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.

The NYLCV is a non-partisan organization that lobbies for environmental policy across the state. By creating the Climate Action PAC to endorse green politicians the NYLCV intends to get politicians elected who will address climate change issues facing New York. Issues include warming temperatures that affect agriculture, recreation and tourism activities.

The NYLCV has historically endorsed politicians whose agendas are in line with those of the organization, but the Climate Action PAC goes a step further at financially supporting candidates in addition to policy and other ballot measures.

More at WhatIsNewYorkWaitingFor.com

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.

Based on a similar, successful measure in London, congestion pricing in NYC would charge drivers $8 to enter the city’s central business district on weekdays.

City council members have concerns about the use of the anticipated revenue and how the plan will impact neighborhoods just outside the boundaries. A large part of the $500 million in anticipated revenue is slated to go towards major public transportation projects, but some council members want to see that money used for smaller improvements and are questioning what entity will control the funds.

Council members in the outer boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx are concerned that their neighborhoods will turn into parking lots if this measure is put in to place.

The plan must be approved by the New York City council and the NY State legislature before March 31 to qualify for $350 million in federal financing. Mayor Bloomberg and city council speaker, Christine Quinn are both in support of the plan are are working to bring council members around before the March 31 deadline.

Find out more at:

New York Times

PLANYC 2030 Transportation

Environmental Defense

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.

The Energy New York Award or ENYA was established in 2005 by the New York Energy Consumers Council to recognize leaders in energy achievement in New York City and Westchester County.

The New York Energy Consumers council is a not-for-profit energy consumer advocacy organization. Among other things, the council has created demand response programs in the NYC area, developed state funding options and energy incentives, and eliminated sales tax on the delivery of natural gas and power.

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 boardwalks, park benches and ferry docks.  However, since these woods are not always harvested responsibly, the demand contributes towards the decimation of tropical rainforests.  Non-profit organization, Rain Forest Relief estimates that New York city is the largest purchaser of tropical hardwoods in North America, purchasing over $1m each year.

The city has pledged to reduce the use of tropical hardwoods immediately by 20% as part of the city’s greater sustainability initiatives as laid out by Bloomberg in PlaNYC.

Read more at AM Metro NY, Epoch Times.

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, such as, "Consider the environment before printing this e-mail."

Archive it. Need it for your records? Consider saving the file as a pdf, that way you’ll have the information but won’t need to print the page.

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 itself encouraging your guests to recycle the invite, or to save it as a keepsake reminder of the event.

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 switching them on and off will make them less efficient. For CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs, if you know you won’t be using it within the next 15 minutes, shut it off.

Maximize the day light. Opening curtains to let in natural light is the best way to do this. However, since a lot of heat can escape through windows, especially older windows, close up the curtains after dark to avoid using more energy to heat your home.

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 freeway with an HOV lane. And keep in mind that you don't have to work at the same building or live on the same street to carpool if you live or work in areas near those with similar commutes.

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 a few trial runs, but once you find the right combination you'll have a better alternatve ready to go for next time.

Creating goodies at home is also great activity to involve the kids in, and they'll be more likely to eat what they've had a hand in helping bake.

LEED is essentially a checklist for architects and builders to determine how green a building is. Factors that make a building green include energy use and efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, access to public transportation, use of renewable or recycled building materials, and responsible waste management on site during construction.

China is the biggest consumer and exporter of disposable wooden chopsticks, producing 45 billion pairs each year, which uses up about 25 million trees. Last year the Chinese government imposed a 5% tax on disposable wooden chopsticks in an attempt to preserve forests, and Japan's Ministry of Agriculture introduced a recycling program to turn one-use chopsticks into biofuel.

Instead of reaching for the paper wrapped disposable wooden chopsticks the next time you get take out, bring your own set of bamboo chopsticks or use a fork (just make sure it's not plastic.)

• Fair trade. The fair trade certification label ensures that the workers or farmers who produce a product receive a fair price for their goods and have improved labor conditions. The fair trade label also often includes a measure of environmental sustainability and responsibly managed farms. Fair trade standards are decided upon and enforced by third party certifiers under the umbrella organization Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International.

• Organic. Organic coffee is grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides, which means less environmental pollution and improved worker health.

Several charity organizations accept your old prescription glasses to help people in the U.S. and in countries around the world see better. Eyeglasses donations provide children ability to do schoolwork, and give adults independence and the ability to read again or to find better work. When you donate your glasses they are sorted by volunteers, who then determine the prescription, clean and re-package the glasses for various organizations that offer free eye care services and dispense glasses to those who need them.

Why can't the makers of yogurt switch plastics? For one thing, as yogurt maker Stonyfield Farms has discovered, making the lightweight plastic tubs out of #5 plastics actually saves resources and uses less plastic overall.

By using #5 plastic instead of #2, each year we prevent the manufacture and disposal of over 100 tons of plastic, resulting in environmental savings from the decreased air emissions and resource depletion from the manufacture and distribution of the packaging. In addition, the polypropylene is manufactured without the use of chlorine, thus eliminating the hazards of deadly dioxin releases during manufacture and incineration, which occur with certain other plastics.

However, even if wide-mouthed containers were made from #2 plastics (and many are), they might not be getting recycled anyway. While recycling companies may accept all #2 plastics to avoid consmer confusion, some just recycle bottles and not wide-mouthed containers since these different shapes are molded using different processes and have different melting points.

• Plant your own. If you do plant your own tree on your property, make sure to do your homework and consider factors such as species, climate, size, maintenance and function over time.

• Donate. There are many non-profit organizations with tree-planting initiatives that will plant one tree for every dollar you give. You can also give the gift of a tree by contributing in someone else's name.

• Volunteer. Tree planting and reforestation efforts require a lot of labor. Instead of donating money to the cause, you can offer your time and volunteer with a tree planting organization.

How it works. When you sign up to a green power program, you are supporting your utility company in purchasing power generated from renewable sources, such as wind, solar or low-impact hydropower sources. Other renewable sources include methane or captured landfill gas, geothermal, and biomass.

Due to existing transmission infrastructure, the electricity coming over the lines directly into your home is not guaranteed to be power generated from these renewable sources. However, the more people that sign up for green power options, the more green power the utility company will have to purchase.

Keep it clean.

• The first step in pest control is to make sure areas around food, compost and garbage are kept clean.
• Wash garbage bins regularly and use tight fitting lids.
• Take compost outside or keep it in your refrigerator.
• If you do have food out for extended periods, keep it covered.

Use screens.

• Install screens in any open windows or doorways, and make sure existing screens are secure and are free of tears or holes.
• Remind family members to close doors behind them.
• For open doorways, try hanging partitions, such as beads to deter flies from entering.