Garden City Named Clean Energy Community, Qualifies For Grant Money

The Village of Garden City has been designated a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), recognizing its leadership in reducing energy use, cutting costs and driving clean energy locally.

Garden City received the designation for completing actions identified by NYSERDA as part of the Clean Energy Communities initiative. The designation now enables the Village to apply for $50,000 in grant monies to be used towards additional clean energy projects, with no local cost share.

Garden City completed the following high-impact clean energy actions:

Benchmarking: The Village adopted a policy that requires the annual reporting of energy used in local government buildings. Buildings account for more than 60 percent of the energy used in New York State. Setting up a system for measuring and sharing data on building energy use over time will allow owners and occupants to compare energy usage against other buildings, and better identify opportunities to cut energy waste.

LED Streetlights: The Village has already converted 1,970 streetlights from conventional bulbs to LED fixtures and intends on using the grant money from this project to fund the conversion of the remaining 590 fixtures.

Unified Solar Permit: Garden City implemented a unified solar permitting initiative, which streamlines the process for homeowners and business owners alike.

Energy Code Enforcement Training: The Village implemented an Energy Code Enforcement Training program for Garden City’s building inspectors. The training focuses on what code enforcement officials need to know about the Energy Code in the context of its practical application on active construction projects. Since buildings represent roughly 60 percent of New York’s total energy consumption, there is significant opportunity for energy savings through improved Energy Code compliance.

"The Village’s efforts to reduce energy use, promote green initiatives and drive clean energy locally not only benefits the environment as a whole but effectively reduces our operating costs,” Mayor Brian C. Daughney said. “Our LED streetlight conversion project, for example, has an anticipated annual savings of nearly $150,000.”

In addition to completing the conversion of all streetlights to LED, Public Works Superintendent Joseph DiFrancisco noted that upcoming projects include improving the efficiency of the HVAC systems in Village Hall and the Garden City Public Library in order to reduce energy consumption and (potentially) entering into an agreement with an Energy Efficiency consulting firm in order to evaluate and improve energy usage and undertake green initiatives Village-wide.

Announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo in August, the $16 million Clean Energy Communities initiative supports local government leaders across the State to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable development projects in their communities.

“The Village of Garden City’s Clean Energy Community designation serves as a valuable model for local government leaders across the state who want to cut costs and reduce energy use in their communities,” John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA, said. “Sustainable communities are a significant component of Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading energy agenda and will help ensure a clean energy economy for all New Yorkers.”

The Clean Energy Communities initiative on Long Island is offered in partnership with PSEG Long Island, whose support is funding the grant awards to eligible applicants.

“PSEG Long Island is pleased to partner with NYSERDA to assist Villages like Garden City make their communities more energy efficient and less dependent on fossil fuels,” Michael Voltz, Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables at PSEG Long Island, said. “The Clean Energy Community program strengthens our commitment to help reduce energy use, cut costs and support clean energy on Long Island and the Rockaways.”

For more information on Clean Energy Communities, visit www.nyserda.ny.gov/cec.