US Dept of Energy Gets Hip with New PSAs on Energy Efficiency
Thursday, July 21st, 2011The US Dept of Energy and the Ad Council have launched a new series of PSAs to help people understand the connection between saving energy and saving money. Apparently in this context, “people” means hipsters! According to Energy Secretary Steven Chu (via EERE News):
“Americans spend about $2,000 per household on energy every year—but many of them could save a few hundred of that without changing their lifestyle. Many American families can take simple steps to reduce their energy bill, while making their homes more comfortable, and use that money for something they really need or want.”
The PSAs direct homeowners to Energy Savers, where they can find tools and information to help them make their homes more efficient. Energy-saving tips on the website include:
- Saving more than $100 a year on heating and cooling bills by using a programmable thermostat to make sure you are only conditioning your home when you need to be;
- Upgrading 15 of the traditional light bulbs in your home, which could save you about $50 per year; and
- Using Energy Star qualified appliances to save even more.
Click HERE to find out more about Energy Efficiency incentives and programs available through NYSERDA!
Posted in Solar One | Permalink
New York City’s New (Clothing) Recycling Program!
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011Annually NYC residents throw away approximately 200,000 tons of clothes, towels, blankets, curtains, shoes, handbags, belts, and other textiles . Luckily, the City of New York understands that New Yorkers do not necessarily want these extra tons to flood and cramp our landfills, but merely would like to throw
away their clothes as a matter of convenience. Let’s face it, no one wants to drive five miles out of the way, or worse, haul two suitcases full of charitable items up and down the subway platform, if they do not have to. Forming a partnership with Housing Works, a group that helps homeless people infected with the H.I.V. Virus, New York City has created Re-FashioNYC to solve all of your donation woes.
The partnership, initiated in 2010, is designed to bring the thrift store donation front right to your own home! Instead of dragging your suitcases and duffel bags of old clothes to the far away land of Goodwill, Re-fashioNYC will conveniently place a donation drop off box in your apartment building or complex. Tenants can donate their goods whenever they want, without the “out of the way” trip to the Salvation Army. The service is at no cost to the building owner, and serves as a catalyst to help “car-less” or inconvenienced New Yorkers recycle those 200,000 tons of apparel rather than leave them victim to the garbage trucks.
Not to mention, the service is tax deductible, as 100% of all your donations go to charitable causes. The outside of the clothing bin has a supply of forms that donors can use to list their donations in order to receive tax receipts. Once the bins are full, an on-call Re-fashioNYC staff member will come to pick up all your donated goods.
This free, convenient service is helping New Yorkers take waste reduction to a whole new level. “[We are] making it easier for New Yorkers to donate or reuse their clothes, and saving taxpayers the high expense of long-distance transportation and waste disposal,” David Bragdon, director of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, said in a statement. As a result, tens of thousands of perfectly good clothing, linens, and shoes will be saved from their doomed fate in our overcrowded landfills, and put the Big Apple one step closer to a greener, cleaner city.
If you’re interested in participating in this new and convenient clothing reuse program, please complete the online inquiry form with basic information about your building or site. For more information, visit the Re-fashioNYC page at nyc.gov.
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Rutkowski Trio and Friends – July 21st from 7-9pm – Free!
Monday, July 18th, 2011| July 21, 2011 | ||
| 7:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
Enjoy an evening of traditional jazz music with our favorite father-and-sons-trio. Rain date Friday, July 22nd.
Posted in Music, Solar One Events | Permalink
TONIGHT! Jazzmobile – July 18th – 6:30 to 8pm – Free!
Sunday, July 17th, 2011| July 18, 2011 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Live jazz music from one of NYC’s oldest and most respected jazz institutions- Jazzmobile! Vocalist Cynthia Holiday will perform accompanied by piano, bass and drums. Presented by the Stuyvesant Cove Park Association.
Posted in Music, Solar One Events, Stuyvesant Cove Park | Permalink
Solar One Family Day: Eco Art in the Park
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Join us for a day of sustainable creativity and crafts! Activities will include eco-tie-dying, mask making, wind chime creation and much more, using recycled and repurposed materials. Suitable for ages 4 and up, free and open to the public, please RSVP and we’ll see you on Saturday!
Posted in Art, Recycling, Stuyvesant Cove Park, Sustainability | Permalink
