Climate Action in the Town of Red Hook Lindsay Chapman, Climate Intern Red Hook Conservation Advisory Council

Outline Total Community Emissions Town Emissions Town Government Emissions Existing climate action plans Red Hook measures Drafting a Climate Action Plan

Total Community GHG Inventory 2008 Community 2008 emissions = 63,321 tons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases

Town GHG Inventory 2008 Town of Red Hook Emissions = 43,878 tons e-

Town Government GHG Inventory 2008 Vehicle Fleet: Hwy Dept, Red Hook Police and Fire: heavy-duty and light trucks, diesel and gasoline, winter mixes of kerosene and diesel Water delivery facility: Willowbrook Rd pump house. Consumes 26% of government electricity annually Streetlights and Traffic Signals: Lights cost $34, 047 annually--1/2 of government electricity bill, and 30% of government electricity usage. Employee commute: vehicles that town employees drive to work Town Government Emissions = 390 tons e-

Town Government GHG Inventory 2008 Buildings and Facilities represent many different accounts: Town Hall: electricity + heating oil 30% of building and facility emissions Highway Garage: electricity +heating oil + propane. 33% of building and facility emissions Recreation: Tennis Courts and Ball Field lighting. 7% of building and facility emissions Buildings and Facilities emit 119 tons e-

Existing Reduction Targets Kyoto Protocol: EU-15 countries aiming towards 8% reduction from 1990 levels by Kyoto Protocol suggested a 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012 for the U.S. Mayors Climate Agreement mimicked the Kyoto Protocol suggestion and U.S. mayors (now over 1,000) have committed to a 7% reduction from 1990 levels by American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 draft bill suggests a 17% reduction from 2005 levels by Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act draft bill suggests a 20% reduction from 2005 levels by 2020.

So where does Red Hook fit in? Many local governments in the Northeast/East Coast are establishing a baseline year of Reduction goals are anywhere from 15-50% below 2005 levels with target years ranging from Within ICLEI local governments, most common reduction is 1% reduction per year (ex: 15% reduction by 2020). Depends on available resources and government and community initiative.

Town Government GHG Comparison between 2005 and Town Government Emissions = 316 tons e Town Government Emissions = 316 tons e-

Town GHG Comparison between 2005 and 2008 C 2008 Town Emissions = 43,878 tons e Town Emissions = 44,811 tons e-

Total Community GHG Comparison 2008 Emissions = 63,321 tons e Emissions = 61,201 tons e-

Community Measures: School District School district emits 2,902 tons e- per year Weatherize all schools, assuming a 25% efficiency increase would avoid 350 tons greenhouse gas emissions annually. 0.5% of total emissions, but weatherization measures will pay off in the long run. NY Power Authority’s 100 MW Solar Invitation. Could provide anywhere from 1-20% of middle school’s electricity and avoid 1-40 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Could also be used as an educational tool for students

Community Measures: Bard College Bard College had a 2008 GHG inventory conducted already. Currently writing their own Climate Action Plan. Reductions at Bard could be rolled in to Red Hook’s Climate Action Plan

Community Measures: Residential Existing: EnergyStar Compliance for all new home construction Existing: Banned outdoor wood-fired furnaces for heating Potential: NYSERDA’s “New York's Great Appliance Swap Out.” Scheduled for President’s Week 2010 Potential: Weatherization and solar program enabling homes to reduce energy use, without the upfront costs. Long Island Green Homes program and Berkeley First program boast energy savings of 30% or more. If 200 homes participated, Red Hook could save 514 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. If 1/2 of homes participated, 4,983 tons of greenhouse gas emissions could be avoided. That’s an 8% reduction in total emissions!

Community Measures: Commercial Work with Economic Development Committee, Chamber of Commerce Potential: Create a forum where NYSERDA and federal energy grants are visible to Red Hook businesses, supply help in filling out forms and applications. Potential: Implement a weatherization and solar program for Red Hook businesses If 1/2 of the town businesses participated, Red Hook could avoid roughly 780 tons of greenhouse gases, assuming a 30% efficiency increase (1% reduction in total emissions)

Government Measures Existing: Town Hall energy audit. Installed 3.8 Kwh PV system on Town Hall last October. Projected electricity generation 3800 KwH/year. A,s of October 2009 had generated 4479 KwH; 7.6% of Town Hall Electricity consumption, 1.5 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Upgraded T-12 Fluorescent Lighting with New T-8 Lamps and ballasts, installed programmable thermostat, and weatherstripping on main doors. Savings were 11% of town hall electricity; just over 3 tons of greenhouse gas emissions The government should be on the forefront of policy formation and project implementation so that citizens and businesses have an example of how to move forward. Potential: Awaiting news of a NYSERDA grant to cover the whole roof of Town Hall with solar panels.

Government Measures Other Potential Measures Recreation: Install LED lights and a timer for baseball fields, tennis courts, and basketball courts. Reduce Rec Park electricity usage by just over half, avoiding 6 tons of CO2 emissions. Willowbrook Rd Pump House: not cost efficient to replace either pump right now. But keep this project in mind for future when maintenance on pumps is required. Vehicle Fleet: Upgrade vehicles as necessary. For future consideration, look to electric and hybrid trucks and heavy duty vehicles. Streetlights and Traffic Signals: Convert 100% of streetlights and traffic signals to LED lights will reduce lighting electricity consumption by more than half, saving roughly $15,000/year. LED Pilot Project at Bard College LED lights last 5x longer than conventional lighting, with payback period of 4-6 years Example: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Formulating a Climate Action Plan Because resources are shared in the community of Red Hook, best strategy is to include both villages, town, and Bard into one written action plan Requires input from variety of stakeholders-- government officials, business owners, residents, Bard students Continue internships through Bard for additional resources Suggestion of 15% reduction of 2005 levels by the year 2020

Questions?