Tomorrow night, March 28, turn off your lights for one hour, starting at 8:30 p.m. Use your light switch to VOTE EARTH!
Earth hour is an initiative started by the World Wildlife Fund. Click here to find out how you can make your vote count toward the target of 1 billion, which will be presented at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.
Friday, March 27, 2009
POW! You’ve Been Greened
Brooklyn Green Team Proves That Everyone Can Do It
In late summer of 2007, a group of friends went to see Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary on the climate crisis, The 11th Hour. They weren’t environmentalists, and they didn’t have backgrounds in environmental science, but, inspired by the film, they decided to take action. Thus, the Brooklyn Green Team was born.
Now, a year and a half later, the team — sisters Amanda and Noelle Gentile, Melissa Browning, Jennifer Bartels, Johanna Voutounou and Robert Weinstein — is still going strong. Through a series of “eco-challenges” posted on their blog (brooklyngreenteam.blogspot.com), they’ve inspired many people — including each other — to green their lives.
“We were thinking about making small steps, asking people to do little things to change their daily habits,” said Amanda. “The first [challenge] that we did was the ‘No New Clothing Challenge.’” They didn’t buy new clothes for six months, instead visiting vintage and thrift stores, and sharing clothes with friends.
Subsequent challenges were the ‘No Water Bottle Challenge,’ the ‘No Plastic Bag Challenge,’ the ‘Five-Minute Shower Challenge,’ and the ‘Bring Your Own Mug Challenge,’ all lasting three months, because “six months was a little long,” Amanda noted.
Once they come up with an idea for a challenge, “we put it on our blog and send an email blast to all of our readers,” said Amanda. “Once people sign up and pledge we send one-month progress reports that talk about how we’re doing, giving tips, silly videos online, statistics, to kind of remind people that they committed to doing this.”
At the end of each challenge the team invites everyone who participated to a party, where they have had presentations, discussions and launch the next challenge.
Currently, the team is holding the ‘YES WE CAN Volunteer Challenge,’ in which participants commit to three hours of volunteer service over the course of three months.
“We rarely bring in politics, we really try to focus on good green things that are happening,” Amanda explained. “The more you hammer in negativity, the more people want to just throw their hands in the air. We keep it light, humorous and easy.” They’ve adopted the slogan, ‘Pow! You’ve Been Greened,’ and playfully don green capes at times.
They’ve only encouraged people to change one small aspect of their daily life, to make change more manageable. “It’s an idea that collectively small actions make a huge difference,” Noelle said. “I think that’s the message that we’re trying to get out to people. There’s nothing we’re doing that’s incredible, or amazing or a unique idea.”
But what does make the Brooklyn Green Team unique is that its members are learning as much as its followers. “When we start a new challenge its something new for us too,” said Noelle. “When you feel a sense of community and people doing it together, it feels good.”
They’ve seen the effects of their efforts. Family members, coworkers and friends passing on the street will tell them about their progress with the challenges. And what they’ve noticed is that even though the challenges go on for only three months, participants keep up their efforts after.
“I haven’t gotten a plastic bag since,” Melissa said.
“We have to remind people of doing things on their own,” Melissa said. With recent budget cuts throughout the city, “environmental programs are going to be the first ones to be slashed. It’s even more important now that we remind people.”
The group wants people to know that every little bit helps. “As far as big companies go, consumers don’t feel like they have sway,” said Robert. “But when you do write letters and you do make phone calls there are actually people who listen.”
“This is a consumer’s time,” said Noelle. “Businesses are very open to hearing feedback because it’s a scary time for a business.”
But for the Brooklyn Green Team, a group so grassroots that it’s practically devoid of a budget, they’re “totally resilient to this economic crisis,” said Amanda.
It’s just a group of friends inspiring others as well as themselves to take action. “I’m glad and surprised that we’ve been doing this for a year and a half,” Jennifer said. “We really stuck with it and I’m proud of us.”
Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Green Team
In late summer of 2007, a group of friends went to see Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary on the climate crisis, The 11th Hour. They weren’t environmentalists, and they didn’t have backgrounds in environmental science, but, inspired by the film, they decided to take action. Thus, the Brooklyn Green Team was born.
Now, a year and a half later, the team — sisters Amanda and Noelle Gentile, Melissa Browning, Jennifer Bartels, Johanna Voutounou and Robert Weinstein — is still going strong. Through a series of “eco-challenges” posted on their blog (brooklyngreenteam.blogspot.com), they’ve inspired many people — including each other — to green their lives.
