The debate is over. “Global warming” really exists. In a report published in June of 2002 the US Environmental Protection Agency, under the Bush administration, concluded that “ greenhouse gases are accumulating on the earth’s atmosphere as a result of human activities causing global mean surface air temperature and subsurface ocean temperatures to rise… if greenhouse gas concentrations continue to increase, changes are likely to occur…” US Climate Action Report, Third National Communication of the USA Under the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change. Anyone who has seen pictures of what climate change is already doing in Alaska (with toppling utility poles due to melting tundra, out houses replacing multi- million dollar sewage treatment facilities which are now under water, forests wiped out by insects suddenly native in a warmer environment), knows what this can mean to our world as we know it.

It is incumbent upon all of us, as private citizens or government officials to look in our own backyard and see how we can contribute to preventing global warming. According to a recent study released by the National Environmental Trust, New York ranks 9th among all US states for emissions of global warming pollution, emitting more than 97 developing countries. Those developing countries have a combined population of 641,056,700 compared to New York’s 19,047,800, which means that New Yorkers emit 34 times more carbon dioxide. We all can and must have a role in reducing that number. The use of energy in buildings alone results in the release of approximately 30% of the green house gases in the United States. That is a number over which we each have some control.

Nor does it have to be expensive or difficult to make a contribution to this effort. Energy technology has advanced a great deal, the costs of energy improvements are going down and the payback is getting shorter and shorter. Indeed, the support and financing available for such investments make them cost free in many cases. The New York Power Authority ( NYPA) will provide free energy audits and implement energy improvements for its customers at no up front cost; payments are made out of energy savings. The New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA) is disbursing tens of millions of dollar in various forms of assistance annually.

Highlighted here are some concrete steps that can and have been taken to reduce energy consumption, increase efficiency and move towards locally generated renewable sources of energy. 

Edna Sussman

Special Report: Saving Energy

The Greening of Greenburgh Benjamin Marks Solar Solutions for New York David Eisenbud Implementing Green Building Programs Wayne Tusa New Castle’s Initiatives to Save Energy in the Community Betsy Shaw Weiner Croton NY Goes Solar Staff Report Global Energy Policy Advanced at Johannesburg Summit By Pace Law School Professor Nicholas A. Robinson New York Leads: The Green Building Tax Credit By Craig Kneeland The Condé Nast Building by Kirsten Sibilia Controlling Energy Demand Earns Dollars By Michael Gordon Steps to Saving Energy Dan Rosenblum	White Plains Saves Energy and Dollars Bud Nicoletti Geothermal Offers Cheap, Clean Energy Alexander H. Roberts A Message from California T.H. Culhane Energy Audits: evaluating your energy efficiency Brian Higbie An Award Winning Green Building in Irvington Stephen Tilly You Too Can Buy Wind Power By Ron Kamen The Green Gap: Home Construction “Green Roofs” Reduce Runoff and Save Energy By Edna Sussman The Green Gap: Energy Sources Saving energy in the home By Tony Lisanti Towards Energy Independence By Richard Dwyer Impact of shut down on energy supplies? (January, 2002) by Edna Sussman
FCWC Energy Related Reprints in PDF Format
The Burnham Building Buying Wind Power Conde Nast Controlling Energy Demand Croton Goes Solar Geothermal Global Energy Policies	Green Roofs Implementing Green Building New Castle Initiatives NY Tax Credit Solar Solutions The "Gaps" White Plains Saves Energy
Energy Issues
Energy Demand Reduction an Urgent Task (April 2003)