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By signing the Climate Smart Communities Pledge, municipalities show their support for sustainable actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving environmental, economic, public health, and social conditions. As a Climate Smart Community, your municipality will have access to the following benefits Notification of funding and technical assistance, and guidance in accessing incentives from regional, state, and federal agencies Assistance with the planning and implementation of clean energy projects and municipal policy development Informative presentations and workshops that are customized for residential, commercial, municipal, and institutional groups Educational webinars and documentaries Informative climate updates, grants, training, and networking opportunities for local governments The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board serves as the Climate Smart Community Coordinator for Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties. For additional information on becoming a Climate Smart Community, contact Chris Carrick at (315) 422-8276 ext 213 or Benefits of Becoming a Climate Smart Community Make a difference by becoming a Climate Smart Community Climate Smart Communities are leaders for energy sustainability 131 communities throughout New York State have signed a pledge to become Climate Smart Communities (CSC). 18 of these municipalities are located in Central New York. The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board is working with CSCs to complete greenhouse gas inventories and climate action plans that contain specific goals and recommendations for emission reductions. The is also assisting CSCs to implement demonstration projects that produce clean energy and reduce emissions. What is a Climate Smart Community? The Climate Smart Community (CSC) program is a successful partnership between New York State and local governments. The program helps communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save taxpayer dollars, and advance community goals for health and safety, economic vitality, energy independence and quality of life. Ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand opening of the first municipal net-zero energy building in New York State. The Skaneateles Village Hall, designed to produce more energy than it consumes, is expected to reduce energy usage by more than 62,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually and will result in the avoidance of 46 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Energy-efficient improvements include a 54 kW PV system, geothermal well field and heat pump system, LED lighting, increased insulation, and energy efficient windows. The building will also have an educational energy display in the lobby. Skaneateles is a Climate Smart Community. ---PAGE BREAK--- The Benefits of Climate Action Saving taxpayer dollars: Reducing energy costs while improving operational efficiency and land use policies will save taxpayer dollars and help communities adapt to a low-carbon future. Climate smart land use practices can also lower the cost of infrastructure maintenance and public services. Improving operations and infrastructure: Increasing the efficiency of buildings and facilities saves operating dollars and can reduce pollutants within facilities and in the community at large. Updated infrastructure better supports community services and environmental safety. Increasing energy independence and security: When a community lowers its energy consumption, it becomes less vulnerable to restrictions in foreign energy sources and there is greater security against price volatility and supply shortages. More of the municipality’s energy dollars are kept within the local and regional economies. Positioning for economic growth: Energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy products and services provide benefits to Central New York communities. Green technologies generate more jobs per dollar than conventional fuel technologies, and these dollars are more likely to be retained in the local economy. Model Pledge for Community Adoption The Climate Smart Communities Pledge includes all the elements of a successful local climate program. To become a recognized Climate Smart Community, the municipality’s governing body must adopt as a resolution all ten points of the Model Pledge. Additional pledge elements or legislative findings may also be added. What other municipalities are Climate Smart Communities? The following Central New York municipalities have signed the CSC pledge: Fayetteville Auburn Cortland Preble Madison County, Cazenovia (T and Syracuse Onondaga County, DeWitt Skaneateles Skaneateles Oneida Oswego Minetto Minoa Oswego County, and Eaton Additional information about the Climate Smart Communities program is available at www.dec.ny.gov/ energy/50845.html 1. Pledge to be a Climate Smart Community. 2. Set goals, inventory emissions, plan for climate action. 3. Decrease community energy use. 4. Increase community use of renewable energy. 5. Realize benefits of recycling and other climate- smart solid waste management practices. 6. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through use of climate-smart land-use tools. 7. Enhance community resilience and prepare for the effects of climate change. 8. Support development of a green innovation economy. 9. Inform and inspire the public. 10. Commit to an evolving process of climate action. Energy retrofit at the Preble Town Hall Improvements included lighting upgrades, insulation and air sealing, window upgrades, replacement of an aging oil fired forced air furnace with high efficiency electric heat pumps, and the installation of a 9kW solar photovoltaic array. Fuel oil savings is approximately 1,900 gallons per year. The town will save approximately $8,400 each year in energy costs and will realize a payback period of 5.8 years. The energy retrofit will eliminate the need for fossil fuel combustion, and the total carbon emissions reduction is projected to be 19.53 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) annually.