Archive: Around Town

400 community/student volunteers to deliver 5000 energy efficiency education packets to 5000 households, Sat. Oct. 30th; additional volunteers needed

5000 households across Tompkins County will get some special treats delivered to their door the day before Halloween this year: bags of information and products to save energy as the heating season blows in. Expanding on the successful “Energy Independent Caroline” (spring 2008) educational campaign, “Lighten Up Tompkins” will mobilize 400 community volunteers and Into-the-Streets students from Cornell on Saturday, October 30th to deliver energy efficiency educational materials, products and coupons to homes across Tompkins County.

“It’s part of a larger county-wide campaign to deliver immediate energy savings, educate residents that we all can ‘take back the power’ for our energy use and reduce carbon emissions over time for an economically viable county for future generations,” states Dominic Frongillo, NYSERDA Energy $mart Communities Coordinator, based out of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (CCETC).

“We’ve inspired almost two dozen community partners and we hope that every business, organization and homeowner will take the ‘Energy pledge’ to get on the path to energy savings during the next few months,” Frongillo summarized.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County energy team, in partnership with the Public Service Center at Cornell University, NYSERDA and over 20 community businesses, is sponsoring “Lighten Up Tompkins,” the largest door-to-door energy efficiency outreach effort in Tompkins County history. In one afternoon, volunteers will reach 5,000 households in the Towns of Dryden, Lansing, Danby, Newfield, Enfield, and Ulysses, directly handing homeowners bags of energy efficiency materials (sample handout materials are available to media, see list at end), including a Compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) which can be used immediately for savings. Dozens of raffle prizes (over $1,200 in energy efficiency products/services) will be drawn from those who return a quick survey listing what actions they took from the information and products received.

According to Shawn Lindabury (Energy Corps Coordinator and Town of Lansing Energy Educator, CCE), “If each household installs their compact fluorescent light bulb -- which uses 75% less energy and lasts 10 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb, $278,000 will be saved collectively as well as 3.46 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions avoided over the life of the bulb.”

“We hope the materials will encourage residents to retrofit their homes using a BPI certified contractor and take advantage of NYSERDA financing programs. Retrofitting 80% of homes will save Tompkins County residents $34.3 million on energy costs and create 850 jobs,”  added Lindabury.

Michael Koplinka-Loehr, past Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature and now Town of Lansing Sr. Energy Management Coordinator, placed the campaign in perspective: “Tompkins County can reach our ambitious goals for energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions -- (reduce 80% greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; http://www.tompkins-co.org/planning/compplan/index.htm), -- if everyone takes action by 11/11/11 and continues their energy commitments thereafter. Together we can create a sustainable future.”

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