Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins & Cortland Counties is holding an open application period from January 15th – April 15th 2021. The selected homebuyer family would partner with Habitat and White Hawk Ecovillage Community, Inc in Danby to build a modest, efficient, and ecologically minded home in the White Hawk Community. The family will work alongside TCHFH’s staff and volunteers, including White Hawk members, to build their home.
Back in 2017, the City and Town of Ithaca proposed a “green building policy” for new construction and major renovations that was pretty advanced for its time… in 2017. Now, in 2021, the City and Town are proposing to vote on it. However, policy that was advanced in 2017 is not advanced today … they need to strengthen the law before passing it. YOU CAN HELP! Here are 3 easy actions for you to take before the public hearing TOMORROW. It will make a big difference to our representatives to know they have support for this important policy from a broad base of the community.
TOMORROW (Thursday, 2/4/21) from 3:00pm – 5:00pm is the NYS Energy Efficiency and Housing Climate Action Council Subcommittee meeting. This is the only opportunity for public input before this body gives their recommendation to the State Climate Action Council. We are advocating for an ambitious sunset plan for gas in all buildings beginning with new construction. The timeline below would end fossil fuels in new single-family homes by 2025 and end new and replacement fossil fuel heating system sales by 2030. Sign up to speak for 2 minutes!
e Ithaca Common Council will be voting this coming Wednesday, February 3rd, to stipulate that the new Green Street residential tower, parking garage and conference center in Ithaca be built with a minimum of 30% local labor (defined as being Tompkins County and all contiguous Counties). Please contact Council as soon as possible to support this, which you can easily do with one e-mail to council@cityofithaca.org (the Mayor will also receive this). This requirement will mean more good jobs for people who live and pay taxes in this area.
Despite the challenges we currently face in shifting our industries away from pollutive, extractive, and destructive practices, living more sustainably is much easier than you think. Be sure to check out the new Green Tips page for tips on how to practice sustainability as an individual, and as a community. Categories include Energy, Waste, Transportation, Food, Household Products, Water Protection, and Yard & Garden.
Through a series of eight online training sessions, Navigators will learn about programs and incentives that exist to help others make positive changes in their life! Topics include understanding energy bills, home energy efficiency, renewable heating, solar energy, transportation alternatives, and more. Applications are due Friday, March 19th, and online training begins on Wednesday, April 14th, 2021.
We Make Our Future! If we remain silent and uninformed while harms and risks proliferate around us, that is our doing as much as theirs. Please make 2021 the Year of Focus on the Future! Call Cuomo to make your views on the stewardship of our landscape known: (518) 474-8390 to call Cuomo!
A versatile program in a growing field, the Sustainable Communities program integrates environmental protection, economic vitality and social equity to solve the challenges of communities around the world.
This coming January, a municipal transfer station with on-site organics management (aka composting!), called the Geneva Resource Recovery Park, is coming to Geneva, NY! This center is brought to you by Closed Loop Systems, a local company that designs, builds, operates, and maintains customized resource recovery facilities for municipal, agricultural, industrial, and institutional clients. Their mission is to replenish global topsoil using waste! They also engage in advocacy work and education around healthy soil and the importance of the soil food web.
Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse (and also Auburn, Binghamton and Ithaca) offers emergency shelter, meals, supportive permanent housing, employment resources, and spiritual care to those struggling with homelessness and hunger. Listen to their podcast, Drinks From the Well, which opens dialogue and understanding between those who have been homeless and those who wish to know their stories. **VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED** for this awesome organization to deliver meals on Christmas morning – a great way to give back as a family!
When a building has to be demolished, Significant Elements salvages parts of it to promote the reuse of these parts. Buy purchasing from them, you help the planet AND you get doors, windows, knobs, keyholes, etc that have twice the character of the boring ones you would buy new! Check out their Facebook page to browse their inventory, or visit their storefront in Ithaca.
Green Home Heroes is a NY State licensed Home Inspection company with Infrared imaging experts who will work to discover any health or structural risks in your home due to mold, structural defects, Carbon Monoxide and gas leaks. They also promote energy efficiency, and will help you understand your options for energy efficient repairs and renovations. And they strengthen our local economy by creating as many jobs as possible! Bravo to Green Home Heroes!
Habitat for Humanity partners with local first-time homebuyers to help them build or improve a place to call home! Recipients work alongside volunteers to build their home, and pay an affordable mortgage when its completed….These mortgage payments are then used to fund the construction of more Habitat homes! This helps strengthen the local economy and improve community connections. Want to help out? You can certainly help build, but theres also plenty of other ways to get involved. Do you identify as a woman and want to expand your handy skills while giving back to the community? Check out their Woman Build Program!
Second Wind Cottages houses and walks with people toward restored lives. They built cottages for homeless men in Newfield with a supportive environment- facilitating regular meetings with the men and also providing drug and alcohol counseling, GED assistance, Christian fellowship and support, life skills training, meals and social events such as movie nights with other residents and the larger community, laundry facilities, exercise equipment, and a food pantry! Our largest Climate Fund grant ever was given to Second Wind to pay for the insulation in all six of their first cottages in Newfield! Thanks to all those who offset their carbon emissions with us through Finger Lakes Climate Fund! Next on the agenda is a home for women in Dryden on donated land, which they hope to start building in Spring of 2021 – Donate here to help bring this dream to fruition!
Small home builders, interior designers, kitchen designers, renovators and consultants! So what separates them from the rest of the pack? 🤔🤔