GreenYorktown - Cool Cities

Getting caught in the technology

2008-01-08T09:02:00.000-05:00

I went shopping for a flat screen HD TV last weekend and, although I did some homework, got caught up in 'bigger is better' thinking. After looking at LCD, plasma and DLP I asked the salesperson about the energy requirements of these technologies. The salesperson didn't know and commented that no one has asked him that before. After some searching, on their store web site and the manufacturer's, we couldn't find this information. We called the manufacturer and after being questioned, passed along, questioned, passed along and put on hold many times, we finally got the power consumption ratings for several models.

My present 36" cathode ray tube TV, using the Kill-A-Watt to measure, uses 45 watts. A 46" LCD model (which is about the same size only wider) uses 260 watts and a 52" model uses 320 watts. The 52" plasma uses 640 watts - 14 times my current TV.

So, aside from the significant initial cost for a new TV, I will now be paying at least 6 times the cost for electricity to use it. Someone please check my math but assuming you use the TV for 4 hours a day for 365 days a year, at 12 cents per Kwh,
you get the following table.

Consumption Watt Hours Kwh/Year Cost/Year
-45------------65700---------65.7-----$7.88
260------------379600-------379.6----$45.55
320------------467200-------467.2----$56.06
640------------934400-------934.4----112.13

As stated in the recent article about the record use of electricity in Westchester County in 2007, "The demand was powered by construction of office buildings and homes and more use of electronics such as flat-screen televisions, games, computers and handheld devices, the utility said."

With the requirement for HD TV set for 2009, most consumers will be buying these new TVs and we will continue to be faced with record electrical consumption. I can wait another year for a new HD TV, but how do I justify the additional power consumption when that time comes?

10 Must-Use Internet Data Sources

2007-12-12T13:37:00.000-05:00

These are from the website: http://egj.lib.uidaho.edu/index.php/egj/article/view/3205/3175

1. Trends (Online): A Compendium of Data on Global Change provides synopses of frequently used time series of global-change data, such as concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from historical (ice core) and modern records; estimates of global, regional, and national CO2 emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels and other sources; and long-term temperature records. Global coverage ranges from individual sites to the entire globe and from the Earth's surface to the lower stratosphere. Data records include tables; graphs; discussions of methods for collecting, measuring, and reporting the data; trends in the data, and references to literature providing further information. All data appearing in Trends Online are available, on request, from the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) and World Data Center for Atmospheric Trace Gases at Oak Ridge National Laboratory at no cost. Additional global change data are found in CDIAC's 70+ numeric data packages.

2. Global Change Master Directory is a comprehensive, searchable source of data and information with broad coverage of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, solid earth and biosphere. Linked resources include the US Global Change Research Program's Science Topics, Agency Data Centers, Educational Resources, Libraries and Information Centers.

3. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by the World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environment Programme to assess scientific, technical, and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change. The IPCC is currently finalizing its Fourth Assessment Report "Climate Change 2007." There are individual reports by the three Working Groups providing a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the current state of knowledge on climate change. The Synthesis Report integrates the information around six topic areas.

4. National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) is the world's largest active archive of weather data. NCDC produces numerous climate publications and responds to data requests from all over the world. NCDC operates the World Data Center for Meteorology, which is collocated at NCDC in Asheville, North Carolina, and the World Data Center for Paleoclimatolgy which is located in Boulder, Colorado.

5. The US Global Change Research Information Office (GCRIO) provides access to data and information on climate change research, adaptation/mitigation strategies and technologies, and global change-related educational resources on behalf of the various U.S. Federal Agencies that are involved in the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP).

6. The Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) is a center within the Earth Institute at Columbia University. CIESIN works at the intersection of the social, natural, and information sciences, and specializes in online data and information management. Special programs within CIESIN include the World Data Center for Human Interactions in the Environment and its Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center, is one of the Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) in the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

7. World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873. Established in 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the United Nations in 1951 for meteorology (weather and climate). The World Climate Programme is maintained by WMO and can be found on the WMO Homepage clicking on the appropriate items found in the WMO Programmes or Topics drop-down menus.