“We were thinking about making small steps, asking people to do little things to change their daily habits,” said Amanda. “The first [challenge] that we did was the ‘No New Clothing Challenge.’” They didn’t buy new clothes for six months, instead visiting vintage and thrift stores, and sharing clothes with friends.
Subsequent challenges were the ‘No Water Bottle Challenge,’ the ‘No Plastic Bag Challenge,’ the ‘Five-Minute Shower Challenge,’ and the ‘Bring Your Own Mug Challenge,’ all lasting three months, because “six months was a little long,” Amanda noted.
Once they come up with an idea for a challenge, “we put it on our blog and send an email blast to all of our readers,” said Amanda. “Once people sign up and pledge we send one-month progress reports that talk about how we’re doing, giving tips, silly videos online, statistics, to kind of remind people that they committed to doing this.”
At the end of each challenge the team invites everyone who participated to a party, where they have had presentations, discussions and launch the next challenge.
Currently, the team is holding the ‘YES WE CAN Volunteer Challenge,’ in which participants commit to three hours of volunteer service over the course of three months.
“We rarely bring in politics, we really try to focus on good green things that are happening,” Amanda explained. “The more you hammer in negativity, the more people want to just throw their hands in the air. We keep it light, humorous and easy.” They’ve adopted the slogan, ‘Pow! You’ve Been Greened,’ and playfully don green capes at times.
They’ve only encouraged people to change one small aspect of their daily life, to make change more manageable. “It’s an idea that collectively small actions make a huge difference,” Noelle said. “I think that’s the message that we’re trying to get out to people. There’s nothing we’re doing that’s incredible, or amazing or a unique idea.”
But what does make the Brooklyn Green Team unique is that its members are learning as much as its followers. “When we start a new challenge its something new for us too,” said Noelle. “When you feel a sense of community and people doing it together, it feels good.”
They’ve seen the effects of their efforts. Family members, coworkers and friends passing on the street will tell them about their progress with the challenges. And what they’ve noticed is that even though the challenges go on for only three months, participants keep up their efforts after.
“I haven’t gotten a plastic bag since,” Melissa said.
Even Something Simple Can Make a Difference
Along with the challenges, the green team posts often on its blog about city-wide green events, statistics, news and helpful tips, to help raise awareness and spread the word.“We have to remind people of doing things on their own,” Melissa said. With recent budget cuts throughout the city, “environmental programs are going to be the first ones to be slashed. It’s even more important now that we remind people.”
The group wants people to know that every little bit helps. “As far as big companies go, consumers don’t feel like they have sway,” said Robert. “But when you do write letters and you do make phone calls there are actually people who listen.”
“This is a consumer’s time,” said Noelle. “Businesses are very open to hearing feedback because it’s a scary time for a business.”
But for the Brooklyn Green Team, a group so grassroots that it’s practically devoid of a budget, they’re “totally resilient to this economic crisis,” said Amanda.
It’s just a group of friends inspiring others as well as themselves to take action. “I’m glad and surprised that we’ve been doing this for a year and a half,” Jennifer said. “We really stuck with it and I’m proud of us.”
Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Green Team
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Green Developer Takes Advantage of Nat’l Grid Rebates
Sometimes a little goes a long way. For developer Seth Brown, of Aspen Equities, that’s definitely the case.
His new residential project in Prospect Heights, dubbed “Sterling Green,” is “a seriously green project,” he said. And while there weren’t a ton of green incentives available to him during construction, he took advantage of two rebates from National Grid.
Among the eco-friendly features of Sterling Green — which is at 580 Sterling Place — are low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint, energy-efficient windows with low-E (low-emissivity) glass, energy-efficient lighting in kitchens and bathrooms, and dual-flush toilets.
But Brown got rebates for tankless gas hot-water heaters, which heat water only as needed, and standard programmable thermostats, which can be set for lower temperatures when the condos are unoccupied.
The tankless water heaters originally cost $800. National Grid gave Brown a $300 rebate for each unit installed in the eight condo, five-story building.
The programmable thermostats, which cost between $25 and $50 originally garnered him a $25 rebate for each one.
Because of the venting process required for the water heaters, the rebate doesn’t cover a lot of the cost, but “it’s certainly something,” said Brown.
But he spoke very highly of the thermostats. He calls the installation of a programmable thermostat “one of the cheapest and smartest ways to save money — it’s super easy.” He explained that anyone can put one in at their own home.
“If you’re going to do just one thing, it’s probably the best thing you could do,” he said.
Brown, a Park Slope resident for three years, said he has been concerned about the environment for some time, particularly about building green in urban environments.
