79°
CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. Members of the Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium gathered to review results of the recently completed greenhouse gas emissions survey, and created Climate Action Plans. The municipalities hope the greenhouse gas emissions surveys will help them become more energy efficient, thus more dollar-wise.
This is your tax dollars at work, to save your tax dollars in the future, said Croton Mayor Leo Wiegman, the coordinator of the grant. Energy costs are predicted to rise in the future, the NWEAC hopes to avoid paying elevated energy bills by increasing efficiency.
The biggest incentive for doing surveys for municipalities is the cost-savings which will be realized with greater energy efficiency. These savings are suggested in the action plans. Municipal officials suggest low hanging fruit, could make huge impacts, like changing incandescent bulbs in traffic lights to light emitting diodes (LEDs) They use about a quarter of the power of incandescent bulbs and require less maintenance.
One of the unique elements of the consortium is that neighboring communities all participated in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions surveys. This allowed consultants to identify areas where towns have unusually high energy costs and carbon emissions.
Cortlandt, for example, has already changed about 420 traffic lights to incandescent bulbs, saving the town about $20,000. By not printing and mailing the towns Recreation Department brochure twice a year, the town saved $50,000. Print copies are still available at Town Hall.
Cortlandt also has a negative 5.3 metric ton carbon footprint for waste for two reasons. Cortlandts waste goes to the Wheelabrator RESCO facility in Peekskill where it is turned into steam and then electricity.
When compared to Cortlandt, Peekskill had an unusually high GHG emission. There was some thought that being a compact city would generate some savings, said city planner Jeremy Doxsee. Because Peekskill offers many services in-house its carbon impacts are higher. Some small changes have already been made in the city, changing 780 traffic signals to LED lights, for example.
The biggest savings for municipalities would come if residential homes became more efficient. The biggest part of the carbon impact pie is shared by energy inefficient homeowners. Consultants said convincing citizens to mulch fall leaves into lawns, encourage energy efficient homes and keep conservation in mind could be the biggest obstacle.
The seven municipalities included in the ARRA and NYSERDA grant for climate action plans are Bedford, Croton-on-Hudson, Cortlandt, North Salem, Peekskill, Pound Ridge and Somers.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Bedford and receive free news updates.