8. International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) and the International Council for Science (ICSU, formerly the International Council for Scientific Unions) serve as international global change research coordination bodies. These organizations provide scientific and technical oversight of the international research efforts and fill critical quality assurance functions. ICSU: http://www.icsu.org/

9. Global Warming: Where You Live: United States is a site provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where you will find clickable maps of the United States (you'll need Macromedia Flash Version 6 or higher) with an assortment of state-specific resources on the impacts of climate change, also has many links to EPA Regional Offices, including resources for teachers and students.

10. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) is a source of international news, data, and documents on global climate change. The Framework Convention was adopted at the United Nations in May 1999 and opened for signatures at the June 1992 UNCED (United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development) Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Subsequently in 1997 the Kyoto Protocol was developed and shares the Convention's objective, principles and institutions. The Kyoto Protocol significantly strengthens the Convention by committing Annex I Parties (36 industrialized countries) to individual, legally-binding targets to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Only Parties to the Convention that have also become Parties to the Protocol (i.e. by ratifying, accepting, approving, or acceding to it) will be bound by the Protocol's commitments. 163 countries have ratified the Protocol to date. The United States is not a member of the Parties to the Convention.

cool video

2007-12-10T16:17:00.000-05:00

Check out this short film produced by the Scarsdale Middle school to encourage students and faculty to adopt sustainable living practices: http://www.scarsdaleschools.org/msprojects/tenpercent/Movie.html

The Paradox of Saving

2007-12-05T09:38:00.000-05:00

I was at a meeting in my community last week where a local politician held an informational forum on global warming issues and highlighted some current actions that New York State is working on. People from the audience we able to ask questions and a young boy took the microphone and wondered out loud whether the adoption of low energy devices would actually have the reverse intent.

Would people rationalize that if they use a compact fluorescent bulb they don't have to turn it off when not in use because it uses so little energy?

I've heard anecdotes about Prius owners boasting that since they get such greater mileage they drive their cars more!

Are the people that watch every watt and manage every mile to reduce their consumption of energy actually increasing the supply of energy (by reducing demand) and this is keeping prices lower and allowing others to continue to afford their wasteful practices?

As J.F. Kennedy implied, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. We must all constantly recognize that we are all part of the problem and that we must actualize a global solution.

Supervisor-Elect to Outline Environmental Plans for Yorktown at GreenYorktown Screening of “An Inconvenient Truth”

2007-12-03T22:29:00.000-05:00

GreenYorktown, a group of Yorktown residents working to help make Yorktown “green”, welcomes and invites the public to a special screening of “An Inconvenient Truth” on December 14, the first of a series of films and speakers.

The group has invited for its first speaker, Yorktown Supervisor-elect Don Peters to outline his environmental policies for Yorktown.

“We have asked Supervisor-elect Don Peters to speak briefly on his environmental plans for Yorktown when he takes office in the New Year,” said Patty Peckham, from GreenYorktown. “Mr. Peters has kindly consented to take questions from the audience on subjects such as how he hopes to lower C02 emissions, introduce more efficient lighting and utilize energy conservation technology,” she said.

This Global Warming documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth”, which won former Vice President Al Gore an Academy Award, will be shown free to the public beginning at 7 PM in the Town Hall main meeting room. A general discussion will follow the screening.

GreenYorktown will have a display highlighting energy conservation technology as well as literature on how local residents can contribute and participate in helping to lower C02 emissions and conserve energy.

A number of hybrid (combination gas and electric) cars, grease cars and bio-diesel powered vehicles will be on display outside town hall.

More than 30 Yorktown residents have already joined the GreenYorktown environmental group, which seeks to promote awareness and empower us, household by household, building by building, to reduce harmful emissions, conserve energy, and help stop climate change.

Doing our part recycling in Yorktown

2007-11-26T12:14:00.000-05:00

Last week Patty and I went to the Environmental Conservation Department and spoke with Kim. It was quite informative and I learned that I need to change my habits. Yorktown already has a very complete, pro-active recycling program and tries to make our citizens aware of our responsibilities and opportunities. Each year they mail out a pamphlet that outlines current programs and demonstrates that recycling works and has a very positive payback both in recycling and cost savings.

