Sustainable Long Island
December 2012  
Sustainable Long Island Newsletter
The one-stop-shop...
For all Sustainable Long Island news! 
In This Issue
Going Green: Do Your Part
Long Island Awarded $59.7M
Northwest Hicksville BOA
Elmont Update
Planning for Food Access
Smart Growth and Economic Success
Energy-Efficiency Resolutions
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Board of Directors

Ruth Negr
n-Gaines: President
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Kevin McDonald: Vice President

The Nature Conservancy   
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Charlotte Biblow, Esq: Secretary

Farrell Fritz, P.C.
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Lauren Furst: Treasurer

Pathways to Wealth, LLC   

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Russ Albanese

Albanese Organization Inc.
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Lennard Axinn

Island Estates   

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Robert Bernard

Capital One Bank 

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Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III
SUNY College at Old Westbury    

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Dr. Miriam K. Deitsch

Farmingdale State College, State University of New York 

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Pat Edwards

Citi Community Development     
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Amy Hagedorn

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Jeff Kraut

North Shore - LIJ Health System

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Mitchell H. Pally

Long Island Builders Institute

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Ron Shiffman

Pratt Institute

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Going Green: Do Your Part  

Sustainable Long Island quoted on green initiatives in the latest issue of Networking Magazine
 
For over two decades, Networking Magazine has published stories and articles on green initiatives across Long Island. In its most recent December issue, Sustainable Long Island was asked to provide our thoughts on the idea of "going green" in 2013 and beyond. Here's what we had to say:

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, I think it is clear to all of us that the need to "Go Green" is no longer a catchy trend, it has become a very real necessity. Going green is also more than simply planting trees and driving hybrid cars. It's about living a sustainable lifestyle that can reduce our
carbon footprint, lessen our dependence on foreign fuels, and decrease our reliance upon off-island produce. The movement to go green is now, more than ever, about taking personal responsibility while making a difference and embracing a new outlook.

Nassau and Suffolk County residents can do their part by taking small steps, such as buying and eating locally grown produce; shopping at local businesses rather than large chains; utilizing public transportation and transit-oriented developments; and supporting efforts to improve water quality and reduce water pollution. These small, individual steps, when multiplied by the 2.8 million people that reside on Long Island, can truly have an important, positive impact on improving the sustainability of our environment and our economy.

As we head into 2013, Sustainable Long Island will continue to lead the region in rethinking ideas and plans of action to go green; rebuilding partnerships among stakeholders working on sustainability initiatives; and renewing Long Islander's commitment to implementing green projects island-wide.

Long Island Awarded $59.7M 

Regional Economic Development Council secures state development aid during second round of funding
  

(via Newsday) - Long Island has been awarded $59.7 million in state aid to support building projects and business expansions that create hundreds of jobs.

 

The grants and state tax credits coming to the Island this year will support 27 projects that together will employ 5,404 people. The state aid will be matched by $1.1 billion in private and federal money.

 

The support will provide needed momentum for an addition to the bioscience business incubator at Farmingdale State College, redevelopment of the Nassau Hub and construction of research centers at Winthrop University Hospital and Stony Brook University.

 

The awards also provide additional support for projects that shared in 2011 grants, including the Wyandanch Rising blight transformation project and the Ronkonkoma LIRR-MacArthur Airport transit hub.

 

In September, the council submitted a report outlining how it spent $101.6 million in grants and state tax credits that were given last year, and made a case for additional funding.

 

The 25-member council is led by Kevin Law, president of the Long Island Association business group, and Stuart Rabinowitz, president of Hofstra University.

 

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo established the Long Island council and nine others across the state to develop regional jobs plans for the next five years, and to vie for hundreds of millions of dollars in economic development aid which previously had been handed out in a haphazard fashion. 

  

Northwest Hicksville 

Brownfield Opportunity Area Step I

Public Open House Workshop 

Thursday, January 17, at the Hicksville Community Center
BOA Study Area
The Town of Oyster Bay and the Northwest Hicksville Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Step I Project Team and Steering Committee invite you to participate in a public open house workshop on Thursday January 17, 2013 at the Hicksville Community Center from 6:30pm - 8:30pm.

