1. Green Building Codes
A county-wide green building code (as in New York City, Long Island, Greenburgh)—county residents should vote on a referendum for a common-sense three-part countywide green building code that will pay for itself in saved energy costs for local taxpayers—while cleaning up our local air quality at the same time. The three parts of this code would be: 1) Make sure all construction or renovation work on county-owned property conforms to U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards; the federal government, fifteen states, and forty-six cities across the country require this of new public buildings (follow New York City's example on this);
2) Make sure all new industrial, commercial, and multi-residential structures over four thousand square feet meet LEED standard's (as in Babylon on Long Island; see below for much more on this)
3) Make sure all newly constructed homes are built according to Energy Star standards (as in Greenburgh in Westchester County and the towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, Oyster Bay, Riverhead, and Southampton on Long Island.

It's been proven over and over again that investing in green building saves money:
"A recent study conducted for the State of California concluded that, on average, green buildings show a ten times return on the investment in green building design. This comprehensive analysis of 33 green buildings revealed an average green cost premium of less than 2%, with only a 0.66% premium for buildings that achieved the most basic level of LEED certification."
"Developers find that green technologies and construction materials add no more than 1%-2% to costs, a premium quickly recaptured by energy savings."
Green Building Petition for Dutchess County
NewYork City Green Building Standards
Building Green Reaches a New Level

2. Solar Bonds
Create a $50 million solar bond/loan fund, as in San Francisco, California and Honolulu. New York residents deserve the same chance San Francisco voters had in November 2001—the opportunity to revitalize their local economy and the air thet breathe, ultimately saving tax dollars, creating good-paying jobs, and cleaning up the air we breathe—by voting for a $50 million "Ten Thousand Roofs by 2020" bond initiative referendum to pay for solar panels and energy efficiency upgrades on county-owned and other properties throughout the county. The $50 million bond should also help residents and businesses with zero-interest loans to purchase solar energy—and set up local cooperative, nonprofit, member-driven organizations for residents to purchase solar power at bulk-rate discount, similar to what the folks elsewhere have done with the nonprofit Cooperative Community Energy.
Last August, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law "a Million Solar Roofs Plan to provide 3,000 megawatts of additional clean energy and reduce the output of greenhouse gasses by 3 million tons—like taking one million cars off the road. The plan will lead to one million solar roofs in California by 2018."
By an overwhelming margin (73%) six years ago San Francisco voters approved a landmark $100 million bond initiative that paid for solar panels, energy efficiency, etc. for public facilities. The measure is paying for itself entirely from energy savings at no cost to taxpayers. San Francisco has a population a little over 700,000; Dutchess County's population is about 300,000—a bit under half of San Francisco's.
Los Angeles, Oakland, Richmond, San Mateo County, New Mexico, and Honolulu have all moved in a similar direction.
"According to Dr. Richard Perez, Research Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at SUNY-Albany, if you covered a mere 0.75% of New York's total area with PV's, you would generate enough power over the year to meet the state's energy needs."
Solar Petition for Dutchess County
Solar Solutions for New York
The San Francisco Solar Initiative
Network for New Energy Choices

3. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Give away 2000 compact fluorescent bulbs, as in Westchester County.
State of the County, by Andrew Spano

4. Ban Incandescent Bulbs
Ban completely the sale of wasteful incandescent light bulbs. Westchester County Legislator Martin Rogowsky has proposed a ban by 2010 for that county.
State of the County, by Andrew Spano

5. Electric Use Sensors
Make in-home electricity use sensors like PowerCost Monitors™ and cent-a-meters more readily available toresidents, as is already the case in Ontario. This type of "demand-side management" innovation has been endorsed by the Apollo Alliance.
PowerCost Monitor™ FAQ
Manage Your Electricity Use
New Energy for Cities

6. Green Power Sources
Obtain 100% of county or community power from green sources—wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, other. Nassau County and other communities have made bold moves in this direction; other NewYork counties and communities should echo them.
New York Municipalities Win National Green Power Leadership Awards

7. Low Carbon Public Transport
Switch buses and rest of the public transportation fleet to compressed natural gas, biodiesel or hybrid vehicles, as have New York City, Seattle and Boston.
New Energy for Cities
Compressed Natural Gas School Bus Fleet