I learned that the garbage we put at the curb is taken to the Charles Point plant in Peekskill and burned to produce electricity. The system there is quite efficient and there are minimal emissions from the plant. What is left, after burning, is ash that contains toxic heavy metals. This is hauled to a landfill in Cortland; there are no more open landfills available for our trash.

The items placed in our recycling bins are taken to the recycling center in Yonkers, separated and bundled. The County has agreements for the purchase of the valuable components such as aluminum, glass, paper, cardboard and plastic. What I learned, which is in the pamphlet at home, was that at this time only plastic marked #1 or #2 are recycled. The yogurt container or the trays from Empire Hunan we get our Chinese takeout in are not recycled. They are separated out, put into dumpsters and then hauled to Charles Point and burned. So, even though I 'recycled' these items, I was actually causing more expense in handling these as they were now trucked to Yonkers and then back to Peekskill as well as manually sorted out of the waste stream of valid recyclable objects.

Similar to the County program to collect household chemicals and computers, the Town collects the computer equipment put at the curb during big garbage pickup, stores them and then passes these along to a recycling company. So, rather than hauling my excess to a County park on these days, I can leave it at the curb and it will end up with a similar fate.

The Town also has collection points for batteries and cell phones. Those with heavy metals (cadmium, nickle, etc.) are responsibly managed.

The Town follows the NY State and County regulations for the proper handling and disposal of our trash. From what we heard, our Town tries to go above and beyond to help us responsibly manage our own waste and reduce the taxpayer cost for these services. We should all pull out our pamphlets and read about the existing programs and best practices.

I found mine and have begun to change my ways.

To think and act upon... and spread the message

2007-11-21T09:16:00.000-05:00

This is obvious to some but needs repeated to all.

When you make energy efficiency part of your everyday activities, you are reducing energy demand. Reducing demand means that less natural gas, coal and other resources are needed to produce energy. This means less greenhouse gas emissions and cleaner air
for all of us and cost savings for you.

Message from 1Sky re December 8 International Day of Climate Action

2007-11-20T17:05:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 1Sky e-newsletter! We will be bringing you regular updates on the 1Sky campaign and inviting you to join us in tackling the defining challenge of our generation - the climate crisis.

2007 could justly be called "the year of the the climate." Not only did we see the devastating effects of wildfires in California, drought in the southeast, and the melting of sea ice in polar areas around the globe, but we also witnessed an unprecedented groundswell of public support in this country for bold and comprehensive legislation on climate change.

People took to the streets in their communities, got involved on their campuses and made sure that their voices were heard loud and clear in Washington. Just check out this video to see a quick recap of Step It Up and Powershift over the last year, only two parts of this rapidly growing movement behind 1Sky and our proposed solutions.

Take action on December 8. Coming up soon on the event calendar is December 8th -- the International Day of Climate Action, timed to coincide with climate talks of the United Nations in Bali, Indonesia, where world leaders will meet to discuss our post-Kyoto future. Two ways to get involved on that day is to hold an action in your community, or to join the national polar bear plunge.

We're Hiring. Here at 1Sky we're staffing up (see our job postings here) and working hard to keep up with all the interest and ideas flowing into our email box. We've got over 55,000 supporters on our email list (thanks in large part to Step It Up!), but we're aiming high: we need 1 million people to join us in calling on our leaders to support real climate solutions now.

Not on our email list? Sign up here to join the movement!

So when you're relaxing after your thanksgiving feast, reflect not only about what you're thankful for now -- but how thankful your friends, children and grandchildren will be knowing that you took action on climate change before it became a crisis beyond reach.

Stay tuned for a full campaign update next week...

With Thanks,

The 1Sky Team

www.1sky.org

info@1sky.org

(ph) 301.920.1444

(fax) 301.270.6816

Help us build a list 1 million strong.
Click here to get updates and calls for action!

