Energy smart choices might not always be the easiest to make, but Schenectady County residents now have a tool to assist them in finding green energy solutions and opportunities.
County officials announced the launch of a website,
`With the click of a button you will find valuable information about resources and helpful tools to make smart energy choices for you and your family,` said Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature. `I invite all of our residents to join with us and green Schenectady County.`
The information available on the website isn’t anything new, but it is an attempt to compile all the various resources from other locations for residents to easily find in one spot. There are sections for assistance for low-income households, tax incentives, getting paid to reduce energy demands, utility incentives and rebates, how to save money on utilities bills, Energy Star guidelines for small businesses, and National Grid incentives that are offered to customers.
`We think it has some very practical information that consumers want,` said Savage. `We are the first county in the Capital District to make this information available.`
If residents are wondering how much home appliance energy is costing and how to reduce their bills by changing behavior, there is an energy calculator on the website to provide estimates. Also, there are links to retailers that sell green products, and information about how a compact fluorescent light bulb would use an estimated 75 percent less energy and last longer than incandescent bulb.
The site, while aimed to be user-friendly, also accepts questions through the `Ask An Expert` section, which can be found in the contact section.
`The green initiatives have been a big part of our agenda on the County Legislature and we have approved several pieces of legislation to promoter a greener environment in the county,` said Savage.
In 2008, the County Legislature passed the 7 Point Plan, which aimed for the county to be a leader in energy conservation and efficiency, so the website is helping achieve those goals, said Joe McQueen, spokesman for the county.
`This website basically puts all of these things together in one place,` said McQueen.
Goals of the 7 Point Plan include the county purchasing Energy Star products, adopting the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification standards for county buildings, a transportation audit of county vehicles, promoting residential home energy audits, endorsing the state’s `15 by 15` proposal to reduce energy usage, and county employee energy conservation and recycling.
The website was developed through a partnership with Blue Springs Energy, LLC, a Rochester-based company that helps communities with clean and renewable energy endeavor’s through their `Renew My Community` program.“
County’s new website brings energy solutions online in one place
GoGreenSchenectadyCounty.com
, aimed at providing residents, businesses and organizations with a simplified method to finding information on rebates, incentives, grants and energy saving projects. The website will be updated daily.