 

The Project Team, consisting of the Town of Oyster Bay; H2M; Nelson, Pope & Voorhis; and Sustainable Long Island, will present an overview of the Northwest Hicksville BOA Step I Pre-Nomination Study project and together, the Steering Committee, local residents, business owners, and other area stakeholders will discuss existing and potential sites for revitalization, as well as opportunities and priorities for redevelopment of vacant, underutilized, brownfields, and other sites for potential revitalization.  

 

Input and feedback from the public open house workshop will be used as the basis for developing a vision, goals, and objectives for the Northwest BOA study Area and will be incorporated into the Step I Pre-Nomination Study.

 

The project is a unique opportunity to capitalize on growing momentum for revitalization in Hicksville and to build upon recent and current successes, setting the stage for redevelopment of strategic underutilized properties within Northwest Hicksville.

 

We hope you will just us for this exciting workshop on January 17, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. For more information email [email protected] or visit Sustainable Long Island's website.

Elmont Continues to Move Forward  

as the Gateway to Nassau County 

Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development holds meeting

Sustainable Long Island recently attended a long-standing community partner, the Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development, bi-monthly meeting. We were happy to hear about and discuss ongoing progress being made in Elmont, as well as the implementation of the Elmont Community Vision Plan. Sandra Smith, chair of the coalition, provided the following updates:
  • Through the second round of state funding from the Regional Economic Development awards, the Town of Hempstead Department of Planning and Economic Development will be receiving $500,000 to provide infrastructure improvements to support an adjacent commercial redevelopment in the urban renewal area of the Elmont-Belmont Park area. 
  • New York State Department of Transportation will be making various safety improvements to Hempstead Turnpike over the next three to six months. Many of these improvements are in line with the Community Vision Plan, including:
    • Pedestrian count-down timers;
    • Raised median in 2 sections (Plainfield Avenue & Elmont Road);
    • Modified traffic signal timing;
    • "No turn on red" signs at designated intersections;
    • Modified pavement in designated locations, etc.
  • The Town of Hempstead is starting a new phase of its streetscape improvement plan; which will focus on both the north and south sides of Hempstead Turnpike, just east of the Library.
  • The Restore NY grants the Town of Hempstead received for facade and interior improvements to certain properties along Hempstead Turnpike has been activated after years of delay.
  • The Town of Hempstead's Residential Rehab program has been a great success with nine homes being completed since January 2012 (roofs, siding, boilers, etc. for senior citizen's).
  • The Town of Hempstead has issued a second Request for Proposals for the Argo Theater site and the deadline for proposals is now January 11, 2013.  

Planning for Food Access and Community-Based Food Systems  

APA releases new report evaluating the issue and Sustainable Long Island continues food access efforts

Alongside air, water, and shelter, food is a basic necessity for life. Food plays a vital role in our health, economy, and culture and is a critical component of a sustainable community. However many rural and urban residents, including thousands of Long Islanders, have limited access to fresh produce and other healthful foods.

With that in mind, the American Planning Association's (APA) Planning and Community Health Research Center conducted a multi-phase research study to identify and evaluate:
  1. The development, adoption, and implementation of food related goals and policies of local comprehensive plans;
  2. Their impact on local policies, regulations, and standards for the purpose of reducing food access disparities among children, adolescents, and adults and improving community-based food systems.

Results of this research study have been compiled into a comprehensive policy report, Planning for Food Access and Community-Based Food Systems: A National Scan and Evaluation of Local Comprehensive and Sustainability Plans.

 

In addition, in 2013 Sustainable Long Island will continue our efforts to combat the issue of food access on Long Island by: 

  • Completing the final stages of our Food System Report Card; an ambitious indicator project that assesses the state of Long Island's food system and pinpoints the regions strengths, while also highlighting where we need to focus more attention.
  • Conducting an economic impact study of the local food environment, as well as a comprehensive review of plans, policies, codes, and regulations that affect this system.
  • Continuing to provide technical assistance to multiple farmers' markets across Long Island; specifically those whom utilize the Sustainable Long Island project model of being community-based, youth-staffed, and offering locally grown produce at an affordable price.

