October 29, 2025 – In September 2025 the Village of Ardsley achieved Bronze recertification as a Climate Smart Community. This is a great feat for the Village and the Ardsley Green Task Force, and the journey does not stop there. This fall, the Ardsley Green Task Force (GTF) is guiding the Village to earn even more Climate Smart Community points by championing the innovative GridRewards App!

What is a Climate Smart Community?

The New York State Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program empowers local governments to combat climate change. When communities become certified through the CSC program, they gain access to grants, leadership recognition, and free technical assistance. Communities achieve certification by earning points for planning and implementing actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

How Your Municipality Can Earn CSC Points

Municipalities can earn valuable CSC points by offering a GridRewards campaign with Sustainable Westchester! The GridRewards app connects users to their daily energy usage and notifies them of what times to reduce energy for a less polluting energy grid and cash back. Click here to learn more about the GridRewards App.

Certification Actions Earned through a GridRewards Campaign:

• “PE9 Action: Energy Reduction Campaign” – once achieved the municipality earns 3 CSC points.

• If your municipality formally completed the Clean Energy Communities program (CEC), a GridRewards campaign could count under “PE8 Action: Community Campaigns”. 

Ardsley is on the way to earn three CSC points and plans to host information sessions about the benefits of the GridRewards app in their community. All are welcome to join one of the following sessions:

• Ardsley Library: Saturday, November 1st, 2025 at 11AM

• Ardsley Community Center – Presentation to Seniors: Wednesday, November 12th, 2025 at 12PM (to register contact the Village of Ardsley)

Sustainable Westchester offers to customize and deliver marketing materials, including flyers, posters, and social media graphics, for your community group’s GridRewards campaign.

Interested in how your municipality can offer a GridRewards Campaign for CSC points? Sustainable Westchester will be happy to assist you in earning points to certify your community, contact us at [email protected] to get started.

Check out more community engagement examples here. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.