Climate Smart Communities
Sign in

Climate Smart Communities Certification Report

Download PDF Version

bronze Certified

This is the Climate Smart Communities Certification Report of Rhinebeck, Village (Dutchess). Rhinebeck, Village (Dutchess) is a bronze certified Climate Smart Community.

Rhinebeck, Village (Dutchess) was certified on March 12, 2020 with 135 points earned from 26 completed actions. Listed below is information regarding Rhinebeck, Village (Dutchess)’s Climate Smart Communities efforts and materials associated with its certified actions.

The certification for Rhinebeck, Village (Dutchess) will expire on September 30, 2025.

Contact Information

The designated Climate Smart Communities contact for Rhinebeck, Village (Dutchess) is:

Name:Vanessa Bertozzi
Title/Position:Coordinator, Climate Smart Community Task Force / Rhinebeck Village
Address:76 East Market Street
Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Rhinebeck, Village (Dutchess) was approved for in 2020 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • 1. Build a climate-smart community.

    1.1 Pass a Resolution Adopting the CSC Pledge

    4 Points

    Program Summary:

    PE1 Action: CSC Task Force

    20 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: Establishment of the Task Force: Rhinebeck Village’s Task Force was formed back in 2010 when the Village and Town were working together on the initial resolution. For the purposes of our January 2020 filing, we are submitting documentation relevant to our 2019 regrouping of the Task Force. To make the Task Force official, the Village Board passed a resolution at the December 10, 2019 board meeting, documenting the existence of the Task Force. In the attached official letter from November 2019, the Mayor notes that Matt Stinchcomb, who had been named acting coordinator of the Task Force in June 2019, had been replaced by Vanessa Bertozzi. (See our Coordinator documentation as well). Documentation of our Task Force: We are also submitting a roster of our 2019 task force members and the organizations they represent. We are submitting two examples of meeting agendas/attendance/minutes, as well as an October 2019 update to the group.

    PE1 Action: CSC Coordinator

    10 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: The Rhinebeck Village Board appointed Matt Stinchcomb as Acting Climate Smart Community Coordinator at the June 11, 2019 Village Board meeting. In Fall of 2019, Vanessa Bertozzi took over that role, with Matt continuing on as a member of the Task Force. In the attached official letter, Mayor Bassett names Vanessa as Climate Smart Community Coordinator. She remains the coordinator as of the filing on Jan 10, 2020 and will continue on in that capacity. Coordinator responsibilities: - schedule meetings and create agendas, take attendance - delegate tasks and projects to task force members - manage the gathering of documentation; upload CSC filing - oversee communications about the CSC project to the public, Village Board, and stakeholders - research and document best practices and lessons learned throughout the CSC process itself - serve as point person for any communications between the public and/or CSC program admin

    PE1 Action: National/Regional Climate Program

    3 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 3 points for the Village of Rhinebeck's membership and participation in the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities program. In fall 2019, we submitted for completion of a High Impact Action. We documented and uploaded our installation of an EV Charging station as part of the program’s Clean Fleets initiative. We are submitting our placement on the program website’s map as proof of our membership.

    PE1 Action: Partnerships with Other Entities

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Rhinebeck Village has participated in quite a few partnerships with other municipalities related to our focus on climate change in the past three years. We are requesting 3 points and are submitting documentation of these two partnerships: - Hudson 7 (formed 2018) - https://www.hudson7.org/ - Joint Village/Town Environmental Committee (formed 2017) Other partnerships include: - Mid Hudson Streetlight Consortium (we hope our next CSC filing will include an update on our progress here in Rhinebeck Village re: switching streetlights to LED) - Inter-municipal Cooperation on Food Waste (see also our documentation for Waste Reduction Campaign) - Dutchess County CSC certification, for which Mayor Bassett was a Task Force member

  • 3. Decrease energy use.

