A pilot initiative in Ithaca, New York has been helping landlords and tenants transition rental homes away from fossil fuel heating toward all‑electric systems, such as heat pumps. The Clean Energy and Equity Pilot was run by Sustainable Finger Lakes with funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). It assisted…
This summer, we’ve been shining a spotlight on inspiring stories from the Clean Energy & Equity Pilot, Mobile Home Pilot Project, and the Finger Lakes Climate Fund. These incredible programs have empowered community members to make energy-efficient upgrades in their homes—boosting comfort, slashing energy bills, and shrinking their carbon footprint. It’s all about creating a brighter, greener future together!
Sustainable Finger Lakes has been addressing the twin issues of climate change and income inequality for over two decades. Their Finger Lakes Climate Fund (FLCF) might be one of the oldest local carbon offset programs in the nation and is unique in its approach of using offset donations to fund grants to lower-income folks to pay for clean energy improvements to their homes. In recent years they have won several grants that let them expand their support to income-eligible families wanting to transition from fossil fuel heating to electric heat pumps.
A multimedia exhibition exploring the lives of the “canners” who make their livelihood collecting recyclable beverage containers. Featuring the paintings of Chinese-American visual artist and activist Siyan Wong, alongside installations and video works by Wong and filmmaker Alvin Tsang. Canvases by painter Mark Gaston Pearce (chairperson of the National Labor Relations Board under President Obama)…
Dear Friends, You are invited to a forum hosted by People for a Healthy Environment (PHE) about extreme weather events and how we can prepare for them. The Southern Tier, similar to the United States in general, will experience worsening extreme weather. This forum is offered to help residents of the region protect their families…
Hear from some landlords and tenants in our Clean Energy & Equity Pilot program!
Check out the most recent Philanthropy edition from Alyssa Celotto, which features programs from Sustainable Finger Lakes.
Craig Riecke has been a dedicated donor of the Sustainable Finger Lakes (SFLX) Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program for over a decade. He first came to Central New York as a VISTA volunteer and immediately fell in love with the region’s natural beauty and diverse landscapes. “People usually think of New York as just the city, but…
Hammerstone School combines craftsmanship with skill-building, offering classes that prioritize women as students and future builders. By teaching building skills, Hammerstone empowers both women and non-binary individuals to use their bodies and minds for creative and practical purposes. They aim to challenge the long-standing societal norm where boys are taught to build while girls are…
Access to local backup power resources is vital for emergency response, recovery, and public health in the event of an emergency and resulting power outage. Increasingly, community institutions, including institutions of faith, health centers, fire stations, and affordable housing developments, are equipping their facilities with renewable and reliable backup power – solar PV paired with…
Webinar: March 6, 2025, 1 pm – 2 pm ET Have you struggled to create a budget for a grant application or for your whole organization? Creating budgets can seem overwhelming. Join us on March 6, 2025 for an interactive webinar to learn the basics about budgeting. We’ll help to demystify budget creation by providing…
Sharleena and Daniel Pierce live in a mobile home in Tompkins County with their daughter and two huskies. The Pierce family can live more comfortably and affordably thanks to Halco and Sustainable Finger Lakes!
(Ithaca Times, 2-20-25, by Matt Dougherty) ITHACA, N.Y. — Sustainable Finger Lakes is tackling energy inefficiency and climate vulnerabilities in Tompkins County through an innovative heat pump pilot program for mobile homes. The initiative is funded by $522,000 from the Tompkins County Community Recovery Fund and seeks to retrofit mobile homes with energy-efficient heat…
Tuesday, March 11th 6:00 – 7:30 pm at Fayetteville Library, 300 Orchard St. Heat Pumps – Heating and Cooling Your Home Efficiently A presentation by Ian Shapiro, Associate Director of Building Science and Community Programs at S.U. Ian is a national expert in the history, design, efficiency, cost of operation and health benefits of electric heat…
What Are Cumulative Impacts?Cumulative impacts is the term used to describe the combined effects of exposure to multiple sources of pollution. For example, if you live near a power plant, truck depot, factory, and highway, the air you breathe is polluted by all of those sources. However, in the way permitting is done for these…