LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Government has hired Fulbright scholar Zachary Tyler to serve as the city’s first Energy Manager. In the new role, he'll be responsible for helping the city reach its goals to shift operations to 100% clean renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2035.

“As our city works to reduce its carbon footprint and combat climate change, it’s important for Metro Government to lead the way. We need to be intentional about the work, which is why I am excited to welcome Zach to our team,” Mayor Greg Fischer said in a press release. “In this newly created role, he will focus on identifying ways that Metro can improve its operations, resulting in not only reduced energy consumption but also cost savings.”

According to the press release, as Louisville Metro’s Energy Manager, Tyler will review and consolidate energy consumption data to assess baseline performance of Louisville Metro Government as a whole and, where available, analyze building-level data to prioritize the areas of greatest opportunity.

A native of Winchester, Ky., Tyler graduated with a degree in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from the University of Kentucky and with certification from the Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky. Since then, he has worked as an energy consultant for UK, implementing an energy conservation program across the campus and at its medical center.

“I want to help promote an energy-conscious culture through this role, so that everyone knows how they can participate and make a positive impact on sustainability initiatives through their individual efforts,” Tyler said. “A successful energy program celebrates the contributions from the many individuals and departments which, cumulatively, will carry the city and society at large into a more sustainable future.”

As a Fulbright Scholar, Tyler also spent a year in Amazonas, Brazil conducting research regarding reforestation techniques.

His first focus out of the gate will be optimizing the performance of central mechanical and HVAC systems, which are responsible for most energy consumption within Metro buildings, and looking for potential upgrades to lighting systems to reduce utility consumption and lower costs for the city. Tyler will also work with the Advanced Planning and Sustainability team within Louisville Forward to advance the city’s progress toward its clean energy goals.