A graduate of Yale, where he majored in urban history and got his MBA, he is also the founder and a current board member of Next American magazine, a non-profit environmental organization.
Brown, who got his start in real estate development working for The Hudson Companies and the LeFrak Organization, said he now spends 90 percent of his time as a developer and the rest of his time “more on the idea side of things — thinking green and thinking urban.”
This is his first independent Brooklyn project, although he has plans in the works for a two-family green townhouse in Park Slope
The eight condos include alcove studios and large one-bedroom duplexes. Prices start at $299,000 for a studio and go up to $475,000 for the largest duplex. Brown estimates that the project will be fully completed in about eight weeks with closings and move-ins anticipated for early summer.
Co-written by Linda Collins
Image courtesy of Apsen Equities
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Bushwick Group to Receive Environmental Justice Grant from EPA
The Eagle received this press release:
Tomorrow, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will join Make the Road New York, a community-based organization in Bushwick. The organization will accept an EPA environmental justice grant to conduct participatory research and outreach. Make the Road New York promotes economic justice, equity and opportunity for all New Yorkers through community, advocacy and many other support services. Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income in the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.
It will be tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at 301 Grove St. in Bushwick.
Tomorrow, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will join Make the Road New York, a community-based organization in Bushwick. The organization will accept an EPA environmental justice grant to conduct participatory research and outreach. Make the Road New York promotes economic justice, equity and opportunity for all New Yorkers through community, advocacy and many other support services. Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income in the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.
It will be tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at 301 Grove St. in Bushwick.
In Tough Economic Times, Going Green Is Still Possible
Sure, you want to go green. You’d really like to install solar panels on your brownstone, but you’re a little wary of the price. But did you know that you could get a rebate, tax credits and a property tax abatement? That’s where Rob Ashmore comes in.
He’s the founder of Aeon Solar, a company that installs solar panels in New York, New Jersey, California and Colorado. And if you want to get panels for your home or business, Ashmore will take care of everything for you.
One of his clients is Rolf Grimsted, who runs the mom-and-pop realty company R & E Brooklyn, with his wife. When retrofitting his property at 93 Nevins St. in Boerum Hill, he wanted to make it “what we thought the new urban home should be,” which was as green as possible.
The building (right) is made up of two townhouses, both of which Ashmore fitted with solar panels. “It was one of the first green choices we made,” Grimsted said. The building has good southern exposure, he explained, which makes it “well-situated” for solar power.
Grimsted also installed radiant heating in the floors and sourced as many of the materials as locally as possible. The townhouses have health benefits from the clean filtered air in the building. It’s so healthy that the American Lung Association awarded it Health House certification.
Ashmore explained that the original cost for two solar panel systems was $27,000 each. New York state offers a rebate at a rate of $4 per watt for the first 5,000 watts and $3 per watt for the next 5,000 watts. Since these systems were 2,700 watts each, the rebate was $10,800 per system, making the after-rebate cost of each system $16,200. Grimsted then got a state tax credit of 25 percent, or $4,050, per system. After subtracting that from the after-rebate cost ($12,150), he got a federal tax credit of $3,645, or 30 percent.
The rebate and tax credits took the cost of each solar panel system down to $8,505. But the incentives don’t stop there, Ashmore said. Grimsted then gets a property tax abatement of 35 percent or $2,976.75, split up over the next four years. So each year, he will have a property tax abatement of around $744, making the actual cost of each system to be about $5,528.
And that doesn’t even include the money saved on each townhouse’s electric bill over the next 30 years. Ashmore said the electric bill will be about $75 less per month, per system.
Aeon Solar’s next project is installing solar panels on a brownstone on Columbia Heights in Brooklyn Heights. This system costs $70,000, and after the rebate, tax credits and property tax abatement, the end cost will be $16,640, Ashmore said. “The savings on their Con Ed bill will eat away at that cost, typically in about five years,” he added. After that, “All the power that system produces is free.”
So, as it turns out, it pays to be green.
Photo courtesy of R & E Brooklyn
He’s the founder of Aeon Solar, a company that installs solar panels in New York, New Jersey, California and Colorado. And if you want to get panels for your home or business, Ashmore will take care of everything for you.
One of his clients is Rolf Grimsted, who runs the mom-and-pop realty company R & E Brooklyn, with his wife. When retrofitting his property at 93 Nevins St. in Boerum Hill, he wanted to make it “what we thought the new urban home should be,” which was as green as possible.
