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Empowering Communities with Critical Climate Resources

By Our Blog

At Sustainable Westchester, we play an active role in the clean energy transition, leveraging federal grants and resources to support our communities. Our commitment to access and transparency is driven by the understanding that many of our member municipalities face significant climate challenges and environmental inequities. At the heart of our mission is ensuring that all communities, especially those historically underserved, have equitable access to environmental resources.

Due to recent federal changes, several data resources environmentalists once had access to are no longer available.

For this reason,  we support the  Public Environmental Data Project, a volunteer coalition of environmental justice and policy organizations, researchers, archivists, and students, who are dedicated to preserving and providing public access to federal environmental data. By maintaining access to critical information on air quality, emissions, climate patterns, and pollution, this project helps communities and organizations identify environmental risks and track inequities. It also enables stakeholders to advocate for stronger climate change mitigation initiatives where they are needed most.

In addition to PEDP, we’re excited to share that the Climate Program Portal Library has recently been updated with a wealth of resources archived in January 2025. This includes the original Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) website, comprehensive EV charging information, elective pay options, and much more. These tools are invaluable for individuals, businesses, and municipalities aiming to stay informed and actively contribute to a sustainable future.

By supporting and promoting access to these critical resources, Sustainable Westchester continues to advance environmental justice through increasing accessibility across all our communities.

Explore these valuable tools and learn more about how environmental data supports justice and action:

Public Environmental Data Project

Climate Program Portal Library.

Helpful Tip: If there are any webpages you haven’t been able to access but you have the URL, you can try using the Wayback Machine to retrieve archived versions, which may be helpful to retrieve climate resources: http://web.archive.org/.

If you know of additional resources we can share with our community please email us at [email protected].

Free D.I.Y. Energy Kit Workshop at Greenburgh Town Hall

By Events

Location: Town of Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Ave, White Plains, NY 10607

Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Registration: https://bit.ly/GreenburghDIY

Sustainable Westchester will present a free D.I.Y. “Do-It-Yourself” workshop for low-income homeowners and renters. Learn how to save money and energy in your apartment or house! Register now to reserve a free D.I.Y. energy kit, which includes 2 LED light bulbs, weatherstripping, one door sweep, one power strip, window insulation, foam tape for windows/doors, and foam outlet & switch gaskets. Also covered in the session: heat pumps, insulation, incentives for home energy upgrades, HEAP, Empower+, and GridRewards!

REGISTER HERE

Free Dinner & D.I.Y. Energy Savings Kit at Yonkers Riverfront Library

By Events

Yonkers Riverfront Library – One Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701

Thursday, March 6, 2025

5:30 – 6:00: Dinner

6:00 – 7:00: Energy Kit Session

Register here: www.ypl.org/diy_kit 

Register now to reserve a FREE energy kit ($80 value!) and learn how to take simple, D.I.Y. “do-it-yourself” actions to reduce energy waste and lower costs. Also covered in the session: heat pumps, insulation, incentives for home energy upgrades, HEAP, Empower+, and GridRewards! The do-it-yourself energy kit includes 2 LED light bulbs, weatherstripping, door sweep, power strip, window insulation, foam tape for windows/doors, and foam outlet & switch gaskets.

REGISTER HERE
Larchmont Girl Scouts Learn How to Conduct an Energy Assessment

Larchmont Girl Scouts Learn How to Conduct an Energy Assessment!

By Our Blog
Larchmont Girl Scouts Learn How to Conduct an Energy Assessment

Pictured: Larchmont Girl Scouts with Hayden from Healthy Home Energy & Consulting, and Sustainable Westchester’s Building Decarbonization Director Lauren Brois, Program Coordinator Dara Rivadeneira, and College Intern Stella Sanko.

January 23, 2025 – Earlier this January, Sustainable Westchester and Healthy Home Energy & Consulting accompanied two Larchmont Girl Scout Troops on their Get Moving Journey. This Journey is all about exploring energy and how to use it responsibly. A lot of our energy usage happens at home, so together with the Girl Scouts we performed a modified home energy assessment at the Larchmont Girl Scouts House! The troops learned how insulation helps buildings stay warm during the winter and conducted a blower door test and used an infrared camera to find areas of the building that were cold and lacking insulation. They discovered how colors indicated temperature on an infrared camera. Look at the photo below to see the residual heat left by their warm helping hands!

screen of the infrared gun

Together, 4th and 5th grader girl scouts made the connection on how using energy efficiently at home helps the planet. In the end Sustainable Westchester emphasized how these young Girl Scouts have the power to make a difference and helped them put together promises on ways to reduce energy at home through their energy pledge. After they made their energy pledges, we brainstormed ideas on how to expand on these energy saving ideas in their homes and communities. We were happy to hear that some girls wanted to conduct home energy assessments in their own homes and schools to help save energy! The girls were also delighted to learn that there are also interactive apps for download to help them track their energy at home and remind them of energy saving tips.

If your troop is interested in being green leaders and earning their Get Moving badge, please contact Lauren Brois at [email protected]!

Girl Scout Get Moving! Badge

Feeling inspired to be more energy efficient like our fellow girl scouts? Please check out our EnergySmart Homes program and the GridRewards app to get started!

