity to invest in your housing efficiency and lower those energy bills. For more on energy upgrades, check out the Electrify Cincy Website. And call 211 or visit the Revive + Thrive Home Repair Loan Program Website to learn more today.

OES seeking additional multifamily properties within city limits to join the Multifamily Recycling Program.  

After launching in 2025, the Multifamily Recycling Program continues to make it easy for property managers and residents to go green. 

So far, 8 of 12 participating properties have successfully reduced trash pickup and  established sustained recycling service.  Each participating property receives two years of free recycling service. By reducing trash pickup frequency, property managers can shift funds to support ongoing recycling services—without increasing costs for managers or residents.  

To learn more, contact Ben Russ.

RISE Communities training program is now accepting applications until April 1st for their next free training program August 5-7, 2026. 

Participation in RISE Communities will require a research team that includes at least one member from an academic institution and one community partner. Visit the RISE Communities website to learn more about the program, eligibility, and to apply!  

RISE Communities was developed to foster successful community-academic partnerships and equip research teams with the technical skills and knowledge to successfully utilize low-cost sensors in air quality monitoring.

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