    PE3 Action: Interior Lighting Upgrades

    5 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 5 points because over 90% of municipally owned buildings’ interior lights have been switched to LED. In the summer of 2018, the Village board hired Lime Energy Services of Beacon, NY, to audit the lighting on all municipal properties, as part of the Central Hudson Small Business Direct Install Lighting Program. The audits, submitted here with our filing, proposed replacing municipal properties’ lights with LEDs, and predicted significantly lower energy usage and subsequent savings. The audits included both indoor and outdoor lighting associated with the properties. Of all the audits, the only one the Village chose not to implement was the Police Station. Mayor Bassett explained that the police department moved into a new building in 2013, and many of the lights were already LED from the outset. Of those that the audit identified to be not be LED, these were specialized lights and it didn’t make sense to convert these. The Village government worked with Lime for installation, which was completed in early 2019. We are providing work orders and receipts (again, these apply to both interior and exterior of properties since the audits and the work was done together). Overall, the Village implemented 85% of recommended improvements from the audit. If you factor in that the Police Station already had installed many LED lights prior to the time of the audit, the portfolio of municipal properties switched to LED is even higher. Calculating by square footage, the Police Department is less than 10% of the municipal portfolio.

    PE3 Action: Fleet Inventory

    4 Points

    Program Summary: At the start of our CSC Task Force, the Village had a photocopied document with a list of vehicles owned by the municipal government. Each vehicle listed its VIN, year, make and model. For our updating of the Fleet Inventory for the CSC program, we reformatted the spreadsheet (see attached) to include all 11 columns. Head of the Village Highway Department, Police Department Clerk and Fire Chief then populated current information for each vehicle. This process was also helpful in determining which vehicles would be exempt from future efficiency policies (Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 8,500 pounds). New Procedures: In terms of new procedures to ensure the inventory is updated, the Mayor has implemented a procedure (see attached). [COMING]

    PE3 Action: Outdoor Lighting Upgrades

    4 Points

    Program Summary: We are asking for 4 points because over 76% of our outdoor municipal lights are LED. Only 8 out of 69 or 12% are NOT LED. 88% in total are LED. In the summer of 2018, the Village board hired Lime Energy Services of Beacon, NY, to audit the lighting on municipal properties, as part of the Central Hudson Small Business Direct Install Lighting Program. The audits, submitted here with our filing, proposed replacing municipal properties’ lights with LEDs, and predicted significant lower energy usage and subsequent savings. The Village government worked with Lime for installation. The installation was completed in early 2019 and we are providing work orders and receipts. To provide clarity, the CSC Task Force created an inventory in November 2019 of all exterior lights on all municipal properties. All outdoor lights on municipal properties are included in the Lime audit materials except: - The police station because it was a new construction/renovation and all 12 exterior lights were already LED. - The municipal parking lot’s 8 lights, which are all owned by the Village (they’re not streetlights). They are not in the audit for two reasons: (1) they are a Mercury Vapor light that does not have an LED replacement. (2) The replacement requires replacing the fixture and the cost to replace the fixture did not provide a justifiable cost savings. However, we did see an opportunity to illuminate the parking lot’s bronze veterans memorial sculptures—our “Doughboy” and two plaques—and so 4 LED lights were installed there. Documentation: - Inventory spreadsheet of all the outdoor lights owned by the village - Audit and receipts for Mill Pond/Legion Park - Audit of west-side parking lot for Village Hall/Fire Dept - Receipts for municipal parking lot (no audit) - Receipts and audits for buildings with exterior lights (these were all done as a package)

  • 4. Shift to clean, renewable energy.

    PE4 Action: Solar Energy Installation

    9 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 9 points for the installation of solar technology at one existing public facility or public property. In 2011, the Village Board and Mayor undertook the project to install solar on the roof of the Rhinebeck Village Hall, at 76 E Market St. The Village of Rhinebeck received a grant for about $57,000 from NYSERDA in 2012 to pay towards the $68,000 solar installation. The village contracted with Mannino Electric of Poughkeepsie for the installation. Payments and installation happened between 10/2011 and 3/2012. [supporting documents provided.] There are three arrays with a total of 99 microinverters. The monitoring of the Village Hall’s system is live and public: https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/pv/public_systems/RThx37633/overview The Daily Freeman, a local paper, interviewed our mayor and board for an article about the installation and the fact that there is public monitoring via the web (see attached clipping). Since the Village Hall solar panels are up on the roof, the public may not even be aware that they're there. This educational signage is a great way to spread awareness and it's an opportunity to engage with the public around climate action. The signage directs the public to live monitor the solar panels online and to check out more of what the CSC task force is doing at our website (see attached photos of signage up at Village Hall).

