Author: Matthew Gutierrez 

Three students, three stories highlighting the intersection of sustainability, technology, and economic incentives. As the students outline below, environmental initiatives can be impactful and financially beneficial. In this case, it’s thanks to GridRewards, an award-winning, free app that connects homeowners with their Con Ed account and tells users when and how to reduce their energy usage. Maybe best of all, homeowners can earn extra cash and reduce their energy bills year-round.

Carter Medved, Keyera Gordon, and Aidan Schissler are not only participating in local projects—they’re inspiring others and shaping their future careers around environmental stewardship. Each plans to continue their sustainability education in college. Their experiences offer a glimpse into the growing youth movement for climate action in Westchester County and the innovative approaches they’re employing to create a more sustainable future.

We spoke with each student about their experience with GridRewards, the importance of reducing energy consumption, and their thoughts on growing up in a warming world.

Carter was awarded first place with a cash prize of $500 for his project, “Powering Families Towards Sustainability. His impactful campaign to incentivize homes to adopt the Grid Rewards program, reducing carbon-intensive peaker plants’ reliance on electricity needs, impressed the judges. His successful outreach convinced the judges of the project’s potential for lasting impact.

Meet Carter Medved

In 2020, my family moved from New York City to Westchester. For the first time, I saw how I could impact the environment at home. When we moved here, I saw the effects of climate change, specifically because some of my friends’ homes flooded, causing extensive damage. I had never seen that in the city.

So, we did what we could at home. We switched to LED lights, bought an electric vehicle, and installed geothermal heat. This was inspiring because it helped the environment and was cost-effective, prompting me to help other families do the same.

I’m in the Westchester Youth Congress, which is a group of students from across Westchester trying to do things to help improve the community. Then I connected with Sustainable Westchester, where I began helping promote the GridRewards app because it’s pretty easy to help the environment and earn families extra money. Our selling points included: help the environment and earn money. I’d love to continue Grid Awards for larger buildings or building complexes, like in schools across Westchester. The schools can make money by reducing carbon emissions.

Not all people realize that going green is often a sound economical choice. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to help the environment.

GridRewards has helped make me even more interested in climate, so I’m looking at pursuing environmental studies in college. I’ve also been interested in starting my own business one day, and I’d love to create a business to benefit the environment. Last summer, I interned with Tetra, which helps make installing heat pumps in homes easier.

One of the biggest issues is education about climate change. Many people don’t even believe in climate change, which is astounding given that it’s happening in real time. That’s a big issue, so we need more education about it, what’s caused it, and how we can work to address it.

I’ve had education and support at school from teachers, community members, and other students. I encourage others to join local environmental organizations. Being in these motivated groups only pushes you even more. It’s empowering to surround yourself with these groups, and it’s great that conversations about the environment at school have become more normalized.

I have a website called WattSherpa, where I interview people about climate change. I recently spoke with a University of Chicago professor who said we’ll lose the battle unless we make significant innovations and changes. That’s the reality we have to face.

At the same time, I look around and see how so many more people are aware of the environment, and I have hope because the younger generations are driving change and innovation. I’m keeping the faith that we can do this.

Meet Keyera Gordon  

I took AP environmental science in 2023, the first class in which I could apply what I learned outside school. My teacher introduced me to the Green Club, and Sustainable Westchester’s Lauren Brois gave a short speech about the initiatives there. Later in the year, she told us about the GridRewards initiative, which I joined. I talked to community members about the benefits of saving energy, and users get a rebate at the end of the summer. It’s cheaper to pay users to power down their energy use at peak times.

The experience with GridRewards was formative. I love environmental science and plan to major in it at Spelman College. In class, we did a lesson on environmental racism. I saw that in the New Rochelle neighborhood where I live, highways were built nearby, causing higher asthma rates compared to other communities. I found that incredibly interesting, so I wrote about it in my college essay.

My grandmother has a garden at my house. I recently did an intergenerational gardening project with her, and she talked to me about how she gardens. She grows tomatoes, strawberries, and all kinds of vegetables. She’s been gardening since she came to this country from Jamaica as a teenager.

I’m inspired by people like Raya Salter, an environmental activist who led a march with us. Although I’m not entirely sure what career path I want to take, seeing an environmental activist and a woman of color has been inspiring.

