News

Leaf Blower Ordinances Update and Public Health Issues

Since Yonkers made permanent it's seasonal ban on gas powered leaf
blowers in January, three other municipalities have passed similar
more restrictive ordinances. Those municipalities are Rye, Hastings
and Tarrytown. At least 4 other municipalities are planning
ordinances (although they may not want to tip their hat just yet).

Rye and Hastings have included electric blowers in their ordinances
and have expanded dates past the standard June 1 - September 30
restrictions. As you are aware there is a tremendous amount of
support for this legislation from the public health, medical and
conservation communities. There is now a greater voice being heard
from landscape architects and organic lawn care experts on the
detriments of blowers to the landscape (erosion, wind damage, effects
of air pollution on ecosystems and plants.)

It is timely as most leaf blower ordinances are about to take full effect and it's important that the public be aware specifically of the health benefits but also of the
benefits to the lawn and garden from no-blow policies.

There are health care professionals, conservation advisory members
and members of the landscape industry that are available to comment
on the subject. Josh Klainberg of the NYLCV provided testimony on
how local leaf blower legislation has an impact on climate change.
Jason Babbie's letter from NYPIRG provides a similar viewpoint.

The most recent list of supporters is: (letters available)
Dr. Allen Dozor, Chief of Pediatric Pulmonology, Westchester Medical
Center,
Dr. Sheila Palevsky, President, Chapter 3, District II, American
Academy of Pediatrics*
Dr. Philip Landrigan, Chairman, Dept. of Community & Preventitive
Medicine, Mt. Sinai
Dr. Janet Sullivan, Chief Medical Officer, Hudson Health Care, NY
Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit of Mount Sinai Medical
Center, NY
Michael J. Spicer, President and CEO of Saint Joseph's Medical
Center, Yonkers, NY
Michael Seilback, Director of Policy and Coalitions, NYS American
Lung Association*
Peter Iwanowicz, Senior Vice President, New York State American Lung
Association* (now Director of the NYS Office of Climate Change)
George Dunkel, Executive Director, NY American Academy of Pediatrics,
District II*
Jeff Byrne, Director, The Asthma Program, Saint John's Riverside
Hospital, Yonkers*
Marcia Bystryn, Executive Director, The New York League of
Conservation Voters*
Cesare Manfredi President, Federated Conservationists of Westchester
County
Jason Babbie, Senior Policy Analyst, NYPIRG
Rick Madger, Executive Director, Groundwork Yonkers
The Westchester League of Women Voters
The Bronxville League of Women Voters (Yonkers, Eastchester and Mount
Vernon)
George Klein, Executive Director, The Lower Hudson Valley Sierra Club

Data from the DEC Air Resources Division on # tons/day of NOx, VOCs
and particulates is also available as is data from the EPA on the
significant contribution of 2 and 4 stroke engines/lawn care
equipment to off road HAPs.

State Comptroller DiNapoli releases audit that promotes Solar Power by municipal governments

According to an audit released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, local governments could save money and reduce air

pollution by using solar power.  “With the rising cost and dwindling quantity of fossil fuels, along with the toll on the environment and public health, it makes sense to promote the use of renewable and clean energy sources,” said DiNapoli. “Local governments can realize financial savings by utilizing solar power and taking advantage of State programs that provide important support.”

Auditors evaluated the use of solar power by Albany County, the Ulster County towns of Woodstock and Rosendale, the Ulster County Village of New Paltz, the Nassau County Town of Hempstead, and the Tompkins County Town of Lansing. These municipalities received financial and technical assistanc> from the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) for their programs.

The audit, which was conducted for the period January 2003 to July 2007, found that by installing solar panel electrical systems, these

municipalities realized immediate savings on their electrical bills, and reduced environmental emissions. They could also save as much as $944,000 and reduce the release of greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide by more than 6.6 million pounds over the life of the panels, which is estimated to range from 40 to 50 years. With NYSERDA’s> assistance, the municipalities paid about 27 percent of the total project costs.  Please click on the link below to access the report:

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/swr/08solarpanel/solarpanels.pdf

If you are unable to access this report by clicking on the link, please copy and paste the link into your internet browser and hit the

search button. If you are unable to print the report, please let us know and we will mail you a hard copy.