  • 5. Use climate-smart materials management.

    PE5 Action: Recycling Bins in Government Buildings

    3 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 3 points for the implementation of our municipal recycling program for government buildings. In November 2019, Mayor Bassett, along with the Village staff put the following into place: Village Hall purchased two recycling containers to encourage staff to recycle and sort bottles, papers, garbage, etc into their specific containers. The recycling containers are located on the first and second floor of the building. Additionally, a larger commercial recycling container replaced the small recycling container for weekly commercial recycling pick up by our contracted recycling company. Shredded paper will be collected separately and donated to the SPCA for bedding. Bottles are collected and donated to various organizations that the Village staff supports. The Police Station already sorts and recycles and will dispose in the proper container for commercial recycling pick up. Highway Department (rte 308 garage) has a commercial recycling container and a garbage container that is used by them and for public materials picked up in the Village. The Highway Dept. empties the the Big-Belly Trash and recycling containers in the Village every Monday and Friday and separates the collection into the appropriate commercial bins at the highway garage. At the Water Treatment Plant and Waste Water Plant, we have added a new commercial recycling container at each location to sort the recycling into the appropriate container for pick up. We had been using single stream recycling with our commercial hauler Welsh Sanitation https://www.royalcarting.us/welsh-recycling . We have switched our services with them to separated recyclables. Welsh charges less for separated recyclables, and as such, the Village is now saving money. Also, as Village staff, we want to encourage/reinforce the need to recycle and will be sorting in the recycling containers at municipal buildings.

    PE5 Action: Recycling Program for Public Places & Events

    2 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 2 points for our establishment of a recycling program in public places. Today, Rhinebeck Village has a total of 9 Big Belly solar-powered trash compactor/recycling receptacles. In the attached map, you can see them strategically located around the Village. In digging through receipts and documents we were able to locate documentation of the following: - In 2016, the Village got a grant from the Frost Memorial Fund to enable our purchase of two more “big belly” solar compactor/recycling receptacles. - In 2014, the Village got a grant from the Frost Memorial Fund to enable our purchase of 2 out of 3 solar Big Belly compactor/recycling receptacles. - In 2012, Village purchased 1 Big Belly. - In 2011, Mayor Reardon had the Village buy 1 solar Big Belly compactor/recycling receptacle. The Highway Dept. empties the the Big-Belly Trash and recycling containers in the Village every Monday and Friday and separates the collection into the appropriate commercial bins at their highway garage. Our commercial hauler Welsh Sanitation who picks up the recycling from the highway garage. We are also including some documentation of the Big Belly product type.

    PE5 Action: Waste Reduction Education Campaign

    2 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 2 points for our Food Waste Education campaign. Matt Stinchcomb, CSC Task Force member, has given several public talks on the topic and contributed to several articles (see attached). Most recently, Matt and Corinna Borden (CSC Task Force member, also on the Rhinebeck Farmers' Market Board) presented at the Starr Library. The event listing can be found on our CSC website: https://www.climatesmartrhinebeck.org/events Starr Library events: http://starrlibrary.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=9498&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2020/01/01 As a member of the Joint Village/Town Environmental Committee, Stinchcomb oversaw research and planning towards creating a municipal solution for food waste. Along with Red Hook, Tivoli and the town/village of Rhinebeck, these municipalities joined together to see if a larger solution could be explored—one that could speak to the larger area’s need to address food waste, since Drawdown notes this as a top contributor to emissions. We undertook public engagement and education paired with research to see how a solution could work, how the community would respond. At the direction of the this inter-municipal group, Emma Elbaum, an intern from Bard’s Center for Environmental Policy program, implemented a project to email a survey out to village residents and restaurants to inquire about their interest in a curb-side or drop-off food waste program. Unfortunately, residents, who are already paying individually for private trash and recycling hauling, had expectations that a village-run program would be free, as is the yard waste pickup program. Nonetheless, it was an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and get a conversation going about the ramifications of food waste. We plan to continue the food waste reduction education and engagement aspects of this project, and continue to search for solutions that will be cost-effective for residents.