Keyera, who graduated from New Rochelle High School in 2024, is majoring in environmental science at Spelman College in Atlanta. She has assisted Sustainable Westchester in its GridRewards program.

For me, it’s exciting to be a person of color in this field. My neighborhood is near highways and air pollution. When I visit my white friends, they live in and near green spaces and parks. It’s exciting to think I could help create a future that changes that and shifts the playing field. I’ll be at Spelman College, an HBCU, so I’ll be around other Black women, hoping to create change. It’s nerve-wracking but very exciting.

I’m concerned about the future of our climate. The effects of climate change, such as air quality and warming, are evident.

What gives me hope are the groups of younger people who are going out to make a change. They’re making a shift to create a better environment, and we’re taking action on environmental injustice, one step at a time.

Aidan is a member of the North Castle Sustainability Committee. As the only student member, I’ve acted as a liaison to the school community. In 2023, the committee implemented town-wide composting through a Westchester County-sponsored program, which offers cost savings due to a reduction in waste removal.

Meet Aidan Schissler

When Sustainable Westchester approached our committee to promote GridRewards to North Castle residents, I thought about bringing it to our school district. I loved the idea of pursuing a sustainability initiative in our community that also produces cost savings.

I asked Dr. Jennifer Laden, one of my Global Scholars teachers, to meet with Lauren Brois from Sustainable Westchester to learn more about the program and determine its potential viability at the district level. We were amazed by the technology, energy efficiency, and potential savings it offered. Dr. Laden and I scheduled our next meeting with John Baxter, the Director of facilities for Byram Hills. He was very receptive, and we set up another meeting with Kelly Seibert, the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Management Services, and Michele Kaufman, Vice President of Business Development and Partnerships, from Logical Buildings, to go over the analysis of possible cost savings in the district. Everyone was on board, and the district lawyers approved it. The Byram Hills School District will now participate in demand response in all their schools.

With GridRewards, I emphasize the economic incentive: Homeowners can make money from this.

For years, I’ve worked on local projects to clean up areas and town-wide composting—many towns in my area have composting, and I wanted to bring it to North Castle.

When I was little, my family always participated in the town cleanup around Earth Day. We’d fill up bags of trash along a half-mile stretch. During Covid, the cleanups stopped. In elementary school, members of the town Sustainability Committee came into our schools and helped us learn about sorting our lunch items into different receptacles, composting, and recycling trash. That inspired me.

Moving forward, I want to focus on sustainability and business. My family owns a bakery called Sugar Hi. Every week, they go through hundreds of eggs and banana peels. Since all of it went in the trash, I wanted them to start composting. Now, they’re open to composting all of it. That was one instance where I tried to bring business and sustainability together.

I’m very concerned with the direction in which everything is heading. The bigger issue is that many people don’t believe the earth is warming and don’t know about sustainable practices either. It’s a huge concern.

There’s hope because more programs like GridRewards focus on sustainability. There’s also more awareness of combating climate change. If we all play our part and do what we can, this could lead to real change. Profit can be aligned with purpose.

As Black History Month comes to an end, we want to shine a light on Black leaders who are driving environmental justice forward. These changemakers are fighting for clean air, safe water, climate action, and equitable access to green jobs in communities that have been historically overlooked.

Black communities have always been at the forefront of environmental justice—from advocating against toxic pollution in cities to leading the transition to clean energy and sustainable economies. Today, we recognize four incredible leaders who are making real change happen.

Andre Peart – Creating Pathways for Economic Justice

Andre Peart is the Founder & CEO of Untapped Solutions, a company using technology to help formerly incarcerated individuals find jobs and career opportunities in clean energy and beyond.

Many Black and Brown individuals face barriers to employment due to systemic injustice. Andre is breaking down those barriers by connecting justice-impacted individuals with training programs and workforce development opportunities.

Through his work, he is helping build economic justice and create lasting change in Black and underserved communities.

Andre Peart | Website | LinkedIn

Paul Presendieu – Leading Local Climate Action

As the Chair of the City of New Rochelle’s Ecology and Natural Resources Advisory Committee, Paul Presendieu is making sure that Black and immigrant communities have a seat at the table in climate policy.

Paul has also served as a United Nations Ambassador for Climate Action, where he has worked to ensure that climate solutions include equity and justice. His leadership has been recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative and Grist, who named him one of the top 50 Climate Leaders to Watch in the U.S.

