New York Climate Rescue

NYC Policy Proposals	Tell the Mayor!	Learn More About the Bill

City Energy Policy		Intro 20 - a bill to cap the rate of carbon emissions from New York City government operations. Intro 19 - a bill to cap the rate of carbon emissions from New York City government operations. Intro 18 - a bill to cap the rate of carbon emissions from New York City government operations.

Renewable Energy		Intro 18 - a bill to cap the rate of carbon emissions from New York City government operations

Energy Efficiency		Intro. 382, Creation of a program regarding building commissioning and energy efficiency and conservation training. See Intros 19 and 20 above. Intro. 324, Sets green building standards for city-owned buildings. [Passed! - Now Local Law 86.]

Read - New York Energy Policy for 2006 and Beyond (Executive Summary) This is a multi-party strategy document that covers current bills heading before the council in the 2005-06 legislative session. This report is a "public draft" and will be updated on a regular basis. Executive Summary with Appendix I - Background Research Papers Full Report with Appendix I & II (Background research papers and text of bills.)
More Resources on Things You Can Do.... Below is a list of additional steps a person can take individually at the personal, state and national level to help turn the tide against carbon pollution. It has resources and links to help you find your way to a more climate-friendly world. Check out our Links and Resources page for more organizations and info... *Got a good suggestion of your own? Email us at info@climaterescue.org.
At the Personal Level
In many ways this is the most important area of action as it's the one area we have the most control over. Here are some suggestions as to how we can affect our individual behavior:		Commentary: Warming the World to Dry our Socks by Bill McKibben
* Some of the suggestions below involve references to specific companies and the services these companies provide. These are merely intended to be a guide and NYCR does not endorse any of these companies and these services and products may not be right for everyone. It is recommended that all services be researched and all available options be considered before making any decisions. Become Informed & Stay Informed: Join Our Listerv for updates on city policy, news, and action alerts. Climate Change (a.k.a. global warming) is a complex issue. Many powerful groups such as oil companies and utilities have a short-term vested interest in preventing action on global warming. Stay informed about the issue and talk to your friends, colleagues, and family about what you're learned. Information is a powerful tool. Buy Green Power: The are are a number of companies in New York offering renewable and greener power choices, and depending on how much Con Edison is charging you this month for electricity it may actually be cheaper to switch to green power! The companies currently offering green power are: Con Edison Solutions - a Independent Power Producer from Con Edison. Offers a green power portfolio consisting of 75% run-of-the-river hydro and 25% wind power. Or look into options for generating renewable power yourself: http://www.altenergystore.com Conduct an Energy Audit: Our homes are often the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in our lives. While New Yorkers use less energy per capita than most Americans because we tend to drive less, the city's buildings are less efficient than the national average. There is the common apocryphal story of city dwellers here opening their windows in the winter time because the heat in their building is on too high (when it's on at all.). Some key things to keep track of in the average New York City apartment: Buy compact florescent light bulbs - they use 1/3 the energy of regular bulbs and last up to eight times longer! Check the seal on the door of your refrigerator. If is worn? Do you feel cold air leaking out gaps in the seal? The refrigerator is the biggest energy hog in any apartment. If the seal is bad, consider convincing your landlord to get it fixed. (Yeah right!) Okay, so your landlord is a rat, consider getting the seal replaced yourself. If your like most New Yorkers, you probably pay your own electricity bill. The cost of replacing the refrigerator seal is probably a lot less than the cost of a leaky fridge. Check your air conditioner - make sure the air filter is clean to help it run more efficiently. Own a home or other building? B For more information see the "Get Energy Smart" webpage run by the New York State Energy Development Authority (NYSERDA) Buy Energy Efficient Appliances: When you buy a new one, or any appliance for that matter, purchase the most energy efficient one you can find. Check the "EER" (Energy Efficiency Ratio) tag on every appliance you buy, especially air conditioners. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has a full suite of consumer resources and is an excellent resource for energy efficient products. Change Your Habits: During the California energy crisis, the state's residents reduced their energy consumption by 30% just by changing their habits - turning off lights is just a start. In the Market for a New Car? - Buy a "Hybrid" Vehicle: In a city with such good public transportation does one really need a car? If you do indeed decide that you do, cars that come equipped with gas/electric or "hybrid" engines are now commonly available from an expanding number of manufacturers. Did you know that the US could do without its oil imports from the Persian Gulf if the fuel efficiency of its cars was improved by an average of just 2.7 miles per gallon?! Less fuel efficient SUVs now comprise 46% of the US automobile fleet. Make a change to fuel efficient cars and save your lungs as you save money! Here's a great site to see how any car/truck/or SUV you might be interested in stacks up: www.greenercars.com Buy Organic Food: This may not be an obvious approach to the issue of global warming, but chemically intensive agriculture supports lower levels of biotic matter in the soil when compared with organic production methods. More biotic matter means the soil is more effective as a "carbon sink" - or as a net absorber of carbon dioxide. By supporting organic farming methods, you're helping to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Oh, and you're eliminating pesticides and toxic fertilizers from your diet too.
Network With Others....
		There are lots of networking opportunities in New York to work on global warming and other environmental issues. Just new in town, or looking to expand your circle of friends and acquaintances? Meet the like-minded at Green Drinks: http://www.greendrinks.org
At the City Level
There are many city-wide initiatives to help address green-house gas emissions and promote energy efficiency. See city policies you can support at the top of this page and get involved in New York City's fight to stop global warming. Join the New York Climate Rescue listserv and stay up-to-date on what the city is doing about global warming, energy issues and air quality. We'll let you know what to call your representatives about and keep you informed on the latest developments - but not too often! We know how burdensome too much email can be! vision42 Auto-free light rail boulevard for 42nd Street Photomontage at Times Square, where 130,000 people enter and exit the subway station every day.
At the State Level
New York State is one of the more proactive in addressing greenhouse gas emissions. The state is part of the ten-state plan which includes New England and the mid-Atlantic states in a regional effort to address GHG emissions. Check our Environmental Action New York's "Cap Carbon" Campaign.
At the National Level
Support the McCain/Lieberman bill: Write a letter to your Senators telling them to continue to support. Here's a summary of the bill. http://www.pewclimate.org/policy_center/analyses/s_139_summary.cfm Here's a handy site from the folks at Environmental Defense to advocate for it's passage: http://www.undoit.org/
At the International Level
Help build support for the Kyoto Protocol - The only international agreement to curb greenhouse gases.

Here are some policies currently being considered by the city council that help begin to address global warming in New York City. These proposals not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they will also reduce air pollution, and make our city more energy efficient. Let your elected officials know that you support these policies.