    PE5 Action: Residential Organic Waste Program

    4 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 4 points for establishing a community-wide curbside pick-up yard waste program (with pick-up at least two times a year). Overview: Rhinebeck Village's Yard Waste Curbside Pickup & Mulching Program Rhinebeck Village runs a free-of-charge yard waste curbside pickup program for residents. See the attached Village Policy, which can be found online at: Adopted 2016 - Chapter 38, Brush and Yard Waste Removal: https://ecode360.com/33436077 The Village government reminds residents of this service and the schedule via email, social media and the Village website, where the yard waste pick up schedule is posted: https://www.rhinebecknyvillage.org/ On the scheduled dates, the Highway Department gathers tree branches and other brush at curbside with front-end loader tractors working with dump trucks. The Highway Department sucks up Fall leaves, which residents pile curbside separately, with a special vacuum tube truck (photo attached). The Village government recycles the collected yard waste into mulch, processed at the Highway Department garage on rte 308 with a partner who charges the Village for grinding (see attached invoice). The Rhinebeck Village Highway Department sells the mulch for $20/yard, but it’s free to residents. Info about mulch for sale is posted on the Village website: https://www.rhinebecknyvillage.org/highway-department The program is a success not only climate-wise but also financially. In the year 2017/18 for example, yard waste produced over 650 yards of mulch and over $12,000 in revenue for the Village ($3500 net after paying for the $8500 grinding) with free mulch going to any Village resident who wants it. (see attached sales spreadsheet for more data)

  • 6. Implement climate-smart land use.

    PE6 Action: Unified Solar Permit

    5 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 5 points. Rhinebeck Village Board passed a resolution adopting the Unified Solar Permit at the December 2019 Village Board Meeting (see attached resolution). The Board had first discussed using the permit at the November 2019 Village Board meeting (letter attached). We've also uploaded a screenshot of the confirmation from January 7, 2020, that our Unified Solar Permit counts as our 2nd High Impact Action for the Clean Energy Community program was approved and a screenshot of our updated listing on the CEC map.

    PE6 Action: Infrastructure for Biking and Walking

    8 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 8 points total - 3 for our 2011 sidewalk study, 3 for improving our sidewalks/walkability, and 2 for improved bike parking. Develop a bicycle/pedestrian master plan (or similar plan)(3 points): We are attaching the Village’s sidewalk study from 2011. Expand and improve bike/walking paths, bike lanes, and sidewalks (3 points): We undertook a major addition to our sidewalk to connect the Village center to the public library (which also has an EV charging station!). This improves the walkability of our small community and connects folks to the resources of the library (internet access, library use, event and programming). The village received a grant in 2016 from the Frost Foundation under Mayor Tortarella and installation began (receipts included). Mayor Bassett held the ribbon-cutting in 2017 after its completion (press release attached). Improve bike parking (2 points): In 2019, we installed bike parking at the Village Hall, close to the farmers’ market, shops and restaurants (invoice attached). We added this bike parking the Dutchess map (screenshot attached, live @ https://gis.dutchessny.gov/bicycleparking). The other major bike parking area was installed in the 1990s, within the municipal parking lot. Future: We have made these improvements above, but there is still much work to be done. We would welcome feedback. We’d like to redo the 2011 sidewalk study. We did not receive funding to implement the bikelane, crosswalks and sidewalks, which would have run through the village connecting to our schools. The Village Board has regrouped by putting together a Streetscapes Committee. In November 2019, the board named its Chair. This Committee will take a holistic look at the various elements that interplay: sidewalks, shade trees, the design and width of streets, bike lanes/sharrows/bike paths, as well as stormwater design/rain gardens and pollinator plantings.

    PE6 Action: Alternative-fuel Infrastructure

    8 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: We are requesting a total of 8 points. Rhinebeck Village has installed an EV Charging Station in the parking lot behind our centrally located Firehouse (see attached photo). The equipment is owned by the Village. As part of the Clean Fleets Program, these two Level 2 charging stations, each with 2 fueling ports, are for public use 24/7 (2 points). They came online on 8/16/18, with 4 fueling ports total, and are currently active (6 points). We received grant money for another EV charging station and in October 2019, the Village Board approved to move forward on its installation in the municipal parking lot. We are attaching the Clean Fleets form filled out by Mayor Bassett as well as screenshots of the CEC map showing our High Impact Action for this and the EV charging station listed for public use on the PlugShare app and website.