Global Warming Forum Nov. 29

2007-11-19T10:41:00.000-05:00

Home » Panel Discussion

Global Warming Public Forum with Assemblymember Galef

Event Date: 11/29/2007
7:00pm - 9:00pm

Please join NYLCV's Education Fund and Assemblymember Sandy Galef as co-hosts of a forum on global warming. Panel speakers include:

Commissioner Pete Grannis - NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Executive Director Peter Lehner - Natural Resources Defense Council
Executive Director Robert Moore - Environmental Advocates of New York

Cortlandt Town Hall

1 Heady Street

Cortlandt Manor, NY

Click HERE to RSVP for this FREE public forum!

This event is a Panel Discussion

calendar | email this page | printer friendly version

Should Drive-thrus be outlawed?

2007-11-13T09:27:00.001-05:00

There are many sides to this discussion and the benefits and reprocussions of banning drive-thrus in our town. One obvious goal would be to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars idling in lines.

This web site documents a study done by observing a McDonalds. http://www.welivehere.ca/Impacts.htm

Should this part of our agenda towards reducing our collective carbon footprint?

Greenhouse Gas Overview

2007-11-12T09:01:00.000-05:00

Greenhouse Gas Overview

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are often called greenhouse gases. Some greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. Other greenhouse gases (e.g., fluorinated gases) are created and emitted solely through human activities. The principal greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere because of human activities are:

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of other chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement). Carbon dioxide is also removed from the atmosphere (or “sequestered”) when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle.

Methane (CH4): Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O): Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste.

Fluorinated Gases: Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes. Fluorinated gases are sometimes used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (i.e., CFCs, HCFCs, and halons). These gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, but because they are potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming Potential gases (“High GWP gases”).

Greenhouse Gas Inventories

A greenhouse gas inventory is an accounting of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted to or removed from the atmosphere over a specific period of time (e.g., one year). A greenhouse gas inventory also provides information on the activities that cause emissions and removals, as well as background on the methods used to make the calculations. Policy makers use greenhouse gas inventories to track emission trends, develop strategies and policies and assess progress. Scientists use greenhouse gas inventories as inputs to atmospheric and economic models.

To track the national trend in emissions and removals since 1990, EPA develops the official U.S. greenhouse gas inventory each year. The national greenhouse gas inventory is submitted to the United Nations in accordance with the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Emission Trends & Projections

Estimates of future emissions and removals depend in part on assumptions about changes in underlying human activities. For example, the demand for fossil fuels such as gasoline and coal is expected to increase greatly with the predicted growth of the U.S. and global economies.

The National Research Council concluded, in assessing current trends, that 'emissions of some greenhouse gases are increasing, but others are decreasing. In some cases the decreases are a result of policy decisions, while in other cases the reasons for the decrease are not well understood' (NRC, 2001).

Many, but not all, human sources of greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise in the future. This growth may be reduced by ongoing efforts to increase the use of newer, cleaner technologies and other measures. Additionally, our everyday choices about such things as commuting, housing, electricity use and recycling can influence the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted.

From http://www.worldofrenewables.com/page.php?pageid=23

Decrease junk mail

2007-11-07T15:26:00.000-05:00

If anyone out there is feeling inundated by catalogs they don't want, here's a solution. Catalog Choice is an easy, free service that allows you to decline unsolicited catalogs, reducing the number of catalogs in your mailbox and lightening your footprint on the environment.

http://www.catalogchoice.org/signup

HOME ENERGY USE - From NYSERDA

2007-11-05T15:48:00.000-05:00

DID YOU KNOW?

. You could use 30% LESS energy in your home just by using energy more wisely and purchasing products with the ENERGY STAR ® label. You can find the ENERGY STAR on refrigerators, clothes washers, computers, dishwashers, room air conditioners, TVs, VCRs, dehumidifiers, lighting, ceiling fans, and more!

. About 35% of all electricity used in the United States is used to run homes.

. Where does your home use energy?
- 60% - Air conditioning/heat
- 16% - Water heater
- 12% - Refrigerator
- 7% - Lights
- 5% - Computers, TV, etc.

