Recap of NYC The Future Metropolis Vol. II

The second installment of New York City The Future Metropolis, was held on February 17 at The Educational Alliance's Mazer Theater. With a full-house of 150 attendees, ten speakers each gave seven-minute presentations with an overall theme of creating a green energy infrastructure for NYC.

If you weren't able to make it, you can visit solar1.org/nycfm to watch video clips of these presentations or browse through the speakers' PowerPoint slides.

The evening explored topics including:

• ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE was presented by Jeff Perlman (of Bright Power) who spoke about "dumb grids" and the NYC Smart Electric Grid solution, and Rosanne Hoyem (of CUNY) who discussed NYC Solar America City Partnership's outreach initiatives and the new Solar Empowerment Zones.
• GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE was covered by Jaime Stein (of Pratt Institute) who, with Dawn Henning (of Rocking the Boat), spoke about supplementing current energy-intensive stormwater and wastewater management infrastructure with green infrastructure to help the waterways in our regions stay healthy.
• EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE was presented by Janette Kim (of Columbia University) explaining the Underdone Project, an online tool for architects that explores ways energy is perceived and integrated into our society; followed by Diallo Shabazz (Solar One) who focused on workforce development related to the green construction, energy efficiency and renewable energy industries by means of the Green Workforce Training Program at Solar One.

  Jackie Brookner

• EDIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE was discussed by Amy Bucciferro (of Floating Food) who spoke about short-sea shipping options and the environmental benefits of using our waterways for transportation of NYC's food supply, followed by Kubi Ackerman (of Columbia University's Urban Design Lab) who discussed the social, economic and environmental issues affecting NYC's food system.
• COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE was presented by Deirdre Lizio (of Pratt Center for Community Development) who discussed the Retrofit NYC Block by Block program to implement energy efficiency work in targeted neighborhoods, followed by Jackie Brookner (Ecological Artist) who spoke about Biosculptures®, which are vegetated water filtration systems in parks, public recreation sites and along waterways, which create destinations, restore urban habitat and reclaim the undervalued resources of stormwater and other polluted water.

After the presentations were finished, the panelist joined together for a Q&A with the audience. It was exciting to see new connections made between the speakers and the audience!  

Jaime Stein answering an audience member's question

The next installment in NYC The Future Metropolis series will be in held in early May- please check solar1.org/nycfm for announcements on speakers, date, and more. 

The Alliance to Save Energy welcomed NYSERDA as their newest inductee into their Energy Efficiency Hall of Fame last month. On Capitol Hill in Washington, DC NYSERDA was honored as the first government agency to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.   

"Since 1975, NYSERDA has been a leader in promoting energy efficiency, not just among state energy offices, but among all government agencies," noted Alliance President Kateri Callahan.  "NYSERDA's induction into the Alliance's Hall of Fame recognizes not only NYSERDA's exceptional energy efficiency work in 2010, but also the tremendous benefits to New Yorkers' pocketbooks and to the state's economy and environment for more than 35 years."

NYSERDA's programs have helped to achieve more than $2.9 billion in cumulative energy bill savings for New Yorkers through energy efficiency programs. According to NYSERDA for every dollar invested, more than $2.20 in energy savings are gained. 

The award was presented to NYSERDA President and CEO Francis J. Murray Jr on the Alliance's Great Energy Efficiency Day. "On behalf of NYSERDA's Board of Directors, staff and consumers we serve, it is an honor to accept the Hall of Fame award, and I thank Senator Shaheen (D-NH) [honorary congressional chair of the Alliance's Board of Directors] and the Alliance to Save Energy for this recognition," said Murray.  "Every day we are helping both our public and private customers to follow Governor Cuomo's call to do more with less, and we will continue to do so in ways that will rebuild New York's economy and sustain our environment."

The Energy Efficiency Hall of Fame was created in 2004 to honor individuals whose hard work and dedication have made significant contributions to the advancement of energy efficiency. Past recipients have included individual staff members from: congressional offices, congressional committees, government energy agencies, and national energy research labs.   

For more information about this honor, read NYSERDA's press release.  

Link to NY1 video:  statenisland.ny1.com/content/133792/west-brighton-residents-learn-how-to-be-more-energy-efficient  

Back by popular demand!