 

Free D.I.Y. Energy Savings Workshop in Peekskill/ TALLER PARA AHORRAR ENERGÍA

By Events

Sun River Health, 1037 Main St, Peekskill

On Saturday, February 8th 2025 from 9:30am – 12:00pm, Sustainable Westchester will present an informational session on how to save money and energy in your apartment or house. This event is cosponsored by Sun River Health and the Preservation Company. The workshop will be offered in both English and Spanish.

Sustainable Westchester is holding a free D.I.Y. Energy Savings Workshop. Attendees will receive a FREE D.I.Y. Energy Kit ($80 value) and a tutorial on how to use the items in the kit and free breakfast. Also covered in the session: HEAP, Empower+, GridRewards, heat pumps, insulation, and incentives for home energy upgrades.

 Included in the Free Energy Kit:

  • 2 LED light bulbs
  • Window insulation
  • Weatherstripping
  • Foam tape for windows/doors
  • Door sweep
  • Foam outlet & switch gaskets
  • Power strip

To register online please visit: https://bit.ly/EnergyKitPeekskill  or call (914) 242-4725 ext. 126

TALLER PARA AHORRAR ENERGÍA

El sábado, 8 de febrero 2025 de 9:30am – 12:00pm, Sustainable Westchester presentará una sesión informativa sobre cómo ahorrar dinero y energía en su apartamento o casa. Este evento está copatrocinado por Sun River Health y The Preservation Company. El taller se ofrecerá tanto en inglés como en español.

Aprende sobre bombas de calor, aislamieto, y cómo puede usar créditos fiscales, fondos estatales, y incentivos de la compañia de luz! También en el taller: HEAP, Empower+, Community Solar, GridRewards, y cómo usar los artículos en su kit de energía (lo puede instalar usted mismo!) Incluido: Cinta de espuma (para ventanas/puertas), láminas de espuma para tomacorrientes y interruptores, regleta con protección, burlete bajo puerta, aislamiento para ventanas, 2 bombillas de LED, burletes de silicona/goma,

Para registrarse en línea por favor visite: bit.ly/EnergyKitPeekskill o llame al (914) 242-4725 ext. 126

Renew America’s Nonprofits: February Webinar

Renew America’s Nonprofits: February Webinar

By Events

Date: Thursday, February 6th 2025

Time: 2pm – 3pm

Event Description:

Please join Sustainable Westchester’s second webinar for the Renew America’s Nonprofits Grant. We will review aspects of the application, technical assistance that we can provide, and frequently asked questions about the application process. Please also use this opportunity to ask any specific questions or concerns you have about the application and selection process.

Please Register here: https://secure.givelively.org/event/sustainable-westchester-inc/renew-america-s-nonprofits-webinar-february

For more information about this grant program, please also check out our RAN grant program page here: https://bit.ly/RANSW

renew america thumbnail

Renew America’s Nonprofits: December Webinar

By past events

Renew America’s Nonprofits: December Webinar

Date: Wednesday, December 4th, 2024

Time: 11am – 12pm

Event Description:

In this webinar, Sustainable Westchester will provide in depth detail about the Renewing America’s Nonprofits grant and application process. This webinar will give you the opportunity to better understand the scope and scale of a potential building decarbonizing project and how to be a highly scored applicant. Participants will also be able to ask questions and discover what resources will be made available to them during the application period.

Please Register here: https://secure.givelively.org/event/sustainable-westchester-inc/renew-america-s-nonprofits-webinar-december

D.I.Y. Energy Education Workshops to Lower Energy Costs

By Our Blog

D.I.Y. Energy Education Workshops to Lower Energy Costs

Sustainable Westchester is hosting a series of “Do-It-Yourself” (D.I.Y.) Energy Education Workshops for homeowners and renters to learn about simple, do-it-yourself actions to lower their utility bills. Keep reading to learn more about what these workshops will cover, and how to organize one for your community members!

What’s included in these D.I.Y. Energy Education Workshops?

Participants will receive a tutorial on how to use their free D.I.Y. Energy Kit, containing materials to help them stop leaks, reduce drafts, and lower their energy usage. The workshops also cover cost-saving programs like HEAP, EAP, EmPower+, and Community Solar, and information on funding available for bigger home energy upgrades. 

Included in the D.I.Y. Energy Kit:

  • Weatherstripping
  • Door sweep
  • Window insulation kit
  • Foam outlet and switch gasket
  • Foam tape for windows/doors​ 
  • Power strip 
  • 2 LED light bulbs

When and Where? 

Workshops will be held throughout Westchester County from November 2024 through January 2025. We hosted our first workshop with the Fairview Empower Group on Sunday, October 13th, 12pm – 1:30pm at the Theodore D. Young Community Center.

Stay Up to Date on the Workshop Schedule

Contact [email protected] for more information.

Are you a Community-Based Organization looking to book a D.I.Y. Energy Education Workshop with our team? We can work with Seniors Groups, PTAs, Lion’s Club, Community Health Centers, Neighborhood Associations and most any community group! 

Call 914-242-4725 ext.5 or email [email protected]