. The amount of electricity you use is measured in, and priced by, kilowatt-hours (kWh). When you pay for a kilowatt-hour of electricity, you are paying for 1,000 watts of electricity used continuously for one hour.

. You can calculate the operating cost of any electrical appliance by checking its wattage and using these formulas:
- wattage x hours used/1,000 = kWh
- kWh x cost per kWh = operating cost

BASIC ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

. Look for the ENERGY STAR label , the symbol for energy efficiency, when shopping for major appliances and lighting.

. Shift energy-intensive tasks - like laundry and dishwashing - to off-peak energy-demand hours (mornings, nights and weekends).

. Use a timer or programmable thermostat and set it to automatically lower your home's temperature when you are not at home or asleep.

. Caulk and weatherstrip around doors, attic access, windows, outlets, any area that can let the cold air in and the warm air out.

. Change your furnace filter. A dirty filter makes your furnace less efficient, and can lead to expensive repairs.

LAUNDRY

DID YOU KNOW?

. 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water.

. ENERGY STAR ® clothes washers use 35-50% less water than standard models, saving about 7,000 gallons a year per household.

. They also use 50% less energy, saving you up to $120 a year (depending on the water temperature setting and whether it's an electric or natural gas hot water heater).

LAUNDRY ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

. Only wash and dry full loads.

. Always rinse in cold water.

. Hang your laundry outdoors to dry.

. Remove the lint from your dryer screen.

. Make sure the clothes dryer exhaust is not blocked.

REFRIGERATOR

DID YOU KNOW?

. Your refrigerator uses the most electricity of all the appliances in your home.

. A refrigerator produced in 1990 uses twice the amount of electricity needed to operate an ENERGY STAR ® model.

. ENERGY STAR refrigerators have better insulation and efficient motors, as well as all the features you want and expect.

REFRIGERATOR ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

. Select a refrigerator/freezer with energy-saving features. It's guaranteed to use 20% less electricity than the standard model, saving you approximately $60 a year. Get more info on ENERGY STAR refrigerators .

. Regularly clean the condenser coils of your refrigerator that are typically located underneath or behind the refrigerator.

. Make sure the seals on your refrigerator, freezer and oven doors fit tightly. Easily perform this test by leaving a lit flashlight inside a closed appliance and if you see light around the gasket, replace the gasket.

DISHWASHER

DID YOU KNOW?

. ENERGY STAR ® dishwashers are at least 13% more energy efficient than standard models.

. An ENERGY STAR dishwasher saves approximately 1,200 gallons of water a year - 6 times the amount of water the average person drinks in a year!

. 60% to 80% of the power used by a dishwasher is consumed just to heat the water.

DISHWASHER ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

. Run your dishwasher only when full.

. Air dry the clean dishes by turning the energy-saver switch on.

LIGHTING

DID YOU KNOW?

. Replacing your current incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) will save you nearly $30 over the life of each bulb.

. CFLs use 75 percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. This means that over the life of one CFL, a consumer can avoid replacing up to 9 incandescent bulbs!

. ENERGY STAR ® lighting fixtures put out the same amount of light as standard fixtures while providing excellent color rendering and light temperature. Colors appear true and natural.

. ENERGY STAR fixtures operate at much lower temperatures than many traditional lamps, drastically reducing the risk of fire in your home.

LIGHTING ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

. Turn off unused lights and appliances when you leave a room.

. Use timers on indoor and outdoor lights.

AIR CONDITIONING

DID YOU KNOW?

. Replacing a 15-year-old room air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR ® room air conditioner could save you up to $56* a year on electricity.

. Programmable thermostats will automatically raise the air-conditioning temperature at night and lower it again in the morning. They cost about $25 and will lead to instant savings on electric bills.

. Running an appropriately sized smaller unit for a longer time will use less energy to completely condition a room than running a larger unit for a shorter time.

AIR CONDITIONING ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

. Set your air-conditioning thermostat at 78ºF or higher during the cooling season. Each degree above 75ºF saves you 3% of the energy used to cool your home.

. Change or clean your air filter per the manufacturer's recommendation.

HOME OFFICE

DID YOU KNOW?

