  Town of Ithaca June Newsletter
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Featured Staff: Network Administrator Thanks to the Town's Network Administrator, the Town is using QR (Quick Response) codes on letterhead, business cards, and meeting handouts to reduce paper usage. Placing QR codes on materials allows the recipient the choice to use their mobile device to scan the barcode to access the information digitally (see example below). Hard copies are available for those who want them, but for those who opt for less paper or the portability of info available on a mobile device, this is great news. New Planning and Sustainability Summer Intern The Town is pleased to welcome to the team Elliot Sperling, our new Planning and Sustainability summer intern! Elliot is a junior in City and Regional Planning at Cornell, and will be supporting both the development of the Community Energy Action Plan and the continued implementation of the Government Energy Action Plan. Community Energy Action Plan Progress Sub-committees on the issues of transportation, energy sources, and energy use in buildings have been busy assessing the 16 remaining actions being considered for the final Action Plan. This involves refining the scope of the actions, and researching aspects such as greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential, cost, and social/community benefits. The committee hopes to have a draft plan available for public review later this summer. Town Hall Undergoes Waste Assessment The Town Hall recently had a Waste Assessment performed by the Tompkins County Solid Waste ReBusiness Program. This program studies current waste management practices and makes recommendations for how organizations can save money and better reduce, reuse, recycle (and compost), and rebuy (that is, practice environmentally preferred procurement). To learn more about this service, contact Kat McCarthy: email or call 607-273-6632. Sustainability Center Opens its Doors Community members gathered on May 9 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate Ithaca’s brand new Sustainability Center at 111 North Albany Street. The Sustainability Center, which provides a physical space in the center of the community to showcase and promote sustainability efforts across Tompkins County, is now open to the public on Thursdays and Saturdays, from 2 to 6pm. The Town of Ithaca has been a proud supporter of the Center’s efforts since fall 2012. Our Sustainability GoalsGreenhouse Gas Reduction Goals for Town of Ithaca government operations (e.g. facilities, vehicle fleet, and water treatment):
The Town of Ithaca, under the direction of Supervisor Herb Engman and the Town Board, will carry out a sustainability planning process. To learn more, click here. Click here to learn more. Accomplishments to Date
 In the past four years, the Town Board has taken significant action, highlighting the Town’s commitment to sustainability and climate protection:
Learn more about our accomplishments, here.
Town Sustainability DocumentsGovernment Energy Action Plan 2011 (Fall 2011) Our Neighbors: Sustainability in Tompkins County and BeyondIn August of 2009, Governor David Paterson signed Executive Order No. 24 setting a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York State by 80% by the year 2050. See what the Climate Action Council is working on to implement this ambitious goals: Cleaner Greener Southern Tier is developing a Southern Tier Regional Sustainability Plan. The plan will establish goals and identify implementation actions that will, among other things, enable the Southern Tier Region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050. Tompkins County has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions county-wide by 80 percent by the year 2050. Learn how by visiting: Tompkins County Energy and Climate Initiative The City of Ithaca is striving to protect the environment, to reduce energy costs, and to set a positive example to encourage others to reduce their own output of greenhouse gases. Learn more by visiting: City of Ithaca Local Action Planning The three higher education institutions in Tompkins County have signed onto the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, pledging to achieve climate neutrality. See how each school is making progress on this effort: Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) 
Green Resource Hub of the Finger Lakes is a non-profit organization that looks to expand the marketplace for sustainable living in the Finger Lakes region.
 Sustainable Tompkins, a citizen-based organization, has been leading the sustainability movement in the area, working towards the long-term well-being of our communities by integrating social equity, economic vitality, ecological stewardship, and personal and civic responsibility.
  The Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative (TCCPI) is a cross-sector collaboration bringing together leaders from the business, non-profit, local government, and education sectors, whose organizations have made significant commitments to climate protection. This coalition seeks to leverage the climate action commitments made by institutions and organizations throughout the County to mobilize a countywide energy efficiency effort focused primarily on the retrofitting of buildings. In doing so, TCCPI has fostered a culture of collaboration that has led to partnerships and capacity-building amongst groups throughout Tompkins County.
To learn more about Town of Ithaca Sustainability, contact Nick Goldsmith, the Town's Sustainability Planner, at Email or 607-273-1721 x136. |
Sustainability |
