CLIMATE ACTION MEETING AT GREENBURGH LIBRARY WEDNESDAY (EARTHDAY)
3pm-6pm Speakers & Program
6-8pm Networking
Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Rd--GREENBURGH NAMED ONE OF 10 COMMUNITIES IN THE NATION TO HOST MEETINGS ON CLIMATE ACTION
Greetings-
Earth Day is approaching quick and thank goodness so is spring weather!
The town was selected as one of 10 communities in the United States to host a climate action coversation on Wednesday, April 22nd.
As a reminder, the major theme of this event is the importance of Town Wide COLLABORATION for resource sharing and complementing each others hard work without redundancy.
The goal is to access as much funding as possible for energy efficiency to save your municipality $$, taxpayer dollars, promote economic growth, improve operations and upgrade infrastructure.
There will be for updates on energy & conservation initiatives and any other (brief!) environmental related updates.
An interactive discussion on how we can collaborate quickly with distinguished sustainability experts will follow.
Who should attend? Anyone who has a pulse on energy/environmental issues.
YOU!! Conservation Board/Committee members; grant writers, administrators, DPW employees, engineers
Environmental Civic Activists
Email or call with any questions.
Remember, the Greening Greenburgh movement is about taking maximum advantage of what already works and exists within the County, State and beyond. Fostering critical connections can lead to continual information sharing and stronger cooperation that will lead to a healthier and more sustainable Greenburgh. Please visit http://events.climateconversation.org/main/events/show/8965 to reserve your space. Deann Cartwright is our energy conservation outreach coordinator. Allegra Dengler is our energy conservation coordinator.
Greenburgh is One of 10 communities chosen by ICLEI nationwide as a Spotlight Conversation on Climate Action on April 22nd! For more info & to reserve your space: http://events.climateconversation.org/main/events/show/8965
Hope to see you on Wednesday at the Greenburgh Library.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
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8 comments:
Greenburgh, New York opened its new library to the public back in December and I think you’ll agree that the architecture is pretty intriguing. Although Midtown-based Beatty, Harvey & Associates Architects incorporated a variety of sustainable design elements, which are detailed after the jump, the town opted not to pursue a formal LEED certification
WHY PAUL?????
I do hope that they have some way to convince the government to set up windmill farms to give us a cheaper form of electricity.
Dear Fat:
I'm not the fool who is going to agree with the design as "interesting". But that is not the reason I am posting. It is to
squelch some of this green silliness that has wormed its way to join motherhood and apple pie in everyone's hearts and minds.
It will be interesting to count the number of SUV's in the parking lot versus those who arrive by public transportation. Remember the Library is well-served by bus routes. You can also walk or even ride your bike (don't expect to find a bike rack though).
But why isn't the Library LEEDS certified. Well this is one you can't hang on the Town Board.
Because the points that the Library would earn would only qualify it for one of the lowest LEEDS rankings. That is after getting credit for being near a bus stop and having raw materials shipped from less than 500 miles away.
But the real fraud of LEEDS is getting "certified" which is a costly proposition to get a wall plaque. The former Library Director, Demita Gerber supported the Architect's request to apply for LEEDS designation but one of the few things that I did appreciate from the old Library Board of Trustees is that they put their foot down and said NO.
Why?
Because certification (just getting someone to "certify" would have cost around $150,000, a costly feather for Gerber's and Todd Harvey's cap.
And what do you think LEEDS is?
Something that will save the planet.
Check it out. What LEEDS is is merely a trade association of MANUFACTURERS who sell products into the growing "green" marketplace and collects fees to certify buildings. In other words, they got a lot of people excited about using their products which cost about 20% more. With their products and locating near bus stops, etc. AND paying substantial upfront fees, you too can be LEEDS certified.
The other thing you should know is that LEEDS cetification generates tax credits for developers, not for municipalities who can't use them.
Thus, the private sector computes all the ins and outs, all the gains and losses and decides whether it is worth it on the bottom line to go for certification.
But, often the bottom line doesn't work in favor of LEEDS.
Forget about the Library. If you want a lesson in the real world, you need go no further than Greenburgh. To Avalon II for instance. A new 440 unit project that did not seek LEEDS certification, especially since it is not using any form of renewable energy. All it is doing to comply with the Town's "tough" laws (not tough yet against commercial developers) is buy "energy star" appliances. And the Town gave its final approval consent to the project with minimal green notice.
Now back to the Library. With the coming hot weather and bright sunny days, see how happy you are with the temperature inside and sitting in the sun's glare.
And, things are not going so well at the Library. Witness tomorrow's event. This was supposed to be tagged the "Grand Opening", four months after the "Opening". Note too that at the Town Board meeting this coming Wednesday, Al Regula's consulting contract is being extended. This frees the new guy from having to say everything is on track -- on budget and on time.
Because with snow plowing, leaf pick-up and the new sanitation plan all set AND with Butch Nana back at a hefty increase, what other purpose is there for keeping Al around to transition?
The Library Grand Opening was set to coincide with National Library Week. Now the Library is just celebrating National Library Week and nothing more is being said about a Grand opening.
Any thoughts?
LEED-certified buildings:
Lower operating costs and increased asset value.
Reduce waste sent to landfills.
Conserve energy and water.
(Healthier and safer for occupants).
Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities.
(Demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility).
Eligibility
Commercial buildings as defined by standard building codes are eligible for certification under the LEED for New Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED for Commercial Interiors, LEED for Retail, LEED for Schools and LEED for Core & Shell rating systems. Building types include – but are not limited to – offices, retail and service establishments, institutional buildings (e.g., libraries, schools, museums and religious institutions), hotels and residential buildings of four or more habitable stories.
If you are unsure whether your building project is a candidate for LEED certification, review the LEED Rating System Checklist that applies to your project to tally a potential point total. Your project is a viable candidate for certification if it meets all prerequisites and can achieve the minimum number of points necessary to earn the Certified level
And no one stops anyone from developing or operating a building consistent with LEEDS criteria.
If you are eco-conscious just do the work and buy the products and ignore the additional cost of certification.
However, if you are eco-conscious AND want to be eligible for the sizeable tax credits that certification yields, then you will have to spring for the certification.
But, there is no reason for a municipality or government to pay for certification -- the tax credits don't apply so why pay extra for the "distinction".
The cost is only going into some private sector pocketbook.
And Architects love to have LEEDS certified buildings in their portfolio.
But for all you would-be real estate developers reading this blog, you have to figure out if the savings from the tax credits offsets the cost of certification and the higher cost of building green.
Many have determined that there is no payback from LEEDS.
So spend your money like it was your money.
And, what does 7:16 have running in the race that all this information has to be contributed by anonymous?
Being "Green" is a mystical cult. Like all other religious movements throughout history, it has its half-truths, its priests, its fanatics, its warning of apocalypse for faithlessness, and its comforting rituals for believers (recycling bins on Wed. anyone?). And, the Green movement, like religion, has its charlatans who exploit the naive for personal profit.
Tell me who picks up the tab for this meeting.
Are we paying for the electricity and heat.
PLease answer.
Who pays for the use of the library.
I do think that a charge should be put in place for all meetings that will be taking place in the library.
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