8. LED Traffic Signals
Switch to LED traffic signals, as in Westchester County, Denver, St. Paul, and Passaic. More efficient light-emitting diode (LED) signals use 90% less power, last ten times longer, and are brighter than traditional incandescent bulbs.
State of the County, by Andrew Spano
New Energy for Cities

9. Hybrid Vehicle Tax Breaks
County-level sales tax breaks for purchases of hybrid vehicles, as in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
"In 2001, the Suffolk County Legislature voted to approve, two resolutions to give County residents incentives and tax-breaks for purchasers of hybrid-electric vehicles."
New York Hybrid vehicle purchase Tax Incentives
Sales Tax-Break for Hybrid-Electric Vehicles

10. Renewable Energy Tax Breaks
County-level sales tax breaks for purchase of solar or geothermal energy, as in Nassau, Suffolk counties. A September 2005 press release from the Nassau County Executive noted, "Greater emphasis is being placed on renewable energy, as the County will purchase 25% of its electricity from wind power and hydroelectricity, by the year 2010. Purchase of this power will begin in 2006. Proposed legislation would offer a County sales tax exemption to homeowners installing solar energy systems. Suffolk County approved a similar measure last week, and NYS lawmakers exempted such power systems from sales tax, in addition to providing tax credits. Elimination of county sales taxes, combined with state sales tax exemption and 50% LIPA rebate, will lower the cost of a small residential unit to $9,000 from $26,000. In addition, Nassau County sales tax exemption doesn't require homeowners to purchase an entire household system. Homeowners can receive the exemption by purchasing and installing any household solar energy system, such as a solar-powered water heater, or having even just one room heated by solar energy."
Tomorrow's Hope Foundation
Comprehensive County Energy Conservation Plan

11. Solar or Geothermal Tax Breaks
County-level property tax breaks for homes with solar and/or geothermal energy.
Time To Go Solar?
West Windsor moves to free solar installations from property tax

12. Customer Rebates for Reduced Natural Gas Consumption
Have utilities follow the smart example of Pacific Gas and Electric. "Each winter, Pacific Gas and Electric offers a 20% rebate to customers who reduce their cumulative natural gas consumption by 10% between January and March. A report in March, 2006 showed that 53% of PG&E customers reduced their gas use during January and February in order to take advantage of the rebate. PG&E’s rebate program encourages consumers to develop an instinct for conservation through simple habits such as lowering the thermostat, and reduces utility costs and emissions at the same time."
10/20 Winter Gas Savings Program
New Energy for Cities
Pacific Gas & Electric Quarterly Report

13. Decouple Utility Volume from Profit
Work with utilities and our state's Public Service Commission to "decouple"—as has been done already in Oregon—breaking the current connection between profits and volume of energy sold, a powerful disincentive for utilities to invest in energy efficiency. Utilities earn profits on the rate per kilowatthour (kWh); when they invest in conservation for customers, their revenues drop. It doesn't have to be this way. Decoupling utility revenues from kWhs sold helps overcome reluctance to invest in energy efficiency. This was endorsed by the Apollo Alliance.
Oregon Utilities Break Conservation Barriers
New Energy for Cities

14. Methane Digesters
Work with local farmers to set up methane digesters, as in Cayuga County. "Cayuga County plans an innovative partnership with ECO Technology Solutions to develop and construct a community anerobic digester to process organic waste from local dairies and food processors. Resulting biogas will generate electricity for county buildings. Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District is leading the project to tackle both energy and water quality problems. Cayuga County will collect manure from several small to mid-size farmers who can't support their own manure treatment facility. Collected manure will power a digester, which the county expects to generate 625 kW of electricity. In return, local farmers receive liquid fertilizer to use in place of land-spread manure. Liquid fertilizer byproduct of the digester is lower in phosphorus, preserving water quality in the county. This innovative renewable energy project is expected to be operational by spring 2007."
Jim Hotaling, Executive Director, Cayuga County Soil & Water Conservation: (315) 252-4171, jim-hotaling@ny.nacdnet.org
Bill Cetti, ECO Technology Solutions: (703) 669-3221
New Energy for Cities