    PE6 Action: Local Forestry Program

    8 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 8 points. In 2019, the Davey Tree Expert Company inventoried Village trees and wrote a 5-year management plan which supersedes a previous plan. (attached, 3 points) Davey Tree is training Village employees and volunteers to maintain an updated database and use its information for planning, pruning, removals, and replacement. Public view-only version of the tree canopy inventory: https://rhinebeckny.treekeepersoftware.com Rhinebeck adopted local law No.1-2009 (Chapter 106 of village code) with the intent to “establish and maintain the maximum sustainable amount of tree cover on public and private lands which impact public highways and other public property in the Village.” (§106-1.A) Included are policies for tree preservation (§106-5 & §106-6) and the creation of a Tree Commission (§106-3). (attached, 2 points) The Tree Commission organizes semi-annual tree-planting days which, since inception in 2010, have planted more than 300 trees beneficial to the public good. (2 points) The planting days are well attended and, in addition to their physical benefits, are opportunities to educate citizens about trees and their mitigating impact on climate change. The accompanying statement from Chairwoman Meg Crawford outlines the Tree Commission’s responsibilities, strategies, and actions with regard to climate change and the community. A paper prepared by the Environmental Committee describes the history of the tree planting within the village. The Village of Rhinebeck is currently recognized as a “Tree City USA.” (certificate attached, 1 point) The Village was granted this status in 2010 and has maintained it continuously since.

    PE6 Action: Zoning for Protection of Natural Areas

    4 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 4 points for our Land Conservation Overlay. The Land Conservation Overlay (LCO) “adds an additional layer of protection to those properties that are adjacent to and incorporate portions of lakes, stream corridors, wetlands and floodplains.” Development near these areas require additional review.

  • 7. Enhance community resilience to climate change.

    PE7 Action: Climate Vulnerability Assessment

    4 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: For our Climate Vulnerability Assessment, we are requesting 4 points for one climate hazard: sea-level rise and our water treatment plant. Supporting documents, best read in this order : - Rhinebeck Village’s Climate Vulnerability Planning as a Direct Result of Climate Change (An overview of our vulnerability assessment of our drinking water plant, and our thoughts regarding other vulnerabilities and future work) - Overview: Water Treatment Plant Vulnerability - C&A Engineering Vulnerability Report (vulnerability assessment from the engineering firm we worked with) - Appendixes from the C&A report - Documentation of the NYSDEC Estuaries grant we received for research and planning; and documentation of the CSC grant we received to pay for resiliency floodproofing measures we put in place for the Low Lift Pump - Documentation of contracts to pay for implementation of floodproofing measures (April 2019, January 2019, October 2018)

    PE7 Action: Watershed-based Flood Mitigation Plan

    4 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 4 points because the Hudson River and its estuaries encompass more than 75% of the community area. At the same time, our work focuses in on flooding and erosion directly around the Landsman Kill and Crystal Lake. This constitutes a priority project in that it’s within the tight confines of our Village. We are drawing in our work with the Hudson 7, which views the Hudson River and its tributaries and estuaries as a larger watershed and we zeroed in on Rhinebeck Village's role in stormwater runoff into the river and our role in drawing water from the Hudson River as our drinking water source. In this way, our CSC Task Force has gathered together two pieces that together build a more comprehensive Watershed Assessment. This is fitting because as a municipality located on the Hudson River, we are uniquely located to understand our community as part of the ecosystem that interplays with our watershed. To that end, we are including the Riverkeeper watershed assessment and scorecard tool, as well as a Marist College research project which took an in depth look at the flow of the Landsman Kill through the Asher Dam to Crystal Lake. These are the main bodies of water that relate to the Village. Documentation submitted here: - Intro to Rhinebeck Village’s Watershed Assessment Materials - Marist College research paper about the Asher Dam, Landsman Kill, and Crystal Lake - Hudson 7 memorandum agreement (Inter-municipal Drinking Water Council) - Final Report from Riverkeeper per the Hudson 7 project

    PE7 Action: Riparian Buffers

    1 Points

    Program Summary: The CSC Task Force is requesting 1 point for the Village’s efforts to study our opportunities for improvement in how we handle developments and in particular the riparian buffers around our major interconnected waterbodies: the Landsman Kill and Crystal Lake. We are submitting a research paper, produced in partnership between the Village and Marist College. We are also submitting a shorter document which quotes the most relevant riparian buffer pieces of the Marist paper. Future As part of our work with the new Streetscape Committee, we will plan strategies for riparian buffer plantings and perhaps pursue the Trees for Tribs funding. Our plans must include community partnership, as much of the riparian buffer is on private land. We are also very interested in community education and outreach about rain gardens. Green engineering and rain gardens will be integrated into future planning of storm drainage.