Solar One Energy Connections, NYSERDA Energy $mart Communities and the Council of New York Cooperatives and Condos (CNYC) have just announced the next Intro To Green for Co-ops and Condos course for April 6, 7-9pm, at the New York Society for Ethical Culture at 2 West 64th Street (at Central Park West). Pre-registration is required (see below). 

This two-hour workshop will:

• Present easy ways to reduce energy costs and have a healthier, greener building
• Provide details on the new NYSERDA Multifamily Performance Program for comprehensive energy efficiency retrofits
• Give an overview of new green laws and code changes
• Offer guidance on complying with the May 1st Bench marking requirements for buildings of 50,000 square feet or larger
• Share strategies for engaging owners in the greening process

Non-CNYC members are welcome! Please register and pay the $30 course fee by clicking here. 

For more information about this and other Intro To Green courses, please visit solar1.org/i2g.

NYSERDA has announced PON 2197 which will make $1,500,000 available for projects supporting the long-term research plan for the Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation, and Protection Program.  

PON 2197 builds upon the EMEP research plan and supports studies to improve the scientific and technical foundation for addressing key policy-relevant questions related to air-quality research.

image courtesy of FreeImages.co.uk

Research topics:

• Emissions Estimates: Improved estimation of short-term emissions focused on emissions in or affecting NY's Environmental Justice communities, with emphasis on electrical generating units during periods of high-electric demand. 
• Atmospheric Pollutant Species: Improve monitoring, characterization, and understanding of processes.

Also funded is a competitive fellowship program to support up to two Ph.D. students or post-doctoral fellows of academic institutions located in NYS, doing research in support of the goals of this PON.  

Proposals are due March 29, 2011 by 5pm EST. 

There is nearly $1 million in rebates still available for New Yorkers who purchase energy efficient appliances through "New York's Great Appliance Swap Out" program.  

Already more than 157,000 New Yorkers have benefited from this program, receiving $15,790,080 in rebates so far! Individuals who apply may receive up to $555 for purchasing three energy-efficient appliances.  

Hurry up and complete your application. The $1 million in funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fore more details about the qualifications and application process, please visit nyapplianceswapout.com.

Climate-Friendly Car AC Coolant Announced 

Driving our cars and trucks play a big role in energy use and pollution (for tips on saving at the pump, download NYSERDA's Fuel Saving Guide). But it turns out that the chemical used to run vehicle air conditioning is also a major climate change culprit- until now. Last month, the EPA announced the approval of a new chemical (HFO-1234yf) that may reduce the environmental impact of motor vehicle AC's, and has a global warming potential that is 99.7 percent less than the current chemical (HFC-134a) used in most car AC's.   

"This new chemical helps fight climate change and ozone depletion," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and  Radiation. "It is homegrown innovation solutions like this that save lives and strengthen our economy." 

Prior to the current chemical (HFC-134a), car AC's used CFC-12, an ozone depleting, potent greenhouse gas. Depleting our planet's ozone layer allows higher levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach the earth's surface.  

The new chemical can now be used in new cars and light trucks. Be sure to ask your car dealer when shopping for new cars, and also speak to your mechanic about maintaining your car in an environmentally friendly manner.

For more information about this, please read the full EPA press release.

NYSERDA is seeking proposals from qualified financial service providers to serve as the Master Loan Servicer for the Green Jobs-Green New York Revolving Loan Fund.  

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono & FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Master Loan Servicer will be required to: 

• Oversee the loan origination practices of participating lenders;
• Perform primary servicing (billing, payment processing, and delinquent account collections) for loans;
• Serve as back-up servicer for any Loan Originators approved by NYSERDA that service their own loans and oversee their collection and monitoring activities;
• Collect information on servicing capabilities of Loan Originators to assist NYSERDA in determining if requesting Loan Originators will be authorized by NYSERDA to service their own loans; and
• Maintain a comprehensive reporting system to track the payment status of all loans and report to NYSERDA.

