Metropolitan Energy Center

Volunteering for Earth Month at Project Living Proof
2024-04-19 00:00 - 23:59 (America/Chicago) | Project Living Proof, 917 Emanuel Cleaver Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 64109
Join Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) staff and board for a hands-on Volunteer Day at Project Living Proof (PLP), a real-life example for sustainable urban living nestled in the heart of Kansas City. Want to make a difference during Earth Month? This is your perfect outlet. Let’s roll up our sleeves and build a better future together.
Reserve Your Spot Now
We encourage early registration as volunteer spots are limited.

RSVP for the Morning Session

8AM Session Signup

RSVP for the Afternoon Session

Noon Session Signup

See you at Project Living Proof!
Why Volunteer?
You can drive impactful environmental change. This volunteer event is a unique opportunity to apply your skills towards PLP’s demonstration of energy efficiency and green urban living. It’s a chance to be part of a community of like-minded professionals dedicated to leveraging their expertise for the greater good. Create a tangible impact on our environment by helping this project build awareness of sustainable practices in urban settings.
Volunteer Activities Include:

Enhancing PLP’s landscape and accessibility with gravel and sand adjustments around paver walkways.
Preserving wooden walkways and a backyard gravel terrace through water sealing and board replacements.
General maintenance and cleaning to ensure PLP continues to shine as a model of green urban living.
Power-washing steppingstones and walkways to restore their luster.

Project Background
Between 1904 and 1914, the William Rockhill Nelson estate developed the homes along today’s Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. A century later, MEC transformed one of those homes into Project Living Proof, demonstrating the practicality and beauty of sustainable living. With modern energy-generating equipment and energy-saving features, raised vegetable beds, fruit trees, and native flora, PLP is more than a house—it’s a statement on achievable green living in urban environments.
Join Us
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an enthusiast in sustainable building and design, your contribution is invaluable. This is more than a volunteer day—it’s a collaborative effort between caring people that paves the way for a greener, more sustainable Kansas City.
Please Note: Clicking “Add to calendar” below will not reserve your volunteer spot. RSVP using the gray buttons above.

Powering the Future: All-Electric Terminal Trucks
2024-09-03 12:00 - 13:00
Boosting air quality in and around America’s busiest freight hubs
Terminal trucks, also known as spotters, yard dogs, or goats, are used to move trailers within cargo and intermodal facilities. Low-speed, high-power operations in terminal truck settings emit far more exhaust than diesel trucks running at highway speeds – which not only threatens surrounding communities, but is also a health risk for workers on site. The impact on driver satisfaction and lower fuel and maintenance costs make all-electric terminal trucks an attractive business proposition while improving the air quality for the entire region.
Join MEC on Tuesday, September 3 at 12pm CT for a webinar with our project partners who have led the charge in deploying all-electric terminal trucks in the Kansas City region and beyond. They will share their experiences and best practices for deployment, the benefits of ditching diesel, feedback from drivers, and what has surprised them in their journey going electric.

Speakers:

Lazer Logistics, a leading provider of yard management in North America, will discuss their experience deploying electric terminal trucks.
Evergy, one of Kansas City’s electric utilities, will share best practices for implementing charging infrastructure for off-road vehicles.
Orange EV, located in Kansas City, KS, was the first American company to commercially build, deploy and service 100% electric Class-8 electric vehicles. They will share the typical payback period for their trucks and information regarding their rental and lease programs.

Drive Electric KCK
2024-10-04 11:00 - 14:00 | Kansas City Kansas Community College Technical Education Center, 6565 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS, 66102, United States
With over 40 kinds of electric cars and trucks on the market, EVs aren’t the wave of the future – they are already here.
Join MEC on Friday, October 4 from 11am-2pm at Kansas City Kansas Community College to explore the world of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids. This is NOT a sales event, but an opportunity to get a feel for what owning an EV might be like and receive unbiased feedback from actual owners. You can even take their cars out for a spin (with a current driver’s license and insurance of course). We’ll have information on tax breaks, how EV charging works, prize drawings, and more. Orange EV will be at the event showcasing one of their all-electric, heavy-duty yard trucks, proudly manufactured in KCK.
The benefits of EVs extend beyond environmental impact. They offer economic advantages and contribute to better air quality – which every community should have the opportunity to experience firsthand. Plus, EVs are simply fun to drive.

The followings vehicles and more will be at the event: Chevy Blazer EV, Chevy Bolt, Chevy EUV, Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid, Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid, Rivian R1S, and Tesla Model Y.
Event produced in cooperation with:

Building U: HERS® Rater Certification Training
2025-03-31 00:00 - 23:59
Launch your career in energy efficiency! Become a certified HERS® Rater and gain expertise in building science, HVAC, clean energy, ventilation and more. Our FREE Building U HERS® Rater job training is open for registration until March 31 – don’t miss out!
