Climate Smart Communities
Sign in

Climate Smart Communities Certification Report

Download PDF Version

bronze Certified

This is the Climate Smart Communities Certification Report of Westchester County. Westchester County is a bronze certified Climate Smart Community.

Westchester County was certified on June 01, 2021 with 140 points earned from 25 completed actions. Listed below is information regarding Westchester County’s Climate Smart Communities efforts and materials associated with its certified actions.

The certification for Westchester County will expire on September 30, 2026.

Contact Information

The designated Climate Smart Communities contact for Westchester County is:

Name:Peter McCartt
Title/Position:Director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability / Office of the Westchester County Executive
Address:148 Martine Avenue, 9th Floor
White Plains, NY 10601

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Westchester County was approved for in 2021 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: Overview: Westchester County formed the Climate Smart Communities Task Force in 2019 by executive order. It has a nine member board composed of community members and municipal representatives that advises the County in matters of sustainability and climate adaptation. WC PE1 Action - CSC Task Force - Executive Order: This PDF is the scanned version of the executive order, signed by County Executive George Latimer forming the CSC Task Force. It designated the existing Climate Change Task Force (a previously non-statutory body) as the official CSC Task Force. WC PE1 Action - CSC Task Force - Member List: This pdf is a list of all nine members of the CSC Task Force and the organizations they represent. WC PE1 Action - CSC Task Force - Minutes #1 This pdf is a copy of minutes from a Task Force meeting in June of 2020, including attendance logs. Title WC PE1 Action - CSC Task Force - Minutes #2 This pdf is a copy of minutes from a Task Force meeting in February of 2021, including attendance logs.

    PE1 Action: CSC Coordinator

    10 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County officially designated Peter McCartt, Westchester County Director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability, as the coordinator of the Climate Smart Communities Task Force on April 22, 2019. Attached: WC PE1 Action - CSC Coordinator - Executive Order.pdf This pdf is the scanned version of the Executive Order appointing Peter McCartt the County's CSC coordinator, as provided for in section 3 of the document. He has since served in this role.

    PE1 Action: National/Regional Climate Program

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County is part of Regional and National Climate initiatives through its membership with Sustainable Westchester and the Climate Reality Project's County Climate Coalition. "Sustainable Westchester is a nonprofit, consortium of Westchester County local governments that facilitates effective collaboration on sustainability initiatives." The County promotes and helps scale many of SW programs such as the Solarize program. The Climate Reality Project's County Climate Coalition is an alliance of Counties committed to upholding the terms of the Paris Climate Accords. PE1 Action - National/Regional Climate Program - Press Release This PDF contains a copy of the press release announcing Westchester County's membership in Sustainable Westchester and partnership on the Solarize program. PE1 Action - National/Regional Climate Program - Membership List This PNG is a screenshot from Sustainable Westchester's webpage, proving the County's continued membership in the coalition. PE1 Action - National/Regional Climate Program - Welcome Letter This PDF contains a copy of the letter welcoming Westchester to the Climate Reality Project's County Climate Coalition.

    PE1 Action: Partnerships with Other Entities

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County partners with a number of sustainability focused entities. A few notable examples are our ongoing partnerships with the County's Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), an independent County agency, and the Bronx River Alliance, a regional nonprofit. WC PE1 Action - Partnerships with Other Entities - Bronx River Alliance Strategy Document This word document contains the report detailing the partnership, giving context for the project, and highlights the tasks, procedures, and goals that will take place over the next several months. WC PE1 Action - Partnerships with Other Entities - SCWC Agreement This PDF contains the legal agreement between the County and SCWC detailing the partnership between the two entities. WC PE1 Action - Partnerships with Other Entities - SCWC Agenda This PDF contains the agenda November 2020 meeting of the SCWC as evidence of continued partnership with the County.

  • 3. Decrease energy use.

    PE3 Action: Green Building Certification

    15 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: These documents provide proof that the Gateway Center, a newly constructed building, part of Westchester Community College (WCC) and owned by the county, received a LEED gold certification in 2011. WC PE3 Action - Green Building Certification - Gateway Center Gold LEED Certificate.pdf This PDF is the official certificate, designating the Center Gold LEED certified. WC PE3 Action - Green Building Certification - Gateway Center LEED Report Interpretation This PDF is the full report, detailing the Center’s qualification for Gold certification. WC PE3 Action - Green Building Certification - Gateway Center LEED Scorecard This PDF is the full scorecard, demonstrating which points the center earned to qualify for Gold certification WC PE3 Action - Green Building Certification - Gateway Center Website This Word document contains a link to the Center’s webpage and screenshots that prove it is owned by Westchester County and currently in operation.