For more information about this opportunity, please visit NYSERDA's website (nyserda.org/funding/2198rfp.asp)

Tips for Preventing Ice Dams

Many exasperated homeowners are struggling with a leaking roof this winter due to ice dams. While the immediate leak is of foremost concern, fixing the roof may not keep the problem from recurring. That requires specific preventive steps, which homeowners can take now, and which can qualify for financial incentives such as cash back and low-interest financing through Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® from NYSERDA.

Ice dams usually occur after a heavy snowfall and several days of freezing temperatures. Warm air inside your home leaks into the attic and warms the

Damage from an ice dam

underside of the roof, causing snow and ice on the roof to melt. The melted water drains along the roof to the cold overhang and refreezes, forming an ice dam and icicles. The ice dam enables the trapped water to get under the roof shingles, causing water to leak inside.

If you already have an ice dam problem, hire an expert to solve the immediate issue. Don't climb on your roof, and avoid standing on the ground and "chipping away" at the ice. Not only could your chipping damage the roof, but you can be seriously injured by falling ice, debris or tools. 

Understand that fixing your roof leak will not prevent future ice dams. NYSERDA recommends the following ice dam prevention tips:

• Seal air leaks: Seal air leaks and duct air leaks in your attic to stop warm air leakage, the source of ice dam problems.
• Add insulation: After sealing leaks, add additional insulation in your attic.
• Check ventilation: Provide adequate attic ventilation so the underside of the roof and outside air are at the same temperature. Check to make sure attic insulation is not blocking roof ventilation. Incorrect ventilation can cause problems, such as mold and mildew.
• Clean gutters: Clean leaves and other debris from gutters before the first snow. This will help prevent ice build-up in gutters.

  Ice dam on a house

• Hire an accredited contractor: Hire a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractor accredited through the Building Performance Institute (BPI) to conduct an in-home comprehensive assessment, also called an "energy audit." The comprehensive assessment will not only suggest specific home improvements to prevent future ice dams, but will also recommend ways to reduce energy use, save money and improve the health and safety of your home. This "whole house" approach can cut total energy costs by up to 40 percent, saving a homeowner up to $700 annually. Once the assessment is completed, NYSERDA provides financial incentives and financing options with interest rates as low as 3.49% to help pay for improvements. For a list of contractors in your area who participate in Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, visit getenergysmart.org and click on Home Performance Contractors under Resources.  

For information on financing through NYSERDA, visit getenergysmart.org and click on Single Family Homes.

Thursday, March 24, Achieving Urban Infrastructure Efficiencies Through Building Networks. New York Academy of Sciences. 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 40th floor, 6-8pm. In order to realize the full urban potential for deep energy reductions, we need to look at networks of buildings in the urban landscape, as opposed to a collection of individual buildings.  Buildings and urban infrastructure can be designed to interact, using underlying smart ICT infrastructures to share information and better manage energy distribution within a defined energy network, locally or regionally.  Interactions can be creatively optimized between electricity generation, power consumption, thermal loads, water usage, and waste flows, to create overall aggregate performance and reduced environmental footprint far beyond what could be realized by individual "green" buildings. We need to envision future systems of buildings that harness the design and systems capabilities of each building to work together to create an infrastructure that performs far more efficiently than what we have today. Some examples of these concepts include load-coordination for demand response, thermal load networks enabling cogeneration, heat recovery from waste water. Non-member $20, non-member student $10.       

Saturday, March 26, LESEC Electronic Waste Recycling Day in Park Slope. 5th Avenue, between Sterling Place and Douglass Street, Brooklyn, 10am-4pm. The Lower East Side Ecology Center is holding an electronic waste recycling event in Park Slope, to responsibly recycle unwanted or broken electronics. A list of acceptable materials can be found here, and they will accept electronics from households, small businesses, and non-profits. They will NOT collect microwaves, refrigerators or air conditioners.

Sunday March 27, LESEC: Welcome the Spring! Outdoor Composting Workshop. La Plaza Cultural Community Garden (southwest corner of East 9th St & Avenue C), 11am-1pm. Get your garden ready for spring cleanup and planting at this outdoor composting basics workshop. The NYC Compost Project in Manhattan offers this workshop on how to convert your yard waste and kitchen scraps into a rich organic fertilizer to feed back to your plants, just like nature intended! Learn the basics of composting, set-up options, compost application, and troubleshooting. Issues specific to composting here in NYC will also be addressed. Outdoor compost bins will be available for purchase at a reduced price. Registration required. Fee $5.

