Sustainability Initiatives
Our mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life of Cortlandt residents and the unique environment of our area by establishing
programs and policies which integrate sustainability into Town governance and planning, at the same time we want to encourage and enable
Town residents and businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
Our sustainability initiatives are designed to achieve 25% reduction in Cortlandt's energy footprint by the year 2012. This is only possible if the entire community - residents, businesses and the town - works together toward this goal.
We want to encourage all of Cortlandt to explore the initiatives on this page. Your participation will go a long way to keep Cortlandt a model green community!
Please visit this page often to stay informed of our progress.
Our sustainability initiatives are designed to achieve 25% reduction in Cortlandt's energy footprint by the year 2012. This is only possible if the entire community - residents, businesses and the town - works together toward this goal.
We want to encourage all of Cortlandt to explore the initiatives on this page. Your participation will go a long way to keep Cortlandt a model green community!
Please visit this page often to stay informed of our progress.
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Involve the local business community in working with the Town to reduce their energy consumption by establishing similar goals,
and provide resource information to the business community. Engage the residents of the Town to further their own individual,
family and household green programs. A future project in this area could involve working with the electric and gas utility,
and home heating oil providers to gather data for the green house gas emissions of the private residential and business sector
to establish a Town wide carbon footprint.
Continuation and strengthening the Town’s successful urban forestry activities in the Arbor Day Tree City USA award program.
The Town has been an annual recipient of this award.
Town Board adopted a comprehensive tree management
policy that includes regulations for residents and developers.
The Town of Cortlandt is a member of the International Council for Local Environmental (ICLEI) initiatives since 2008, and the Town Board has
adopted the NYSDEC Climate Change Community Action Pledge.
Established in
June 2009, the Cortlandt Green Team has worked on many projects to create awareness, engage staff, and make positive changes to help the Town of
Cortlandt on its mission of sustainability. Team members represent all of departments and divisions of Town government. The work of the Green
Team has resulted in a culture change across Town government. For example, turning off lights when not in use and shutting off computers, printers
and monitors at night is now standard operating procedure for all departments.
Cortlandt
Department of Technical Services Code Enforcement and Engineering Divisions are in the process of enacting Energy Star requirements for
new and existing upgraded homes throughout Town and continue to investigate the incorporation of other green building requirements into
the Town’s building permit process.
Cortlandt has already completed energy audits on some
of its buildings. These audits are often the prerequisite for grant
applications for energy retrofits and other energy conservation projects,
and are consistent with the Town’s 25% by year 2012
energy reduction campaign goals. These audits have been provided, at no cost to the Town by the NYPA or have been paid for by the Town.
Energy audits have been completed on the Town Hall, and the Morabito Senior Community Center. An example of grant application being
completed is for energy efficient lighting retrofits for both Town Hall and the Morabito Center.
The Town Board adopted a resolution to form a citizen advisory committee. Their mission is to work with various Town departments, elected
officials and standing committees to develop a Climate Change Action Plan. This involvement of citizens is recommended and consistent with
ICLEI, and the NYSDEC Climate Smart Communities Pledge. Their role is varied and important and valued resource to the Town administration
and department heads for innovative out of the box thinking.
Organic
turf maintenance is a Town pilot project for the total elimination of all fertilizers, and herbicides, with a conversion to an integrated
pest management and organic fertilization on two selected recreation ball fields. This pilot project will be evaluated and potentially
expanded to all Town turf fields. The Town is in year two of a similar project in the Town Hall courtyard. 
As part of a grant
awarded to the NWEAC consortium of municipalities, the Town of Cortlandt will receive the following professional services critical to
determining our path to a sustainable Town of Cortlandt:
This Website is hosted in a certified Green data center - saving 30,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year!
An ambitious energy
reduction goal was set for town government operations to reduce consumption of electricity, unleaded gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil,
copy paper and natural gas twenty-five percent by the end of the 2012. The town is seeking grant funds to replace the town hall HVAC system
with renewable energy sources, which will accelerate the achievement of stated goals. Significant progress has been made through staff
efforts including changes in behavior and procurement.
Recognition of the existing leadership role the Town has played in being at the forefront of developing a formal program for the
acquisition and preservation of open space. An example is the partnership between the Town, Scenic Hudson, and the County of
Westchester in the purchase of 350 acres now known as the Hudson Highlands Gateway Park in northern Cortlandt. Also included are
the various grants and NYSDEC funded projects for planting of tree saplings in open space parklands; example NYSDEC Trees for Tributaries
Program.
Town Board adoption of various resolutions to provide the overall guiding documents for implementation of various energy conservation
and climate change actions as an illustration of political leadership. Example; resolution to join the Northern Westchester Energy
Action Coalition, a consortium of 14 local governments in a shared service and regional systemic approach to energy conservation,
and climate change action.
The Department of Environmental Services Sanitation Division continues to develop additional pilot programs with the goal
of increasing
recycling programs and further reducing the recyclables out of the waste stream; example; e-waste resident drop off and curbside collection
programs. The Town continues to provide a County operated recycling transfer station and fall organic yard waste and leaf transfer station.
Both of these shared service programs help in reduction of GHG emissions in reducing transportation of these waste products.
The Town formally
adopted a Green Purchasing policy that mandates environmental, social & economic considerations before purchasing. Green purchasing is also
the responsibility of the departments where recommendations are made relevant to their area of expertise. Green cleaning products,
biodegradable kitchenware, recyclable toner cartridges and recycled paper products are standard.
The DES Highway and Sanitation fleet mechanics have investigated the application of green oil filters to extend the mileage between oil
changes and extended the life of the oil, and continues to research bio-fuels and consideration of development of a green fleet replacement
program when various heavy duty vehicles are approaching their useful life year of service. The Town currently owns and operates four
hybrid vehicles and is exploring this as an option each time a sedan vehicle is needed to replace a gas guzzling “clunker”.
Cortlandt,
along with the Village of Croton-on-Hudson have taken a leadership role in working with the Westchester County Department of
Environmental Facilities to operate an organic yard waste and leaf transfer station in the Town. The NWEAC, which the Town is an active member,
is further developing a strategy to provide a regional comprehensive approach to organic yard waste and as a potential source of revenue.
The Lunch & Learn
Series is organized by the Cortlandt Green Team with the purpose of educating staff and community about ways to sustain the natural
environment in our town. All are invited to bring a “green bag lunches” to the events, which are held at Town Hall in the General Meeting
Room. Recent topics have included: Recycling, Stormwater Management, Green Products.
Paper consumption
is down by 66% in all departments (June 2010). 9 out of 12 departments reported 2-sided copying practices. New software allows tax
receipts to be emailed to residents. Planning Board minutes, which can run to 100 pages, are now 2-sided. Department of Environmental
Services now scans time cards instead of copying them. The Purchasing Department uses electronic storage of records, electronic
communications, document storage on a centralized server, and procurement cards to minimize requisitioning.