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Would you like to join us?
We meet on the 4th Wednesday every month from 7-8:30pm by zoom to discuss project updates and what's going on in the town and the region.
If interested, email colorpenfieldgreen@gmail.com. Hope to hear from you soon!
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Healthy Yards Monroe County Presents: Reconnecting to Nature By Creating a Healthy Yard
Online, hosted by the Brighton Memorial Library
Monday, March 7th, 6:30-7:30pm
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Reconnecting with nature can start right outside your door. Time to turn that needy, unproductive lawn into native plant, tree, and shrub habitats. Insects, birds, and wildlife will all find a welcoming and life sustaining home in this new environment. Who among us wouldn't delight in the sight of butterflies and birds that have been invited into our yards?
83% of the land in the US is privately owned. Think of our opportunity. What an impact we can make if each of us takes action to assure a healthy ecosystem in our own yards. An ecosystem that supports life and sequesters carbon. Starting to see our yards in a new light yet? Begin your journey with Megan Meyer as she presents, "Reconnecting with Nature by Creating a Healthy Yard."
Megan Meyer co-leads Color Penfield Green and the Healthy Yards Monroe County campaign. Register for the Zoom link: 585-784-5300 or bmlcurbsidepickup@gmail.com.
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Color Penfield Green Will Offer Two Classes This Spring Through Penfield Recreation:
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 Electric Cars 101 - Your Guide to EVs 
Two 90 minute classes, 1 week apart
4/12 & 4/19 at 3pm OR at 7pm
Are you thinking about purchasing an Electric Vehicle (EV)? If you are, definitely sign up for this two-part class that’s loaded with tons of information about these vehicles and is presented by Penfield residents who currently own EVs themselves. We’ll answer lots of frequently asked questions in this course like, Can you take EVs through a carwash? or Don't I need to replace batteries every year?
We'll start with an introduction to EVs and take you through their advantages and disadvantages, considerations in choosing and buying an electric car (including financial incentives & rebates), options for charging them at home or on the road and how they will work for you around town and on long trips away from home. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask current EV owners questions and view their electric cars up close and in person. |
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Are You Ready for ALL-ELECTRIC Home Heating & Cooling? 
One 90 minute class
4/26 at 3pm OR at 7pm
Is your home’s old fossil fuel burning gas furnace or hot water heater ready for replacement? Is your old inefficient central A/C unit running up high electricity bills each month? Want much better alternatives? If so, sign up for this class to learn lots more about the many great options now available for going ALL-ELECTRIC with your home’s heating, cooling and hot water production needs by installing super high efficiency air-source and ground-source (geothermal) electric heat pump solutions that are available right now.
This course will be presented using case studies from Penfield residents who have already installed air and ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling their own homes. Learn about their experiences, different types of equipment on the market and the many financial incentives and rebates that are available currently when purchasing these systems. You’ll also find out how to obtain a no-cost energy assessment of your home’s heating and cooling needs.
The future of cleaner, greener and more cost-effective home heating and cooling systems is here now, and it’s ALL-ELECTRIC!
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Browse the online Penfield Recreation Brochure, pages 26, 27, 35 & 38
Register Online for these courses HERE.
Alternatively, if you want to participate in our Community Campaigns at your convenience, we have the courses recorded and will share them and the pdfs with you. Just complete this form here.
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PCSD's Sustainability Committee Meets With Energy Auditors
By Bea Reichman, PHS Junior
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The PHS Environmental Club has had a busy few months! We are working with our newly-founded Sustainability Committee (a group of parents, teachers, administrators, and students) on benchmarking for our district’s Sustainability Plan. Our committee met with Wendel, a company that agreed to conduct benchmarking analyses of our district’s energy usage every six months for the next three years. This comes at no additional cost to the district because of a state-funded program encouraging schools to become more sustainable. As we continue working with our Sustainability Committee on benchmarking, our club is also planning to conduct waste audits at the four Penfield elementary schools. Our goal: determine the amount of waste in our elementary school cafeterias, and the main contributors of said waste (milk cartons, food, wrappers, etc). We are planning to travel to these schools within the next few months. Stay tuned for more updates in the spring when we present our findings from the benchmarking analyses and the waste audits to the school board. Our club cannot wait to continue creating a more sustainable and climate conscious Penfield community!
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Monroe County Tree and Shrub Sale is Underway
Order by March 4th
Pick up April 21st-22nd 9am-5pm at EcoPark
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The 2022 Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District’s annual Conservation Tree and Shrub Sale is well underway and many residents have already gotten their orders in. This program allows landowners and communities like yourself to order native/naturalized trees, shrubs, plants, and more to increase property aesthetic, create windbreaks and screens, control streambank erosion, increase water quality, and be climate resilient!