. Look for the ENERGY STAR ® label on computer monitors, fax machines, copiers and water coolers.

. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.

. Home electronic products use energy when they're off to power features like clock displays and remote controls. Those that have earned the ENERGY STAR use as much as 50% less energy to perform these functions, while providing the same performance at the same price as less-efficient models.

HOME OFFICE ENERGY SAVING TIPS

. Turn off lights in offices and conference rooms when they are not in use.

. Turn off office equipment when it is not needed at night or on the weekends.

NATURAL HEATING ENERGY SAVING TIPS

. Open your draperies, windows and doors on the sunny side of your home during the day to increase solar heat gain.

. Use the reverse setting on ceiling fans to push the warm air down.

THE BATH - ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

. Use your exhaust fans sparingly. In just one hour they can remove a houseful of warmed or cooled air.

. Repair all leaky faucets. One drop per second can waste as much as 10 gallons of water in a week.

. Take showers rather than baths. A typical shower requires only half as much hot water as an average tub bath.

THE ATTIC - ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

. Check your insulation - especially your attic. By increasing and filling gaps in insulation in older homes you keep your home warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and save you money all year round.

. Install a vapor barrier in your attic to reduce the flow of moisture from inside your home through the insulation. This eliminates condensation that reduces insulation efficiency.

*Savings will vary depending on your air conditioner size, hours of use, and your electric rates. Please ask your sales representative to help you better understand the potential savings for your situation.

ConED Go Green Tips

2007-11-02T19:40:00.000-04:00

Overview

1. Americans spend more than $160 billion a year to heat, cool, light, and live in their residences.

2. Heating and cooling use more energy and drain more energy dollars than any other systems in your home.

3. Typically, 45% of your utility bill goes for heating and cooling.

4. Heating and cooling systems in the United States emit 150 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, adding to global climate change.

5. Heating and cooling systems generate about 12% of the nation's sulfur dioxide and 4% of the nitrogen oxides, the chief ingredients in acid rain.

6. Save 20% to 30% on energy bills with energy-efficiency improvements.

7. Cut your energy use and reduce emissions from 20% to 50% with proper insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings.

Appliances

8. Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power even when they are switched off. Unplug appliances after use.

9. The lower the wattage or amperage, the less energy consumed.

10. Replace older appliances with Energy Star-qualified appliances; they use less energy and can save you money.

11. Appliances account for about 20% of your household's energy consumption.

12. Learn more about Energy Star-qualified appliances at www.energystar.gov.

13. Use energy-saving settings on all appliances.

14. Electric kettles use less energy than stovetop kettles.

15. Run the dishwasher only when it's full.

16. 60% to 80% of the power used by a dishwasher just heats water.

17. Run your clothes washer only with a full load of laundry.

18. An Energy Star washer can save more water than one person drinks in a lifetime.

19. Wash your laundry with cold water to save energy and money.

20. U.S. households spend up to $135 per year in energy costs drying clothes.

21. Gas dryers are more efficient than electric ones.

22. Overloading the dryer makes it work harder.

23. Front loaders generally conserve water and are more efficient.

24. Dryers with cool-down or perm-press cycles use cool air during the last few minutes; this saves energy.

25. Refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers are at the top of the energy-consumption list.

26. A dirty lint filter can use 30% more energy.

Air Conditioners

27. Air conditioning accounts for about 56% of your energy use.

28. Set your AC to 78 degrees. 75 degrees costs 18% more, and 72 degrees costs 39% more.

29. Keep air-conditioner filters clean.

30. Air-conditioner capacity should be the right amount for the size of the room.

31. Look for an air conditioner with built-in timers and thermostats.

32. In winter, close the air-conditioning unit, unplug, and cover.

33. For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy-Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The current minimum is 13 SEER for central air conditioners. Energy Star models are 13 SEER or more.

General Home Care

34. Energy-efficient homes are less costly to own, operate, and maintain, and they are more comfortable.

35. In the winter, set your thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and 60 degrees at night.

36. Inspect your cooling system in the spring and heating system in the fall.

37. Regularly clean or replace your furnace, air conditioner, and heat-pump filters.

38. Close curtains during hot summer months to block the sun.

39. Every year, more than $13 billion worth of energy leaks from homes through small holes and cracks. That’s more than $150 per family.