    PE3 Action: Fleet Inventory

    4 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County currently maintains a total of 1661 vehicles in its fleet, ranging from Paratransit vans to Bee-Line buses. Attached is a full accounting of these vehicles and the policy for annual inventory updates. WC PE3 Action - Fleet Inventory - Full Inventory March 2021: This excel document provides a full list of the County's fleet with information on the model year, year purchased, make, model, drivetrain type, type of fuel/power source, MPG rating, mileage, class, gross vehicle weight rating. WC PE3 Action - Fleet Inventory - Executive Memo: This PDF is a scanned version of the executive memo dictating the County's policy on updates to the fleet inventory, including when updates are required and what to include.

    PE3 Action: LED Traffic Signals

    4 Points

    Program Summary: Overview - Westchester County has upgraded 98% of its traffic signals to LEDs, comprising a total of 319 LED traffic lights that it owns and operates. Attached: WC PE3 Action - LED Traffic Signals - Traffic Signal Inventory This spreadsheet provides a complete accounting of the LED traffic signals installed on County operated roads. WC PE3 Action - LED Traffic Signals -NYSERDA Case Study This PDF is a digital version of the NYSERDA Case Study citing Westchester County as an example of a successful LED conversion initiative. Additional Notes: While the majority of the LED installation projects exceed the delineated ten year time frame, we respectfully submit our entry for this action given the County has converted nearly the entirety of its signals and Climate Smart Communities cites Westchester County’s program in the best practices section of this item’s description.

    PE3 Action: Incentives for Employee Carpooling & Transit

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County takes part in the 511NY Rideshare program, which provides incentives for employees to carpool or rideshare to work, including commuter tax benefits. Additionally, Westchester recently hosted a "Commuter Challenge" for County employees. Participants who took the train or bus, carpooled, walked, or biked to work would be entered in a raffle for a $50 gift card. WC PE3 Action - Incentives for Employee Carpooling & Transit - Notice to Employees: This PDF includes a copy of the email sent out to County employees notifying them of their eligibility to participate in the 511 Rideshare program WC PE3 Action - Incentives for Employee Carpooling & Transit - 511 Rideshare Metrics 2021: This Word document includes a copy of the metrics for Westchester's program including total enrollment, trips averted, miles travelled averted, and tons of CO2 emissions averted. WC PE3 Action- Incentives for Employee Carpooling & Transit - 511 Tax Benefits: This PNG file is a screenshot from the 511NY Website detailing the tax benefits available to the program's participants. WC PE3 Action - Incentives for Employee Carpooling & Transit - Commuter Challenge This PDF includes a copy of the email sent to employees announcing the County's Commuter Challenge.

  • 4. Shift to clean, renewable energy.

    PE4 Action: Renewable Energy Feasibility Studies

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County commissioned a food waste study in 2020 to consider the feasibility of harassing biomass energy locally. The study considered the potential geographical considerations, local policy issues, financing options, costs, and risks of constructing an anaerobic digester in the County. WC PE4 Action - Renewable Energy Feasibility Studies - Biomass Study: This PDF contains the full scanned version of the County's 2020 Food Waste Study. For biomass feasibility, see sections 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11.

  • 5. Use climate-smart materials management.

    PE5 Action: Recycling Bins in Government Buildings

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County currently employs 3100 trash bins and 3200 recycling bins throughout the properties it owns and operates (as per DPW estimate). The County currently has a policy requiring placement of recycling bins wherever there is a trash bin. WC PE5 Action - Recycling Bins in Government Buildings - Executive Memo: This PDF contains a scanned version of the executive memo requiring placement of recycling bins wherever there is a trash bin. WC PE5 Action - Recycling Bins in Government Buildings - Photos: This PDF contains a photographic accounting of recycling and trash bins paired at different locations throughout the County, including common areas and employee desks.

