Climate Smart Gardiner Taskforce
Climate Smart Gardiner Taskforce meetings are held via Zoom on the first Wednesday of each month, from 7pm - 9pm.
The next meeting of the CSG Taskforce will be held Wednesday, May 1st at 7pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84729850251?pwd=czdpamUrZElDSnNQMkIwMDNzOXlydz09
Meeting ID: 847 2985 0251
Passcode: 706011
Or dial by telephone - use same Meeting ID and Passcode as above: +1 929 205 6099
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Energy Performance of Municipal Buildings:
ESTABLISHING ENERGY BENCHMARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS:
ESTABLISHING ENERGY BENCHMARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS:
The Facility Benchmarking Report of municipal buildings for 2022 & 2023 is complete and available here:
Climate Smart Gardiner is OFFICIALLY A BRONZE-LEVEL CERTIFIED CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITY! See Governor Hochul Announces 11 New Certified Climate Smart Communities (ny.gov) and https://ulstercountyny.gov/environment/climate-smart for details.
Climate Smart Gardiner Taskforce 2022 Report (Click to view)
September 2022:
Town of Gardiner 2019 Inventory of Community and Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(Click to view / download)
Information on Gardiner’s CCA Program
Town of Gardiner Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Program
The Town of Gardiner is exploring joining the Hudson Valley Community Power renewable energy program. This community choice aggregation (CCA) program would enable Gardiner to provide residents and small businesses with the benefits of renewable electricity supply.
Formed in partnership with Joule Community Power, a division of Joule Assets, Inc., Hudson Valley Community Power is a community choice aggregation (CCA) program that enables participating communities to pool local electricity demand in order to leverage the collective buying power of their residents and small businesses in an effort to secure more favorable terms on their energy supply, protect consumers, and choose renewable generation sources.
The Hudson Valley Community Power program currently serves households and small businesses in ten communities with 100% New York State renewable power at a fixed electricity supply rate through June 2024.
The Town of Gardiner is exploring joining an upcoming bid for a new CCA electricity supply rate in partnership with the Towns of Rhinebeck and the Villages of Nelsonville and Saugerties, with an expected program launch date in Fall 2022.
To learn more, check out this recording of our public information session on April 28, 2022.
For more information about the Hudson Valley Community Power program, please visit hudsonvalleycommunitypower.com, call the helpline at (845) 859-9099 or email the Local Organizer, Hudson Valley Energy, at info@hudsonvalleycommunitypower.com
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Climate Smart Gardiner
Welcome! Who Are We? Climate Smart Gardiner is part of the Climate Smart Communities Program, a New York State initiative to help local communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
What Do We Do? Our Environmental Values:
• Reducing overall energy consumption, improving air quality and the quality of life through energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy
• Shifting to modes of transportation that are less dependent on fossil fuels
• Reducing waste
• Collaborating with the Town, businesses, and residents to achieve our vision
• Preparing for climate change
• Leading by example and inspiring others
• Measuring and monitoring our progress
• Being inclusive of all sectors of the population
The Climate Smart Communities Program is a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) initiative to help local communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prepare for and adapt to impacts of climate change, promote a green economy and save taxpayer dollars.
Through a network of coordinators and program services, Climate Smart Communities are engaged in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving climate resilience. Through education, community-building, and measurable actions, Climate Smart Gardiner (CSG) seeks to empower our town to conserve energy, support a local green economy, promote renewable energy sources, adapt to a changing climate, and reduce greenhouse gases so we can be environmentally sustainable for future generations.
The Climate Smart Communities program is free and voluntary; there are no fees or legal requirements. The program supports municipalities as they plan and carry out climate-friendly actions that match community goals and save taxpayer dollars.
Over 270 New York municipalities have made the decision to engage their citizens in energy efficiency, renewable energy and the green economy through the ten program elements in the Climate Smart Communities Pledge:
1) Build a climate-smart community.
2) Inventory emissions, set goals, plan for climate action.
3) Decrease energy use.
4) Shift to clean, renewable energy.
5) Use climate-smart materials management.
6) Implement climate-smart land use.
7) Enhance community resilience to climate change.
8) Support a green innovation economy.
9) Inform and inspire the public.
10) Engage in an evolving process of climate action.
By enabling localities to act on climate without mandating which programs or policies they should adopt, the Climate Smart Communities program helps localities to discover and adopt the measures that will work best for them, and to create sustainable, vibrant and attractive places to live and work. Read more about the program here: https://climatesmart.ny.gov
Learn more about the Climate Smart Communities Toolkit here.
