Alice Green and her husband love to travel, especially to visit their grandchildren (pictured here). The Finger Lakes Climate Fund (FLCF) has provided the couple with a way to offset the carbon impact of their family trips, including to a niece’s wedding in California and a vacation in Mexico with the grandkids. She has seen first-hand the way that Sustainable Finger Lakes and the Finger Lakes Climate Fund directly support individuals and communities to take responsibility for their carbon emissions and help others in need, as two of their family members and their households were previously selected to receive awards for necessary energy-upgrades from the fund.
As the Climate Smart Coordinator for the Town of Dryden, Alice is also deeply aware of the environmental impact of traveling, especially by airplane. Her volunteer work focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from town operations and preparing Dryden to adapt to the effects of human-made climate change. “We want to walk the walk when it comes to the town’s energy conservation, as we urge residents to do the same.”
In the last six years, Dryden has built on its leadership by banning fracking and supporting community solar installations. The town has become a Bronze Certified Climate Smart Community (working toward Silver) and ranks as a top leader in the Southern Tier in the Clean Energy Communities program.
Both of these New York State programs offer municipalities incentives and guidance to complete “high impact actions” (HIAs) aimed at reducing carbon emissions, increasing resilience, and adapting to climate change. In Dryden, examples of completed HIAs include upgrading all streetlights to LED, installing solar panels and geothermal heat pumps in town buildings, adding an EV charging station at town hall, and using a plug-in vehicle for code officers. The town has also launched two successful Clean Heating and Cooling campaigns. Currently, Dryden is working on a Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency Plan, earning over $300,000 in grants for these efforts.
Alice has learned a great deal about how municipalities can help meet climate goals. “It’s great to know the Climate Fund will put the contributions to work to enable local folks to insulate and electrify their homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