Pre-ordering is still available until March 4th or until species sell out. The District recommends getting your orders in sooner than later as some species have already gotten low.
To browse the catalog and order your species click here.
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Igor Orlovich follows the news about Electric Vehicles and has curated items for fans and those thinking about going electric for their next car, SUV, or truck.
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Why Are EV's so Quick?
Car and Driver, a trusted resource, takes a look at the engineering of EVs that results in the awesome acceleration capabilities.
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Climate Act Draft Scoping Plan Explained:
"Breaking It Down: New York's Proposed Climate Plan and Why You Need to Get Involved"!
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 NY's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 made our state the most ambitious in terms of emissions reduction. While the goals were admirably aggressive, the details of how to meet those milestones were missing. The Climate Action Council was created to devise a pathway to meet the CLCPA. After two years of meeting with subcommittees and stakeholders, they have released a draft scoping plan.
On 2/12, a coalition of climate organizations presented a truly excellent overview of the plan. Watch the hour long program here. One big takeaway: we are at the cusp of an incredible transformation here in NY.
This plan will shape State legislation and decision-making in New York for years to come. In the face of a climate crisis, this is an extraordinary opportunity to create a sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for our state! There will be multiple meetings in the coming months for the public to offer feedback or you can submit comments online anytime.
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Rochester Education Foundation Fundraiser:
Winter Boots for RCSD Students
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In the Rochester City School District, because of chronic underfunding, school buses are only provided for children who live more than 1.5 miles from their school.
That means families without access to a car, have to choose schools further away or walk up to 3 miles a day, to and from school, no matter how cold the weather is. And it has been COLD these last few weeks!
The Penfield Anti-Racist Alliance (PARA) encourages folks to help the Rochester Education Foundation provide winter boots to RCSD students to ensure that every child can start their school day with warm, dry feet!
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Mark Your Calendars for These
Upcoming Events
Hope to see you there!
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Irondequoit Conservation Board presents:
Gypsy Moths
Irondequoit Town Hall, Broderick Room
Thursday, Feb 17th, 7-8:30pm
in-person, recording will be available
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 Many in our region have experienced the gypsy moth inhabiting their trees. Come hear information about the insects and ways to manage them from guest speakers
- Matt Gallo, Terrestrial Program Outreach Coordinator for the Finger Lakes Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management and leader of Color South Wedge Green
- Gary Koplun: Private Lands Service Forester for the NYS Dept of Conservation (DEC)
This event will be recorded and available for viewing on ICAT and the Irondequoit Conservation Board Facebook page.
Also, check out this article written by CPG's Ruth Marchetti on how to control gypsy moths in your yard.
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Make Your Voice Heard!
Attend AM Jen Lunsford's Town Hall
Wednesday, Feb 23rd 6-7pm
online
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Our Assembly Member, Jen Lunsford is holding her winter Town Hall by zoom. Join the discussion to find out what she has been working on in Albany and share your concerns for our community. She plays an important role in sustainability as she is a member of the Environmental Conservation Committee. RSVP here.
When you finish up there, click over to the February Color Penfield Green meeting! 7-8:30pm. Email colorpenfieldgreen@gmail.com to get the zoom link!
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Heat Smart Monroe Open Discussions
Thursday, Feb 24th, 4:30-5:30pm
Online, free
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Interested in clean heating and cooling for your home but don't know where to start? Have you started exploring your options and now have questions? Join Heat Smart Monroe in an online, informal meeting to have local experts answer your questions. Learn more here.
Learn more about Sustainable Homes Rochester and Heat Smart Monroe at www.cityofrochester.gov/shr and www.heatsmartmonroe.org
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Where Should Future EV Chargers Be Installed?
Listening Session Hosted by Greater Rochester Clean Cities
Wednesday, March 2nd, 5-6pm
Online, free
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 Do you have thoughts about the location of public charging stations? How can we make chargers accessible for those who may not be able to install them in their homes? Refueling at a gas station may take just a few minutes so it makes sense to pair these with convenience stores. Recharging EVs takes more time. Perhaps we should prioritize coffee shops, grocery stores, schools, the YMCA, etc. Your ideas matter! Please consider attending a facilitated discussion hosted by the Greater Rochester Clean Cities. Register here.