His work is proof that climate leadership must reflect the diversity of our communities.

Paul Presendieu | LinkedIn

Peggy Shepard – A Pioneer in Environmental Justice

Peggy Shepard is a trailblazer in the environmental justice movement. As the Co-founder and Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, she has spent decades fighting for clean air, water, and environmental protections for Black and Brown communities.

She has served as a leader at the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Her work has forced government agencies and corporations to take environmental racism seriously.

She is proof that community activism can change national policy.

Peggy Shepard | Website | Twitter/X | Instagram | LinkedIn

Raya Salter – Fighting for Energy Justice

Raya Salter, also known as “Climate Auntie,” is a passionate advocate for clean energy and environmental justice. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Energy Justice Law & Policy Center (EJLPC) in New Rochelle, NY, she is building grassroots power and youth leadership for a just energy transition.

With over 15 years of experience in energy law, Raya has worked to ensure that Black and frontline communities have a say in climate policy. She is a member of the New York State Climate Action Council and has testified in Congress, where she fearlessly challenged big oil interests.

Her work reminds us that climate solutions must be rooted in racial and economic justice.

Raya Salter | Website | Instagram | Twitter/X | LinkedIn

At Sustainable Westchester, we are committed to highlighting Black leaders, advocates, and changemakers who are driving the clean energy transition forward. Their work is essential to ensuring a just and equitable transition—one where all communities have access to clean air, water, affordable energy, and green job opportunities.

The path to a clean energy future must be built on equity, inclusion, and justice. We will continue to support, amplify, and stand alongside Black voices leading the way in environmental justice—not just during Black History Month, but every day.

On November 19, 2024, the Westchester County Office of Economic Development and Sustainable Westchester co-hosted the Westchester County Clean Energy Job and Resource Fair. The event attracted an impressive crowd of over 325 job seekers, all eager to explore opportunities in the rapidly expanding clean energy sector. This fair was more than just a gathering; it was a powerful demonstration of our commitment to fostering sustainable energy careers and empowering residents to join the movement toward a greener future.
Attendees had the chance to meet directly with top clean energy employers, including companies specializing in solar energy jobs, heat pump installations, and geothermal technologies. In addition to networking with hiring managers, participants connected with clean energy training providers offering pathways to high-paying clean energy careers. This combination of employer engagement and training resources provided a comprehensive approach to helping individuals secure meaningful roles in the renewable energy industry.
The event offered a variety of support services to enhance the job-seeking experience. Participants benefited from resume-writing assistance, personalized job-matching services, and interactive workshops designed to help attendees stand out in the competitive renewable energy jobs market. A panel discussion, titled “Jumpstarting Your Clean Energy Career,” featured industry leaders sharing valuable insights into the clean energy job market, while the “Conversation with an Expert” session provided practical advice for navigating the transition into sustainable energy careers.

Our commitment to equity and inclusivity was reflected in both the planning and execution of the event. By partnering with key community-based organizations—such as New Yorkers for Clean Power, the Re-Entry Task Force, municipal housing authorities, libraries, and other resource groups—we ensured the event reached a broad audience. Extensive community outreach helped engage youth, women, people of color, justice-affected individuals, veterans, immigrants, and members of historically disadvantaged communities. This deliberate focus on diversity highlighted the importance of building an inclusive workforce to drive the clean energy transition.
The fair also emphasized the financial and environmental benefits of careers in renewable energy. Attendees discovered how working in fields such as solar panel installation, energy efficiency consulting, and geothermal heating and cooling contributes to a cleaner, healthier planet while offering stable and rewarding employment. With roles ranging from entry-level clean energy jobs to specialized positions like energy analysts and renewable energy engineers, the opportunities showcased at the event reflected the broad scope of Westchester’s burgeoning green economy.

Our innovative approach to fostering community engagement and workforce development underscores the pivotal role we play in the clean energy transition. By hosting events like the Clean Energy Job and Resource Fair, we continue to inspire action, create awareness, and equip residents with the tools needed to thrive in the renewable energy industry.

As the clean energy sector continues to grow, events like these are essential in preparing Westchester County for a future powered by sustainable energy. Together with partners and residents, we are charting a path toward an inclusive, resilient, and clean energy workforce—one that reflects the diverse communities we serve.