  • 8. Support a green innovation economy.

    PE8 Action: Farmers’ Markets

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market celebrated its 25th year in 2019. It runs from the beginning of May through the end of December. http://www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com The Farmers’ Market had been located in the Village’s municipal parking lot for many years, and as of 2019, the Village government has been charging only a nominal fee of $1 annually. The Village supports the Farmers’ Market as a nexus of green entrepreneurship, local agriculture, as well as community-building. The Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market accepts Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, Fresh Connect, and EBT/SNAP. In 2017, the market launched the SNAP "Plus" program. For every $1 of SNAP benefits redeemed, the market will match your spending with a $1 Plus token. We are submitting a copy of our contract with the Farmers’ Market as proof of its low-cost rental of the municipal parking lot.

  • 9. Inform and inspire the public.

    PE9 Action: Climate Change Education & Engagement

    8 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: We are requesting 8 points for our work developing an Education and Engagement strategy that speaks to both mitigation and adaptation. Please see our documentation, attached here, lays out our approach. We also kindly refer you to our website, www.climatesmartrhinebeck.org, which provides resources and event listings related to mitigation and adaptation. We are also submitting documentation here for two events, which supports the requirement of at least one adaptation event and one mitigation event in the year prior to our Jan 10, 2020 CSC filing. In this document, we also describe how these in-person events are a piece of a larger integrated education and engagement strategy that includes partnerships, publications, social media, and PR.

    PE9 Action: Climate-related Public Events

    3 Points

    Program Summary: We are requesting 3 points for submitting documentation of two events that the Village supported: - Rhinebeck Clean Energy Expo, October 6, 2019 - 2019 Rhinebeck Youth-led Events (Drawdown Eco Challenge in March, September Climate Strike, Youth Presentations to the Village Board in October, Drawdown Learn in October)

    PE9 Action: Local Climate Action Website

    3 Points

    Program Summary: In 2019, the Rhinebeck Village CSC Task Force launched a website at www.climatesmartrhinebeck.org. All of the content has been created within the last year. The goals of the website are threefold: The website defines what the CSC program is and how it works for our community in what we hope is a friendly, appealing way. We provide accessible ways for folks to get involved in our efforts. We share tips and resources for folks to take action on their own, to apply learnings to their own lives. On our homepage and “Our Work” page, we define what CSC program is and introduce the Task Force members. On the “Our Work” page we list accomplishments included in our Jan 2020 filing. Once our filing is approved and public on the CSC website, we plan to link to that so that our community and others can have full transparency into the actions we’ve taken. At the top of “Our Work” we explain what our focus in 2020 will be and how interested folks can get involved. We have set up a special email address as well as interest forms that folks can fill out. Another way people can get involved is through our programming, which is listed on our “Events” page. We plan to list our events well in advance so we can gather interested parties and develop volunteer opportunities. We also archive past events there so people can get familiar with the types of events we offer and those of like-minded organizations that we promote. On our “Resources” page, we link out to booklets and partner sites that are compilations of climate change actions. We have also started to pepper the page with “Quick hits” - bite-sized actionable items that people can jump on.

    PE9 Action: Social Media

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Our CSC Task Force has set up social media account on Instagram @climatesmartrbk. Rhinebeck Village already has a Facebook account with over 500 followers so we intend to leverage this existing community with updates about our CSC activities. https://www.facebook.com/villageofrhinebeck/ https://www.instagram.com/climatesmartrbk/ Mayor Bassett will be including CSC Task Force updates in his monthly newsletter which also has over 500 subscribers. We are including a few screenshots as examples of our social media strategy: Fun posts where we engage around sustainable lifestyle content in an accessible way Spreading the word about our CSC events and actionable tips

Climate Smart Communities