 

Smart Growth and Economic Success  

EPA releases report on the economic
benefits of smart growth


Smart growth development is compact and walkable and provides a diverse range of choices in land uses, building types, transportation, homes, workplace locations, and stores. Such development projects are attractive to private-sector interests because they can find a ready market and compete financially. They appeal to local governments because they can be the building blocks of a growing economy and high-quality, economically sustainable neighborhoods and communities while also helping to create a cleaner, healthier environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency's Smart Growth Program just released Smart Growth and Economic Success, the first in a series of reports designed to inform developers, businesses, local government, and other groups about the benefits of smart growth development. This report incorporates feedback from a one-day workshop in December 2011 when business leaders, real estate developers, and economic development professionals came together to share their thoughts and make suggestions about how to expand on work in this area.

Additional reports will build upon this work, exploring how real estate developers and investors can overcome real and perceived barriers to benefit from infill opportunities, how decisions about where to locate will impact the bottom lines of businesses, and why smart growth strategies are good fiscal policy for local governments.

 

Ring in the New Year with Easy  

Energy-Efficiency Resolutions  

Tips from NYSERDA to save energy and lower bills

The new year is the perfect time to evaluate your home's energy usage and make a concerted commitment to leading a more energy-efficient lifestyle. Although it's not always easy to keep the personal resolutions you pledge year to year, you can take some very simple measures to reduce home energy consumption all year long without a lot of effort. Before you know it, saving energy will be second nature.

 

These helpful tips from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will help you stay on course toward achieving greater energy savings:

  • One of the easiest things to do is remove build-up in your clothes dryer's lint trap before every load. Removing lint not only reduces the risk of fire but also increases drying efficiency and could save you up to $34 per year.
  • Be sure to consolidate loads and dry loads with similar fabrics to reduce energy use.
  • Identify and fix any water leaks in your home. Leaky faucets and showerheads, for example, can be a big source of waste. Repairing these fixtures can save you up to $100 per year.
  • Don't forget to inspect your hot water heater for leakage. At a rate of one drip per second, your home can waste gallons of water in a short time, costing you money.
  • Air leaks can occur in some out-of-the-way places such as crawl spaces, attics, overhangs, garages, porches and other architectural features. Be sure to have a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR� contractor investigate these problem areas through a whole house energy assessment that includes recommendations on ways to seal up those openings, make your home more comfortable and help you reduce energy costs. By sealing and insulating your home, you could increase energy efficiency by up to 20 percent.
  • Rearranging your home furnishings can lead to year-round benefits. Organize your furniture and rugs away from registers and heating return vents.
  • Make sure the connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet the floors, walls and ceiling for optimal comfort.
  • Make a conscious effort to turn off electronics or appliances when they are not in use. If no one is watching TV-turn it off.
  • Try using an advanced power strip as a central "turn off" point for easy access in powering down multiple pieces of equipment-such as a DVD player, a Blu-RayTM player and a television-all at once. Developing this simple habit will help you achieve savings the rest of the year.
  • When possible, use the smaller appliances in your kitchen, like your microwave and toaster oven, especially when heating or re-heating small portions. You could use 80 percent less energy using these appliances rather than a conventional oven.
  • Clean your refrigerator coils-located underneath and behind the appliance-and repair any loose seals. Dirty coils and loose seals make the refrigerator work harder, causing it to use more energy.
  • If you have a spare refrigerator that you only use occasionally, consider unplugging it or having it recycled. Your spare refrigeration may be costing you $18 a month or more.

 

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Together we can build a more
sustainable Long Island

 

These challenging economic times have magnified the problems we Long Islanders face each and every day. With our leaders warning us of tougher times to come, thinking regionally and acting locally is urgent. It is in all of our best interests to stay engaged and do what we can together to build a more sustainable Long Island.

 

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Sustainable Long Island that will help support our ongoing and future work within your Long Island communities; while helping advance economic development, environmental health, and social equity!

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Sincerely,

The Board and Staff of Sustainable Long Island