40. Seal drafty windows, doors, and holes around plumbing fixtures.

41. Water heaters consume 85% to 90% of the energy used to wash your clothes.

42. Turn down your water heater to the "warm" setting (120 degrees).

43. Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after cooking or bathing.

44. Replace older exhaust fans with high-efficiency, low-noise models.

45. One thousand watt-hours equals 1 kilowatt-hour, or 1 kWh.

46. The average residential rate is 8.3 cents per kWh.

47. A typical U.S. household consumes about 11,000 kWh per year, costing an average of $900 annually.

48. A refrigerator uses almost five times more electricity than a television.

49. Across America, home refrigerators use the electricity generated by 25 large power plants every year.

50. Every time you open the refrigerator door, up to 30% of cold air escapes.

51. Position refrigerators away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

52. Pack items tightly in freezer.

53. Make sure rubber gaskets on refrigerator doors provide a tight seal.

54. Clean coils and remove dust from behind the refrigerator.

55. Recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to watch television for three hours.

Lighting

56. If we changed an incandescent light bulb for every child in America, it would prevent more than 30 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and save enough money to light more than 15 million homes for an entire year.

57. Making improvements to your lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills.

58. Look for the Energy Star label when purchasing lighting products.

59. Turn off lights when not home and buy a timer to turn them on 1/2 hour before returning home.

60. Lighting accounts for about 20% of the average home’s electric bill.

61. The average home has about 30 light fixtures.

62. Keep fixtures clean.

63. By using new lighting technologies, you can reduce lighting energy use in your home by 50% to 75%.

64. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs). They use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer.

65. Exterior lighting is one of the best places to use CFLs because of their long life.

66. Use brighter bulbs for reading and work areas; use 25- to 40-watt bulbs where only some light is needed.

67. Consider using 4-watt minifluorescent or electro-luminescent night lights.

68. Use dimmers.

69. Turn off the lights in any room you're not using, or consider installing timers, photo cells, or sensors to save money.

70. Instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it.

71. Use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and countertops.

72. Three-way lamps make it easier to keep lighting low when brighter light is not necessary.

73. Use four-foot fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts for your workroom, garage, and laundry areas.

74. You can save about $35 annually if you replace four standard incandescent lamps with CFLs.

75. Properly recessed down lights or high hats can now be used in retrofits or new construction with CFLs.

76. Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy.

77. Decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.

78. Replace torchiere fixtures with halogen lamps with compact fluorescent torchieres.

79. Compact fluorescent torchieres use 60% to 80% less energy. They produce more light and produce less heat.

Outdoor Lighting

80. Use outdoor lights with a photocell unit or a motion sensor so they go on only at night or when someone is present.

81. A combined photocell and motion sensor will increase your energy savings even more.

82. Turn off decorative outdoor natural gas lamps; just eight such lamps burning year round use as much natural gas as it takes to heat an average-size home all winter.

83. Try outdoor solar lighting systems. They convert sunlight into electricity.

84. If you live in a cold climate, buy a lamp with cold-weather ballast, since standard CFLs may not work well below 40 degrees.

85. Consider high-intensity discharge (also called HID) or low-pressure sodium lights.

Computers

86. Turn off your computer monitor when not in use for more than 20 minutes.

87. Turn off your computer when not in use for more than two hours.

88. Unplug your cell phone and blackberry chargers when they're not being used.

89. A laptop uses half the energy of a desktop computer.

90. Use a power strip/surge protector for your computer, monitor, printer, and other computer accessories.

91. To maximize savings with a laptop, put the AC adapter on a power strip that can be turned off or that will turn off automatically.

92. Turn off the switch on the power surge strip when the equipment is not in use.

93. Using rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and PDAs is more cost effective than throwaway batteries.