Pelham Green Task Force: Views on School Renovation Project

The “Pelham Green Task Force” (previously known as the Pelham Global Warming Task Force) has made known its views on current renovation projects that are being considered by the Board of Education, through a very active participation at recent meetings. The Task Force appreciates that the Board is open to our "green, sustainable ideas" and that some of the members are conversant with some energy efficiency measures, and some of the advantages of green materials in renovation projects. It also appreciates dedication of the Board members, and the fact that the Board is really grasping with a series of complex issues in terms of renovations. It is, nevertheless, a moment when decisions are being taken very quickly. In this crucial phase, Pelham Green Task Force has recently raised four main issues: Possibilities of using solar energy Insulation of the high school classrooms Energy assessmentUse of green materials. Other discussions took place over the last year regarding other issues such as geo-thermal energy, lighting systems, gas cooling through absorption chillers, gas or oil heat and boilers efficiency, state incentives for energy saving measures, evolution of oil prices, among others. Our advocacy for energy saving measures has encouraged the Board to vote an energy performance assessment last week. The Pelham Green Task Force thanked the Board very much for a decision that goes in the right direction for energy efficiency, and further for having included in the assessment the study of a photovoltaic show case installation, (for the production of electricity), which will replicate what has been done in at least 50 schools in NY State, for education purposes.

SOLAR INSTALLATIONS The Pelham Green Task Force has also sustained that if we were going to fix or redo several roofs, we may as well study the possibilities of putting up solar roof(s). We recommended in particular looking into “solar thermal systems”, which could be used to heat hot water, and/or to complement the boiler systems with preheated water -- as this can be very energy efficient, and save a lot of money down the line. This would work even during the winter. Because this was not included in the original scope of the work, we recently did our own study, and sent a first proposal to the Board of Education last week. The Pelham Green Task Force has encouraged the Board to study these options seriously, because of their potential, and it is available to provide continuous support to the Board in this direction. Our collaboration can also play an important educational role for the schools, children and adolescents, and the whole community.

GREEN MATERIALS Our Task Force has also explained the importance to choose good sustainable materials for the renovations, and avoid any toxic and off-gazing construction materials, which can have negative effects on our children’s health (allergies, fatigue, asthma, lack of concentration, etc.) -- and actual performance. In addition, the production of regular construction materials is very damaging for the environment. We supported the use of zero- or low-VOC paints and materials, use of wood from sustainable forestry, natural linoleum, and "full spectrum lighting" instead of regular day lighting with fluorescentlights (which contain mercury...) -- because this offers benefits in terms of lighting quality -- and again, children's and adolescents' performance.

INSULATION OF THE 26 CLASSROOMS No insulation has been planned so far for the 26 classrooms that will be renovated, mainly because the walls seem to be wide enough, and maybe the gains would not be so great. Our Pelham Green Task Force believes that while renovating all these classrooms, we should insulate them, because doing that at the same time as the renovation may not be very costly, while saving energy down the line for the heating budget.

A FINAL WORD Given the oil crisis that we are now facing, solar installations and any other energy efficiency measure are certainly not opportunities to ignore. Oil prices are now close to $110 a barrel. Pelham Green is convinced that prices will continue to soar. Independent views in the oil industry are speaking of the likelihood of $200 a barrel at some stage; we may therefore be facing a crisis of unknown consequences for our local communities, because the operating costs for our schools could just explode in coming years.

Going green in the school renovations project may therefore be a very smart choice to do in the current oil crisis -- even if it is at the cost of dropping something else. The Pelham Green Task Force recommendations  (solar systems, insulation) can actually bring in some money back to the budget down the line. Energy efficiency and alternative energy measures will provide some additional support to the whole project from the community.