The Village Green: Towards a Sustainable Larchmont

1. The Village Green: Towards a Sustainable Larchmont Progress to Date Panel: VoL Committee on the Environment February 2, 2009

2. Are We There Yet? • VoL Mayor revived the Committee on the Environment (CoE) in 2007 and the VoL Board of Trustees (BoT) has been active on environmental issues • Purpose of this panel is to report on -- • What has been done (energy reduction, recycling, etc.) • Why it’s important, and • To prompt thinking about what else can be accomplished in and by our community • VoL CoE members Marlene Kolbert

3. CO2 Reduction • Goal: To increase VoL energy efficiency and reduce CO2 footprint • Why? • Contribute to national efforts to reduce energy use and mitigate climate change • Progress to date • 2007 - VoL BoT agreed to join ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability • January, 2008 - Tasked the VoL CoE to determine CO2 footprint for VoL operations • May, 2008 - Energy Audit of Village Hall and Library performed by NY Power Authority Carol Casazza Herman and Bruce Macfarlane

4. CO2 Reduction • Progress to date (continued) • November, 2008 - VoL agrees to endorse ICLEI’s Empowering Local Government Climate Action • January, 2009 - VoL commits to a goal to reduce CO2 emissions 20% by 2015 • Implemented energy conservation measures: • Upgraded Library HVAC system • Installed new thermostats at the Library/Village Center • Operating new solar panels in the Village yard • Purchased a GEMS vehicle • Installed new lighting in the North Tunnel Carol Casazza Herman and Bruce Macfarlane

5. CO2 Reduction • Future activities to consider… • Additional conservation measures in Village Hall (such as the reconfiguration of pipes, insulation of pipes, energy efficient lights) and other buildings (e.g., insulated doors in police and fire department garages) • Replacement of non-emergency vehicles with hybrids • Planting of more trees • Improvement of transportation infrastructure and recycling rates Carol Casazza Herman and Bruce Macfarlane

6. Recycling • Goal: To increase the amount of waste recycled by residents, businesses, and government • Why? • VoL pays by the pound to remove waste; removal of recyclables is free • Improve aesthetics - much of the litter in parks and other public spaces is recyclable • It’s the law - 2008 amendment to recycling law makes recycling mandatory in Westchester County Sally Maca/Millie Magraw/Ellen Martin

7. Recycling • Progress to date • 2/2008 - Pilot project placed 4 blue recycling bins in VoL commercial areas to capture recyclables • 10/2008 - DPW converted 9 existing blue plastic trash barrels into recycling bins in Flint Park to capture the large number of water and sports drink containers • 1/2008 - Chatsworth School implemented a recycling program: 3 dumpsters/wk of paper and 1/2 dumpster/wk of co-mingled waste • Results • Recycling containers in commercial areas are successful; however, often over-flowing and mixed with trash • Too early to determine benefit of Flint Park action Sally Maca/Millie Magraw/Ellen Martin

8. Recycling • Some challenges • Many apartment buildings and businesses lack space to collect and store recyclables • People are unaccustomed to recycling • Bins are costly • Frequency of collection/overflowing bins • Future actions to consider… • Increase the number of recycling receptacles so there is a recycling bin near each trash receptacle • Education campaign for VoL residents and businesses • Facilitate and improve recycling collection in apartment and commercial buildings • Work with sports leagues to encourage use of reusable water bottles and proper disposal of recyclables Sally Maca/Millie Magraw/Ellen Martin

9. Pesticide Use • Goal: To minimize or eliminate where feasible, pesticide and herbicide use • Why? • Decrease harmful chemical exposures • VoL actions on pesticide use • Ceased use of treflan • Developed a “minimal use” approach to invasives management in Flint Park conservation area • No pesticides policy on playing fields and in parks • Future actions to consider… • Encourage businesses, congregations, clubs, and residents to evaluate what chemical treatment they or their lawn service companies use with the goal of reduction or elimination of chemical applications Julia Steinmetz/Holly Moskow

10. Vehicle Idling • Goal: To reduce air pollution from unnecessary vehicle idling • Why? • Protect health from air pollution, reduce emissions that contribute to global warming, better for your car, save money • Progress to date: • 4/2008 VoL passed anti-idling law • Some signage posted • Future actions to consider… • Additional education and enforcement Lori Stevenson

11. Composting • Goal • Establish composting as practical and environmentally beneficial method for recycling yard trimmings and organic waste • Why • To reduce the amount of waste sent to state landfills while encouraging the use of compost as an alternative to fertilizer, when appropriate • Progress to Date • Leaf Pick-up • Secondary Yard Waste • Compost Tea • Future Actions to Consider… • Backyard Composting • On-Site Composting Jennifer Carpenter Jensen

12. Deconstruction • Goal: To encourage homeowners, architects, contractors, property managers, and landlords to direct building materials to green deconstruction organizations • “Deconstruction” is the sale or donation of building materials generated during renovation or demolition for reuse by others • Why? • Reusing building materials saves landfill space and conserves the energy and resources that would go into making new materials • Competitive advantage • Progress to date • VoL deconstruction handout • Future actions to consider… • Encourage deconstruction through education and information sharing Ellen Martin/Jennifer Carpenter Jensen

13. Transportation • Goal: Through comprehensive transportation planning and improvement of the transportation infrastructure, become a more walk-able and bike-able community • Why? • Reduction in vehicle congestion, energy use • Increase in physical activity • Progress to date: • Just gotten underway; formation of Rye YMCA’s Sound Shore Trailways Committee pedestrian-biking-kayaking master plan study group Richard Ward

14. Transportation • Future actions to consider… • Add existing bike parking and create scooter parking spaces at the train station • Increase covered bike parking spaces • Add bike racks to Palmer Avenue streetscape • Consider transportation needs in any multi-unit residential housing design at the train station • Provide kayak access points to Long Island Sound • Facilitate pedestrian access to Larchmont Reservoir - James G. Johnson Conservancy Richard Ward

15. Summary • In brief, we are moving towards becoming a more sustainable village by aiming to: • Increase energy efficiency, recycling, composting, green deconstruction and transportation • Decrease pesticide use and idling • We are not there yet and need your ideas and help! • We hope that what you’ve heard gives you ideas for your organizations and inspires action • Open discussion Marlene Kolbert

16. Next Steps • We invite each of you, Larchmont’s community leaders, to consider what can be done to advance sustainability within the groups and organizations that you represent • We ask that you take the information packets offered and follow up with a member of the CoE Marlene Kolbert