94. An Energy Star computer uses 70% less electricity.

95. If left inactive, Energy Star computers enter a low-power mode and use 15 watts or less.

96. Working in low-power mode saves energy, and helps equipment run cooler and last longer.

97. Screen savers on monitors do not reduce energy.

98. Switch to the sleep mode or manually turn monitors off to save energy.

99. Inkjet printers consume less electricity than laser printers.

Visit

100. Visit the following sites for more information:

Documenting our Carbon footprint - ICLEI Software

2007-10-30T18:31:00.000-04:00

I spent some time this afternoon with Lorraine exploring the ICLEI software and looking at the level of detail required and pondering where we will get the data. Lorraine called the Building Dept to see if permits are required for wood burning stoves and solar on peoples' homes. They are. We thought to call ConEd and NYSEG to try to get some electric usage data.

Then, Lorraine realized that this data was already compiled and electronically available from the US Census of 2000. We zoomed to the web site and indeed found the details we were looking for. The challenge is to be able to cull out specific information for all of the zip codes (10) and hamlets (5) that comprise the Town of Yorktown.

We felt like we made some significant progress and will report back next week after we have had time to gather some of this data and enter it into the inventory software.

COOL CITIES YORKTOWN MISSION STATEMENT

2007-10-30T16:58:00.000-04:00

COOL CITIES YORKTOWN MISSION STATEMENT

Cool Cities Yorktown is a local environmental advocacy organization dedicated to the belief that local actions can and do beget universal reactions. We believe that the time for action to reduce greenhouse gases and slow climate change is immediate.

Cool Cities Yorktown’s mission is to

· Advocate for sound environmental policy in the Town of Yorktown government by following the principles of the Sierra Club’s cool cities campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby reducing our town's carbon footprint. CCY will also act as a watchdog group to help implement town policy.

· Engage with the local business sector to help establish best environmental business practices; promote the “greening” of buildings in commercial centers; and raise awareness about the economic rewards of sound environmental practices.

· Reach out to residents through education and information that encourages greener lifestyles and empowers individuals to help prevent climate change.

Cool Cities Yorktown invites and welcomes participation from residents, local faith communities, commercial entities, schools and governmental groups.

We can be contacted via email at

greenyorktown@aol.com

Or visit our web site at http://coolcities.us (follow the links for City Profiles)

or blog at greenyorktown.blogspot.com

Actions You Can Take Today

2007-10-30T12:58:00.000-04:00

1. Turn down your thermostat when away or at night. You could save up to 1% off your heating bill for every degree you lower your thermostat. And, contrary to urban legend, it does NOT use significantly more energy to warm your house back up again.

2. Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater. Reducing your hot water temp from 130 to 120 degrees can save $50-$100 per year and up to 2% of your total household fuel use and carbon dioxide production. If your setting is higher, so are the savings.

3. Open blinds and drapes on the south side of your house to let in sunlight during the day and close them tight each night. Even in the dead of winter, south-facing sunlight can warm your house an extra few degrees. Close the blinds at night , and it will trap the warmth and reduce your heating needs for a few hours.

4. Clean or replace your air filters. This not only cleans out the creepy-crawlies before they get recirculated through your house, but improves the efficiency of your heating system.

Welcome to the Yorktown (NY) Environmental Blog

2007-10-26T10:39:00.000-04:00

This Blog is an opportunity for all citizen of Yorktown and beyond to discuss and share our commitment to making changes in our lives, our neighborhoods, our town, our state, our county and the planet to be more responsible inhabitants

A new group has formed in Yorktown under the Sierra Club Cool Cities program to initially make our elected officials accountable for the environmental impact of all municipal decisions by first signing the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and joining ICLEI to demonstrate that actions must be taken to reduce our collective carbon footprint.

One of our first goals is to explore the community to find out what is currently being done, what programs are in place, what activities need more publicity, what problems we face, etc. We are working with town government to document our emissions footprint to set a baseline that we can then make a commitment to reduce and have a standard to be measured by.

Please join us by contributing your ideas and actions to this blog. We have just started to get organized and have been meeting bi-weekly. Please attend our meetings.

We have started a Google group as another forum for sharing information - http://groups.google.com/group/coolcityyorktown/

Jerry