sustainable cortlandt prez to mp committee · 3/30/14& 3 25x12 •...
TRANSCRIPT
3/30/14
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Sustainable Cortlandt
Presenta)on to Town of Cortlandt Master Plan Commi4ee Dani Glaser, CEO, Green Team Spirit, Sustainability Consultant to Town of Cortlandt
Keeping Cortlandt Green To the Cortlandt Community, Sustainability is the promise to our children and grandchildren that they will inherit a tomorrow that is at least as good as today and hopefully be:er. Achieving this promise will call for the par>cipa>on of each and every one of us. Our Town has a long-‐standing record of environmental stewardship exemplified by our leadership in protec>ng open space, natural resources, and smart growth prac>ces. The Town Board and I are fully commi:ed to this important effort and we look forward to your par>cipa>on in becoming a sustainable community. Linda Puglisi
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Organizational Commitment & Leadership • Town Supervisor
• Linda Puglisi, environmental steward since taking office; leader of effort to share services among neighboring municipali)es
• Town Board • Seth Freach, liaison to green ini)a)ves; leading Solar Task Force
• Town Departments • Ed Vergano, DOTS, liaison to green ini)a)ves; leading department efforts
• Green Team Execu8ve Board • Claudia Vahey, Judi Peterson, Sharon Palmio4o, Pa4y Robke, Dani Glaser; driving Green Team led programs and ac)vi)es
• Town Staff • Contribu)ng to greener/leaner town government in daily prac)ces
Key Initiatives 1. 25x12 – Reduce energy consump)on by 25% by 2012
2. Cortlandt Green Team
3. NWEAC (Sustainable Westchester)
4. NWEAC/NYSERDA RFP10 Grant -‐ GHG emissions inventory and Climate Ac)on Plan
5. Energize Cortlandt – Home Energy Improvement
6. Climate Smart Communi)es (CSC)
7. Climate Smart Community Cer)fica)on
8. Vulnerability Training – led by Climate Smart Communi)es for Cortlandt & Clarkstown
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25x12 • In 2008, an ambi)ous energy reduc)on goal was set for town government opera)ons to reduce energy usage by 25% percent by the end of the 2012.
• Ac)ons: • Mechanical improvements (ligh)ng, boiler system, occupancy sensors) • In-‐depth surveys and interviews with all department heads & deputies • Staff educa)on (Green Team)
• 2008 – 2012 Results: • Unleaded Gasoline = 18.09% reduc)on • Diesel Fuel = 25.47% reduc)on • Town Hall Natural Gas = 24.56% reduc)on • Town Hall Electricity = 18.75% reduc)on • Hea)ng Oil = 12.06% reduc)on
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Cortlandt Green Team
Internal Focus: • Staff educa)on • Signage/behavior change • Green purchasing policy • Lunch & Learns • Paper reduc)on • Energy reduc)on • Green Team closet
Community Focus: • Earth Day hikes • Family Fun Day/ Green Wheel Game
• Community Swap and Furniture Drive
• Special Events • 2013 -‐ Love ‘em and ‘em
Established in June 2009 as part of the 25x12 effort, the Green Team has worked on many projects to create awareness, engage staff, and make positive changes to help the Town on its mission of sustainability. Members represent all departments and divisions of Town government. The work of the Green Team has resulted in a culture change where turning off lights when not in use and shutting off computers, printers and monitors at night is now standard operating procedure for all departments.
Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium (NWEAC) • Chartered in 2010, 15 northern Westchester municipali)es; Town of Cortlandt is a founding member
• Members collaborate to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, save money for residents and businesses, increase energy efficiency in our communi)es, enable renewable energy genera)on, increase economic ac)vity, and align our local efforts with county, state, and federal ini)a)ves.
• NYSERDA RFP10 – grant funding as a result of NWEAC proposal to perform Greenhouse gas emissions inventory (GHG) and/or Climate Ac)on Plan (CAP) for 7 communi)es.
• NWEAC recently merged with SWEAC (Southern Westchester Energy Ac)on Consor)um) to create the county-‐wide Sustainable Westchester.
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GHG Emissions Inventory & Climate Action Plan
• NYSERDA RFP10 -‐ $279, 810
• Project period: Jan 2011 – Jan 2012
• GHG Baseline period 2010
• Cortlandt GHG municipal inventory iden)fied ligh)ng, HVAC & building envelope improvements for 10 buildings
• CAP incorporates 6 municipali)es highligh)ng plans for individual and shared ac)ons
GHG Inventory Findings
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CAP Recommendations 1. Implement energy efficiency measures at municipal buildings.
2. Invest in addi)onal renewable energy produc)on.
3. Con)nue the municipal green fleet program.
4. Adopt the Energize New York Program for residen)al energy efficiency.
5. Offer preferred parking to carpool and hybrid vehicles at train sta)ons and work.
6. Encourage use of mass transit, and plan new or expanded walking and cycling routes that connect residen)al areas with business districts, downtown, and commercial areas.
7. Adopt a comprehensive organic yard waste and leaf management plan.
EnergizeCortlandt – Home Energy Improvement • Kick-‐off in June 2012 as part of the EnergizeNY program
• Community outreach through Green Team and community volunteers
• Direct homeowner support; simple online tools; Energy Coach
• Free home energy audits for residents with annual household income less than $215,000; affordable for above
• 8 ve4ed contractors – perform audits and energy upgrades if homeowner chooses to move forward
• Innova)ve financing methods including “on-‐bill”
• Energize Cortlandt Sta)s)cs (November 1, 2010 – November 4, 2013):
• Sign Ups: 42; Applica)ons & Assessments: 120; Jobs Completed: 44 www.energizecortlandt.org
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Climate Smart Communities (CSC) • NY State funded program since 2008; Cortlandt adopted pledge in May 2009
• Program based on 10 Pledge Elements to reduce emissions, save taxpayer dollars, facilitate community based and inter-‐municipal solu)ons and provide the technical tools and exper)se to accomplish goals.
• Service includes annual studies/trainings at the municipality’s request: • 2012 – Energy Performance Contrac)ng Report • 2013 – Climate Vulnerability Training with Clarkstown
Cortlandt profile is featured on the Mid-‐Hudson CSC website:
hAp://midhudsoncsc.org/communi8es.html
The Town of Cortlandt is a CertiPied Climate Smart Community!
• Cortlandt is one of 5 New York State communi)es that par)cipated in this rigorous pilot program along with Albany, Dobbs Ferry, Kingston, and Watervliet.
• Awai)ng word from the state about specific level achieved and ceremony.
• Cer)fica)on lasts for 3 years.
• Cer)fied communi)es will have increased access to grant funding due to preferred status.
• Internally, excellent process to examine and document where the Town stands on environmental sustainability-‐related issues and guidance/resources to accomplish future ac)ons.
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CSC -‐ Climate Vulnerability Training
• Increasing temperatures & heat
• Worsening air quality • Stress on energy infrastructure
Senior staff from Cortlandt and Clarkstown (Rockland) underwent a joint training exercise considering the impacts of extreme climate condi)ons on the built, natural, social and cultural assets of their towns.
• Changing water availability
• Ice storms • Economic impacts • Ecosystem shits
• Changing precipita)on pa4erns
• Flooding • Drought • Sea Level rise
• Agricultural impacts • Changes in intensity/frequency of storms
• Changing disease vectors
Climate Vulnerability: The degree to which a system is suscep)ble to (sensi)ve), and unable to cope with (adap)ve capacity), adverse effects of climate change (including climate variability and extremes)