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Drive Electric EV Car Show
Saturday, April 9th, 9am-12pm
Penfield Community Center
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Bob Kanauer of the Penfield Energy and Environmental Advisory Committee (EEAC) is helping to organize a Drive Electric EV Car Show at the Penfield Community Center. Register to attend if you're thinking about purchasing an EV. You can kick some tires, ask questions of the owners, and check out the interesting features of various plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Already own an EV? Register and bring your vehicle to the community center to join the party and share your experience!
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Climate Can't Wait
3 Calls for Climate Legislation in NY
Call our Governor, Speaker, and Majority Leader and ask them to pass the Climate Can't Wait Package
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More than 30 climate organizations across NY have come together to push for the passage of 12 climate related bills they are calling the "Climate Can't Wait" package. These bills include ending fossil fuel subsidies, a moratorium on POW cryptocurrency mining, the all-electric buildings act, and others. See details for each policy here. We encourage you to make three phone calls (or emails) asking our leaders to go big on climate.
- Governor Hochul (877) 235-6537, email
- Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins (888) 834-3668, email
- Assembly Speaker Heastie (888) 997-5380, email
Sample script:
“Hi My name is ____ and I live in ____, zip code ____. I’m calling to urge you to pass all 12 policies in the Climate Can’t Wait policy package. We are in the throes of a climate emergency and New York State must take sweeping, meaningful climate action NOW. Pass this package to invest in a livable future, with a renewable, green jobs economy that works for all. Please, be the climate champion that history needs.
[If you want, state your own personal reasons why you care about this issue!]
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Sustainability Deep Dives on
Connections with Evan Dawson
Connections with Evan Dawson on WXXI often does a deep dive on issues around climate change. These shows have been on in the last few weeks and may be of interest:
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Penfield's Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Program
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Penfield's CCA Program Up & Running
Renewable electricity for Penfield’s CCA program is being provided to us from low-impact hydro-electric facilities in NY State. Color Penfield Green members urge you to consider opting into the Penfield 100 product for your homes and businesses! You will be able to go 100% Renewable at a fixed rate/kWh for the next two years.
We looked at a resident's October 2021 electricity bill to see what Penfield Green and Penfield 100 would mean for him. The default Penfield Green would have saved him ~$2. Opting up to 100% renewable would have cost less than $5 more. Check out the full analysis HERE.
RATES EFFECTIVE:
December 2021 - December 2023 |
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PENFIELD GREEN
(default product)
5.733¢/kWh
50% Renewable Electricity |
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PENFIELD 100
(opt-in HERE for this product)
6.443¢/kWh
100% Renewable Electricity |
- Browse Good Energy's PenfieldCCA.com Website - HERE
- Enroll in Penfield's CCA electricity program for the 1st time - HERE
- Or... Opt-Up to Penfield 100 - Our 100% Renewable Electricity Program - HERE
- Or... Opt-Out of our CCA electricity program altogether (at any time) - HERE
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Color Your Community Green
January Newsletter
Did you know that Color Penfield Green is part of a regional network of volunteers called Color Your Community Green (CYCG), all supported by the Climate Solutions Accelerator?
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We have sister teams in Irondequoit, Henrietta, Fairport, South Wedge, Pittsford, Chili, Spencerport, Webster, Richmond and elsewhere in the region. We collaborate with each other, learn together, and cheer each other on. You can read about all the great projects going on in these other communities in the February newsletter. Subscribe here.
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Community Solar...
Good for the Planet and Your Wallet
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Color Penfield Green's Brandon Maharaj explains what Community Solar is and what the benefits are:
- bring down the cost of your electricity while reducing your carbon footprint
- drive new solar array construction &
- put New Yorkers to work in good paying, green jobs
To learn more, click here.
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ColorPenfieldGreen is an organization of residents of the Town of Penfield, NY who are concerned about the environment. Our goals are to:
- inform fellow residents about all the incredible ways that our community is “Going Green” with a focus on climate
- educate people as to how they can reduce their carbon footprints - at individual, family, neighborhood, municipal, state, and federal levels
- organize local volunteers to participate in high impact campaigns, and
- support and empower Penfield residents to become community leaders in addressing climate change.
We are respectful, inclusive, nonpartisan, solutions-focused, collaborative, scientifically-informed, and committed to social, racial, environmental, and intergenerational justice.
We are proud of all that Penfield has accomplished and are excited to help lead the way in protecting our environment in the future. Please check out our new and still evolving website ColorPenfieldGreen.org and join us in our current and future campaigns! If interested, send an email to ColorPenfieldGreen@gmail.com.
We'd love to grow our Penfield audience! Share this link with your friends and neighbors so they can sign up to receive this newsletter too:
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