By Amy Stodghill •
March 30, 2008
The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) has launched the Climate Action PAC to financially support candidates with proven track records at supporting climate change initiatives.
The Climate Action PAC will start with New York State legislative seats in 2008 and local races all over the state in 2009. The overall goal, according to the NY League of Conservation Voters, is to get politicians thinking about developing a comprehensive statewide energy plan.
By Amy Stodghill •
March 8, 2008
New York City’s proposed congestion pricing plan may be in trouble.
As part of NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s long term sustainability plan, PLANYC 2030, congestion pricing is intended to reduce the amount of cars coming into the city, thus reducing the amount of auto emissions contributing to air pollution. While many city council members like the idea of cleaner air, some are questioning the details of the plan.
By Amy Stodghill •
February 28, 2008
The New York Energy Consumers Council recognized leaders in energy with the Energy New York Award on Tuesday night.
New York University and John Gilbert, chairman of the New York Building Congress Energy Committee were recipients of the 2007 award.
New York University has made energy a large focus of the campus Green Action Plan, part of which is the construction of a new co-generation plant . NYU is also the largest purchaser of wind power by any institution in New York City.
John Gilbert was recognized for his work as chairman of the New York Building Congress Energy Committee, which includes spearheading three Building Congress publications on long term electricity needs of NYC.
By Amy Stodghill •
February 18, 2008
The city of New York will phase out the use of tropical hardwoods in construction and maintenance projects, and will focus on more sustainable alternatives.
New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg, made the announcement last week during a UN conference on climate change. The city also released a report detailing the short and long term strategies they’ll use to reach this goal.
Prized for its durability and resistance to rot, tropical hardwoods are favored for things like [...]
By Amy Stodghill •
October 29, 2007
Before hitting the print button on your e-mail, ask yourself why you are printing at all. By printing less you’ll save on paper and save ink, which is not only good for the environment, but good on your wallet.
Forward it. Instead of printing the page to give to someone to read, click the forward button. You can also include a line in your e-mail signature to remind others to not print, [...]
By Amy Stodghill •
October 26, 2007
Throwing a party? Forget the paper invitations and tell your friends and family about your party electronically.
Whether it’s a weekend gathering or a big bash, invite your guests over e-mail or through e-invitation sites such as e-vite. You’ll be able to track guests responses and send auto reminders.
Still want to do it the old-fashioned way? Look for paper and envelopes with post consumer recycled content, and make a note on the invitation [...]
By Amy Stodghill •
October 22, 2007
Even if you’ve switched all your bulbs from incandescents to CFLs, it’s still good to practice turning off the lights when you don’t need them to save on energy.
Turning off the lights depends on the bulb. If you still have incandescent bulbs, it is always best to shut the light off when no one is in a room or if you aren’t using the light. Fluorescent lights are a little different, since constantly [...]
By Amy Stodghill •
October 17, 2007
Whatever your destination, carpooling is a more efficient way to drive. It not only cuts emissions by taking cars off the road, but could also save you time and money.
Carpool to work. Even if it is just a couple of times a week, sharing a ride with a spouse, neighbor or coworker can cut down on gas costs, and may even make your ride faster if your route involves an interstate or [...]
By Amy Stodghill •
October 10, 2007
Avoid the preservatives and unpronounceable ingredients of store-bought sweets this Halloween by making your own.
When you make your own confections, you have control over what goes into it. You can choose organic or Fair Trade ingredients and how much or what kind of sugars you use. Alternatives to refined white sugar include honey, real maple syrup, raw sugar, and even apple sauce.
Substituting some ingredients may require a little experimenting and [...]
By Amy Stodghill •
October 8, 2007
The changing colors of the autumn leaves are beautiful - until they’re no longer on the trees and covering your yard. Here are a couple of ways to be green with the fall colors.
Skip the leaf blower and use a rake. While it’s a little more labor intensive, raking leaves is better for the environment than the leaf blower. Leaf blowers create a lot of noise pollution, and if they’re [...]