The building (right) is made up of two townhouses, both of which Ashmore fitted with solar panels. “It was one of the first green choices we made,” Grimsted said. The building has good southern exposure, he explained, which makes it “well-situated” for solar power. Grimsted also installed radiant heating in the floors and sourced as many of the materials as locally as possible. The townhouses have health benefits from the clean filtered air in the building. It’s so healthy that the American Lung Association awarded it Health House certification.
Ashmore explained that the original cost for two solar panel systems was $27,000 each. New York state offers a rebate at a rate of $4 per watt for the first 5,000 watts and $3 per watt for the next 5,000 watts. Since these systems were 2,700 watts each, the rebate was $10,800 per system, making the after-rebate cost of each system $16,200. Grimsted then got a state tax credit of 25 percent, or $4,050, per system. After subtracting that from the after-rebate cost ($12,150), he got a federal tax credit of $3,645, or 30 percent.
The rebate and tax credits took the cost of each solar panel system down to $8,505. But the incentives don’t stop there, Ashmore said. Grimsted then gets a property tax abatement of 35 percent or $2,976.75, split up over the next four years. So each year, he will have a property tax abatement of around $744, making the actual cost of each system to be about $5,528.
And that doesn’t even include the money saved on each townhouse’s electric bill over the next 30 years. Ashmore said the electric bill will be about $75 less per month, per system.
Aeon Solar’s next project is installing solar panels on a brownstone on Columbia Heights in Brooklyn Heights. This system costs $70,000, and after the rebate, tax credits and property tax abatement, the end cost will be $16,640, Ashmore said. “The savings on their Con Ed bill will eat away at that cost, typically in about five years,” he added. After that, “All the power that system produces is free.”
So, as it turns out, it pays to be green.
Photo courtesy of R & E Brooklyn
Friday, March 20, 2009
Getting Eco-Friendly in Vinegar Hill
It’s green. It’s the first green residential development in Vinegar Hill and DUMBO. And its model apartment will open on Earth Day, April 22. How cool is that?
This brand new eco-friendly venture at 100 Gold St. in Vinegar Hill is a project of the REDD (Real Estate Design & Development) Group, which is both a design firm and a real estate developer.
According to its founder, Anthony Morena, who is an architect trained at Pratt Institute, this is the first green building he has done on his own and he wanted to bring in as many green elements... read more.Story by Linda Collins
Image courtesy of The REDD Group
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Famed Environmentalist Visits Bay Ridge AARP
By day, Michael Allegretti works with such well-known political figures as Tony Blair and Arnold Schwarzenegger. But last week, he took the time to speak to the AARP chapter in his hometown of Bay Ridge.
Allegretti works at The Climate Group, an international organization that deals “with the issue of climate change in a common-sense way that leads to economic growth,” he explained. As the head of government relations, he works with some of the biggest companies in the world to start “public and private initiatives that come up with climate solutions always with an eye toward economic growth.”
Recently, Allegretti and The Climate Group went to Michigan — a state that he says is “reeling” — to discuss how existing industries (particularly the auto industry) and new industries can work together to “lift themselves up.
“We’re bringing hope to some folks that don’t have any,” he said.
He also meets with small-business leaders and union workers and students, “demonstrating how to save money, but also about how to create jobs, jobs that can be seeded in Brooklyn, Staten Island and other parts of New York City.
“There are white-collar and blue-collar jobs to be created, and if we have a candid look at the numbers, we see that many of these jobs can be created right here. From carbon traders who will work in the city’s financial services firms, to building tradesmen who will work retrofitting buildings to greener specks, New York City has a competitive advantage in the new energy economy, but it needs to be developed,” he explained. “Through a combination of market innovation and better public policies, we can see these jobs start to take hold in our city.”
But in Bay Ridge, Allegretti approached discussion in a different way. He spoke to the approximately 80 people in the Shore Hill Community Room, “communicating a message focused on saving money through simple adjustments to one’s daily life.”
While many people talk about climate change in scary ways that often overwhelm and sometimes are misconstrued, Allegretti said he “depoliticizes” the issues and puts them “in a language that people can understand.
“For some audiences it’s about saving money, and for some it’s about saving the planet,” he said, adding that for others, it’s both. He spoke to his audience about using energy-saving appliance, eating locally when possible, and using reusable bags to shop with. “Let’s not be wasteful,” he said.
But he urged listeners to “use as much as you need,” and “was so impressed by the level of knowledge,” he encountered, saying that the questions and dialogue were very smart and addressed topics that even he hadn’t planned on speaking about.
“It was just a great group,” he said. “I love Bay Ridge.”
In his own life, Allegretti carpools to work at The Climate Group, where printing is always double-sided, no paper kitchen products are used and they even offset their travel.
Photo courtesy of The Climate Group
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