Tuesday-Wednesday, March 29-30, Wall Street Green Summit X. Center for Architecture, Greenwich Village. Buildings contribute about one third of US
greenhouse gas footprint, and are a big part of reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. This impacts both new construction and the built environment.
Real estate's environmental footprint creates opportunities for new revenue
streams in wetlands mitigation, carbon credits, species banking, and other
reductions that can be monetized. At this year's summit, there are fifteen speakers addressing the building sector, specifically how to get carbon out of buildings.  These speakers are from companies including Greenprint Foundation, NRDC, Ecosystem Capital LLC, Gaia Development, Mallachite LLC, Crescent Energy and many others. For more information, contact Peter Fusaro at 212-31-0223or peterfusaro@global-change.com.

Wednesday, March 30, Solar Works For You. Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Rod, Elmsford NY, 7-9pm.  A speaker from the New York Solar Energy Society will introduce a panel of experts discussing how to make solar work for you. The economics of renewable energy and energy conservation are in tune with our future jobs if we educate our children today. The New York Solar Energy Society educates children, families, green workers and the business community about the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy.Experts will discuss solar installation and design, the benefits of solar thermal and hot water, and energy savings from  energy efficient building envelope technology. Free.   

Wednesday-Thursday, March 30-31, Buildings NY/Green Buildings NY 2011. Jacob K. Javits Center, 655 West 34th Street, NYC, all day. Source the broadest range of traditional and green products and solutions. Access a vast array of innovative and energy-efficient products and services for existing commercial, residential and industrial buildings to save you money. Architectural Design and Technology Showroom featuring architectural products and services, specifically new BIM Technology, Architectural materials and more. Cutting edge education topics with CE credits to help push your business forward: AIA Learning Credits, USGBC Credits through GBCI, NYS Professional Development Hours for Engineers and RAM Recertification Credits.  

April Electronic Waste Recycling Events. Many dates and locations through the month of April.  

Tuesday, April 5, Emerging Professionals: April Monthly: Wind Analytics.  Empire State Building - Skanska Office, 350 Fifth Avenue, 32nd Floor, NYC, 6:30-8pm. Join the Urban Green Council for April's Educational Forum, welcoming Frank Provenzano (VP Bus Dev) and Cullen Kasunic (VP Product Manager) of Wind Products, Inc who will give a presentation on assessing wind resources with Wind Analytics software. $5 fee for non-members, pre-registration is required.

Wednesday, April 6, GreenHomeNYC's Fundraising Party (PDF). Greenhouse Lounge. 150 Varick Street, between Spring and Vandam, time TBD. Join GreenHomeNYC as they celebrate this past year's accomplishments, welcome their new Executive Director, and begin preparing for future endeavors. The event will include an award ceremony honoring stand-out participants of GreenHomeNYC's Green Building Open House tours and a silent auction with fun green prizes. Tickets start at $20. Please visit GreenHomeNYC.org for updated information.  

Thursday, April 7, Trash Talk: Should NYC Convert its Solid Waste to Energy? NY Academy of Sciences, 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 40th Floor, NYC, 6-8pm. This discussion on energy-from-waste will be the first in a series focusing on the topic of MSW management and science. The series will examine advances in and options for solid waste management for large cities. Topics will include: Science & technology: what are the latest advances in waste management options for cities like New York? Models: what innovative practices are other cities adopting? Business perspectives: what market opportunities are emerging? Policy: what options best serve NYC's sustainability goals? Financing: how can better waste management practices for NYC be financed within severe fiscal constraints? Non-members $20, non-member students $10. 

National Grid offers Energy Efficiency programs for New York City and Long Island existing gas heating and oil-to-gas conversion customers. Our programs are designed to help our residential customers reduce the incremental costs of installing new high efficiency heating equipment, increase annual fuel savings and improve the comfort their home.

National Grid residential Heating and ENERGY STAR® programs include rebates on high efficiency heating equipment, indirect water heaters, boiler reset controls, thermostats and windows.