Climate Smart Gardiner Taskforce Members:
Jason Mayer, Coordinator
Holly Shader
Rebecca Carucci
Rick Irizarry
Kim Mayer
Suger Rowinski
Tara Hoey
Mark Varian
Stephen Weir
Steve Mazzuca
Leigh Ettinger
Paul Keisler
Franco Carucci (Liaison to Gardiner Town Board)
Click for Climate Smart Gardiner Meeting Minutes & Monthly Reports to the Town Board.
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Climate Smart Gardiner Annual Report 2021
Climate Smart Gardiner Annual Report 2020
In April, 2020, the Gardiner Town Board accepted Climate Smart Gardiner’s Climate Action Plan. The focus of this Plan is on climate change mitigation. A key component of the Plan development included assessing current sources of GHG emissions from both government operations and the broader community by conducting GHG emissions inventories, using these baselines to set emissions reduction targets, and finally outlining and quantifying various actions that can be taken to achieve these goals.
Town of Gardiner Climate Action Plan 2019
The Gardiner Climate Action Plan 2019 was created using a municipal Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory for the years 2015-2017.
A municipal GHG inventory including 2018 is also complete.
Please find both versions of the GHG Inventory below - click the links to download each spreadsheet.
Gardiner Municipal Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory 2015-2017
Revised Gardiner Municipal GHG Inventory including 2018
Climate Smart Gardiner Annual Report 2018
Climate Smart Gardiner Annual Report 2019
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HOW CAN YOU BE MORE CLIMATE SMART?
COMPOST YOUR WASTE:
You can buy a compost bin to compost all non-meat and non-dairy food. You will produce 30% less waste, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and make great compost for your garden!
The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency has lots of useful information and composting classes are offered.
Visit: https://ucrra.org
GET A FREE HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENT:
Take advantage of NYSERDA’s Home Performance with Energy Star Program and save money with the improvements needed to increase your home’s energy efficiency.
For details, visit:
https://nyserda.energysavvy.com/start-your-project/hpwes-express-audit/?s=contact.
GO SOLAR:
With federal, state, and local rebates, you can receive significant savings on a rooftop solar system.
If you are a renter or don’t have a good roof for solar, consider clean energy programs where you can subscribe to a share of a solar farm–or other types of renewable energy projects–located right here in the Hudson Valley. If you have an electric bill, you can support renewables without installing anything on your property – and save money!
https://cleanenergymarket.cenhud.com/
COOL AND HEAT YOUR HOME WITH HEAT PUMPS:
Heat pumps use electricity to efficiently move heat to heat or cool your home, reducing GHG emissions, and saving you money. To learn more, visit:
https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Residents-and-Homeowners/Heat-and-Cool-Your-Home/Heat-Pumps
For rebates on air source heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, visit:
http://www.savingscentral.com/rebates/
BUY AN ELECTRIC CAR:
Not only are electric cars cleaner, but they save money on fuel and need less maintenance than gas or diesel cars. The Charge NY Initiative is offering electric car buyers the Drive Clean Rebate of up to $2,000 for new car purchases or leases. You can combine that with a Federal Tax Credit of up to $7,500. For details, visit:
https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Drive-Clean-Rebate.
BUY LOCAL PRODUCE, GROW A GARDEN, or JOIN A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture):
Food production and transport is a significant cause of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. We are lucky to be surrounded by many farms and CSA’s that offer fresh, seasonal produce. Consider purchasing a farm share from one of the many local CSA farms. For a list, visit:
SWITCH TO LED LIGHTS:
A home lighting upgrade is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to save energy!
PLANT A TREE:
Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
VOLUNTEER WITH CLIMATE SMART GARDINER:
If you are interested in learning more about us, contact Jason Mayer, CSG Taskforce Coordinator, at jsmayer@hotmail.com or check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/climatesmartgardiner/.
HELP WANTED: Climate Smart Gardiner
Climate Smart Gardiner is a self-organized municipal Taskforce created with Climate Smart Gardiner and Climate Smart Communities. We are seeking new members. We work on local projects to mitigate climate change and preserve our environment.
Some examples of our recent projects include installing an Electric Vehicle Charging Station at the town library, as well as bringing affordable, renewable electricity to Gardiner through Community Choice Aggregation.
We are also involved in many other activities involving recycling, educating the public, developing a local climate action plan, planting trees, even picking up garbage to beautify the Wallkill River. You can do something meaningful, participate in a project that interests you, and get to know your neighbors.
If you are interested in joining us, you can attend our monthly virtual Taskforce meeting on the first Wednesday of the month at 7PM, e-mail jsmayer@hotmail.com, or check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/climatesmartgardiner/.
We need your help. We all need to work together.
