Tuesday, December 02, 2008

GREEN ENERGY SEMINAR THIS THURSDAY EVENING

Greenburgh's energy conservation office is sponsoring an interesting program this Thursday. Hope you can attend the meeting. Today all department heads met and discussed ways to reduce the town's energy usage by 10% in 2009.
If you would like to volunteer your time to this worthy cause-- volunteers are needed.
PAUL FEINER

Going Green is Good Business



Thursday, December 4th, 2008

6:30 – 8:30pm

Greenburgh Town Hall

177 Hillside Ave, Greenburgh



"Being green", "triple bottom line", "eco-efficiency".

Come find out what this jargon means!

Learn how your organization can reduce environmental impacts, improve performance, and add value.



Deann Cartwright, Conservation Outreach Coordinator

**Moderator**



Lea Cullen Sustainability Coordinator for Westchester Pks

*Why Green in Business Matters*



Steve Slavin Owner, Szuma Contracting Corp.

*Green Roof Project in Greenburgh*



Alicia Kelligrew Owner, Coffee Labs Roasters

*Inside & Out- Coffee Labs Green Practices*



Elyssa Rothe Coordinator, Energy Smart Communities

*Incentive Programs for Energy Efficient Changes*



Judith Martin Principal, Green Home Consulting

*Green Business Practices and Home Office*





Co-Sponsored by the

Women's Enterprise Development Center &

Town of Greenburgh's Dept of Energy Conservation.







Deann Cartwright

Conservation Outreach Coordinator

Town of Greenburgh

177 Hillside Ave

Greenburgh, NY 10607

914-993-1649

www.greenburghny.com

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

How about getting rid of the political hacks in the energy office?

Anonymous said...

This must be a very important conservation topic; othewise the Supervisor wouldn't waste all those double and triple spaced lines.

Can we expect the Town Board to produce a 10% energy savings or seek credit for talking about achieving a 10% reduction. I'm thinking that all of their hot air could be harnessed for some useful result.

And why wait? We've paid good money for an energy coordinator for years. And how much energy has been saved from her efforts.

What makes the joke on taxpayers even a crueler one is that the proven ways to reduce energy consumption all require the outlay upfront of big bucks with a 12-18 year window to break even. Since the Town has no money to purchase these systems, the goal remains just beyond reach.

And, if we had the bucks to front the technology, just when the savings kick-in, the time to replace the worn out systems comes rolling along. True, you may be saving fossil fuel energy but equally true is the idea that you are saving money.

And if anyone in this economy still had money to save money, you wouldn't see the bottom fall out of the solar energy stocks. Just check the market cap leaders:
FSLR, STP, LDK, TSL, SPWRA. Their declines from their highs make the Dow Industrials look like the year's best performers.

If the Town wanted to save real money, not potential money, in 2009it could start by eliminating this department's $30,000 cost.

Anonymous said...

Solar panels--Town Hall
Geothermal--Library

Anonymous said...

How much energy do the panels at town hall produce? Are they just another publicity stunt?

Anonymous said...

The solar panels at Town Hall are "a demonstration project" producing enough electricity to light a single 60 watt light bulb - at an installation cost of more than $10,000.
Not a better idea, just a Feiner one.

Anonymous said...

The solar panels at town hall were installed before solar power became popular and motivated other businesses and residents to purchase solar panel for their homes and businesses. A good investment.

Anonymous said...

Dear 11:40,

Is there any proof to back up your statement?

Those persons who were persuaded to try solar power were converted because of the solar panels at Town Hall.

And they were motivated to do so while the Town was not.

Anonymous said...

Anon at 11:40 (aka Paul Feiner) is wrong. The solar panels at Town Hall were not installed before solar power became "popular." They were installed three years ago at a cost of $75,000. And there is no evidence that the Town Hall installation "motivated" any businesses or residents to purchase solar panels for their businesses or homes. This was a very expensive self-serving publicity stunt -- nothing more.

Anonymous said...

Is the Conservation Outreach Coordinator a paid position? If so, it needs to be cut, along with the town artist position and other optional niceties.

Please, Mr. Feiner, focus on your job, municipal management! You can't get buy-in for extras if you won't even have the sewer grates swept.

Anonymous said...

Don't you guys have anything better to do than complain about everything?

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Feiner:

I've heard that solar energy rebates from New York State are being curtailed sharply starting 2009.
Those wishing to maximize the existing level of available residential and commercial credits/rebates must have begun the process by the end of 2008.

If this is correct, how come little ole me knows about this and I'm the one bringing it to the attention of the blog public.

How come you and $30,000 worth of wasted taxpayer funds in the form of Dengler/Cartwright haven't pounded this message home? You are all so very concerned about energy conservation, right?

And since the Department heads have now met and discussed ways to reduce the Town's energy usage by 10% in 2009, please don't hold back on reporting the conclusions regarding how the Town IS going to reduce its energy usage going forward -- and what it will cost and how the Town will pay.

Readers come to the opinion that your posts all express only superficial interest and are just meant to convey the "impression" that you mean to take some action or that something will come of them.

Is the current example, "Going Green is Good Business", such an example? After all, when I proposed a green roof for the new Library, the idea was rejected.

And where and when is that bus to the inaugeration leaving?

Anonymous said...

You knows what's funny? 11:59 is almost certainly right that 11:40 is Paul posting anonymously. Notice that he posted the next blog item at 11:34, then obviously came over to check on these comments (in the middle of the work day, I might add). And, only Paul would write a sentence like "A good investment." Amusing stuff!

Anonymous said...

an un-amusing waste of money on this gadfly gimmick.

term limits now.

Anonymous said...

Save some Green(money) by closing some or all depts such as TDYCC(bring in YMCA. Police dept, (bring in state police) then close sanitation and get a private company to come and you could save a lot of GREEN

Anonymous said...

the above suggestion is estupido!

Anonymous said...

The energy coordinator position is being paid for by a raise in building department fees.

"TB 2008 0514 BD-1 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE BUILDING INSPECTOR TO INCREASE FEES FOR BUILDING PERMITS TO SUPPORT ENERGY CONSERVATION."

I am not sure how the usual complainers can come to the conclusion that our tax dollars are paying for these positions when the positions are being supported by user’s fees.

As for the green conference - well done.

Also, any move towards saving energy should be applauded. I was looking at the budget and this is a big chuck of money to keep the town operating. Yes we may get a small reprieve with lower gas prices right now but the town needs to think long term.

Anonymous said...

First, those increased fees are being paid by town residents.

Second, those increased fees can be put in the general budget.

This is an outrage.

Anonymous said...

Naa, I guess those increased building fees are being paid in vouchers that say pay only to political hack.

ed krauss said...

To whom it may concern:

(1)THE ENTIRE OUTPUT OF U.S. WIND FARMS COULD NOT POWER THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH FOR, CONSERVATIVELY, ONE YEAR.

(2) WIND POWER COSTS MORE THAN ANY OTHER ENERGY SOURCE.

(3)WHAT ARE TWO RELATIVE TYROS,WHEN IT COMES TO ALTERNATE ENERGY SOURCES GOING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH NO BUDGET, EVEN IF THEY HAD THE BACKGROUND...WHICH THEY MOST CERTAINLY HAVE NOT!!!!

(4)ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IS THE JOB FOR A HIGHER LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHICH MR. FEINER WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OF.

(5)THE MONEY WOULD BE PUT TO BETTER USE BY RETAINING A COP.

(6) THIS TOWN DOES NOT NEED ENERGY COORDINATORS, IT NEEDS MONEY FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES; SAFETY, HEALTH, SECURITY.

(7) IF YOU WANT TO HELP YOUR FRIENDS, AT THIS CRUNCH TIME, OPEN YOUR ANAL WALLET AND PAY THEM. WE HAVE ENOUGH DEADWOOD IN ELECTED OFFICE, AND IN SOME APPOINTED SUCKUPS.

(8) THINK OF "GREEN' AS IN DOLLARS, DOLLARS THAT TAX-TO-THE-MAX ARE TIRED OF PAYING.

(9) LET"S DO AWAY WITH THE USELESS WASTER OF OUR TAX DOLLARS, THE BOARD, AND REPLACE THEM WITH PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT.WE'VE TRIED YOUR WAY SINCE 1991, AND IT HASN"T WORKED. YOU SINGLE HANDEDLY HAVE COST THIS TOWN AND ITS VILLAGES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. FOR ONCE, DO THE RIGHT THING: RESIGN EN MASSE.

Anonymous said...

There was a scientist on NPR today speaking about how the gases used to produce solar panels are so harmful to the environment that probably erase any benefit from using the panels - at least under current technology.

Anonymous said...

What about Cliff Abrams secretary - a part time summer workers still employed at TDYCC $20/hr - An a low level activity supervisor (Abrams) making $66,000 a year salary plus a secretary - Under Hopeton White there was only one secretary in the building - Another (2) Valerie Whitehead unnecessary employees still working at the TDYCC. Can Abrams pass the civil service exam without a high school diploma???? NO
Feiner politi-tricks along with Sonja Brown and Valerie Whiteheads wasted taxpayer money - They all need to go NOW!

12/28/2008 11:44 PM