    PE5 Action: Reuse Programs

    6 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County operates a Household Materials Recovery Center in Valhalla, where residents can make appointments to drop off household materials such as coats, sheets, and curtains. The Furniture Share House is an organization subsidized by the County that collects and distributes used furniture to local families in need. WC PE5 Action - Resource Recovery Center - HMRF Accepted Materials: This PNG is a snapshot from the HMRF Website (https://environment.westchestergov.com/facilities/h-mrf) summarizing the various materials that qualify for drop off. The textiles section in particular is oriented toward reuse by economically disadvantaged residents. WC PE5 Action - Resource Recovery Center - HMRF Reservation Schedule This PNG is a snapshot of the March 2021 reservation schedule for the HMRF as evidence of its continuous operation. WC PE5 Action - Resource Recovery Center - Furniture Share House This Word document provides a full summary of the Furniture Share House program including its operations, emissions impact, and relationship to the County government. The Share House's website is currently down for updates but the organization's social media is still active as evidence of continuous operation (https://twitter.com/furnsharehouse).

    PE5 Action: Waste Reduction Education Campaign

    2 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County has launched the Recycle Right campaign to encourage all County residents to recycle materials properly. The campaign launched in 2019 and is ongoing. WC PE5 Action - Waste Reduction Education Campaign - Campaign Summary: This Word doc contains a full summary of the campaign including the timeframe, the topics covered, a press release announcing the event, and a link to the educational materials. WC PE5 Action - Waste Reduction Education Campaign - Campaign Flier: This PDF contains a scanned version of the campaign flier which was distributed on social media and through printed copies at the County (copies of the flier were recycled after use).

    PE5 Action: Compost Bins for Residents

    2 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: As part of its comprehensive waste reduction program, Westchester County hosts an annual compost bin sale with a local nature center. Residents can get a discounted price on composting materials and rain water barrels. WC PE5 Action - Compost Bins for Residents - Metrics: This Word document contains statistics on the number of bins sold in the past 5 years and a link to the event website. WC PE5 Action - Compost Bins for Residents - Promotional Flier This jpg file contains a scanned version of the promotional flier for event on which the prices for each item is listed. WC PE5 Action - Compost Bins for Residents - Strategy Guide This word document contains the full strategy guide for Westchester's comprehensive food waste program for 2021. Information on compost bin sales can be found on page 3.

    PE5 Action: Residential Organic Waste Program

    6 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County currently maintains drop-off yard waste and food waste programs. Both initiatives are carried out through Intermunicipal Agreements whereby municipalities designate a pickup site and pay a subsidized rate for the County to haul the residential waste to a regional composting plant. Pickup from each site occurs once a week and waste is delivered to the composting location when the County's storage reaches capacity, to reduce transportation related emissions. WC PE5 Action - Residential Organic Waste Program - Food Waste Program Legislation: This PDF contains a scanned version of the legislation from 2020 launching the County's food waste program. A plain language description of the program, including types of materials collected, when and how it is collected, where it goes, can be found on pages 1 and 2 of the document. WC PE5 Action - Residential Organic Waste Program - Yard Waste Program Legislation: This PDF contains a scanned version of the legislation from 2018 launching the County's yard waste program. A plain language description of the program, including types of materials collected, when and how it is collected, where it goes, can be found on pages 2 and 3 of the document. WC PE5 Action - Residential Organic Waste Program - Food Waste Program Press Release: This PDF contains a press release from February 3, 2021 announcing the City of White Plains decision to utilize the County's food waste program. This document serves as evidence of the program's continuous operation. (Link here: https://www.westchestergov.com/home/all-press-releases/8793-westchester-s-food-scrap-recycling-program-making-an-impact) WC PE5 Action - Residential Organic Waste Program - Yard Waste Program Municipal Website: This PNG file contains a screenshot from one the County's municipal partners, highlighting their participation in the County's yard waste program. This document serves as evidence of the program's continuous operation. (Link here: https://www.irvingtonny.gov/382/Food-Scraps-and-Yard-Waste)

  • 6. Implement climate-smart land use.

    PE6 Action: Complete Streets Policy

    4 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Overview: The Westchester County Board of Legislators passed a Complete Streets policy in 2013. This law set forth the standards for complete streets engineering that the County used for its implementation plan and checklist. WC PE6 Action - Complete Streets Policy - Minutes This PDF provides the official minutes for the Board of Legislators meeting at which the policy was passed (page 9). WC PE6 Action - Complete Streets Policy - Legislation This PDF provides the scanned version of the legislation introducing the Clean Streets policy, the County's implementation plan, and accompanying complete streets checklist.

    PE6 Action: Alternative-fuel Infrastructure

    18 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Overview: Among the EV charging ports owned and operated by Westchester County, there are 10 charging stations (5 dual-hubs) located at White Plains Metro North Station that are available for public use. The County installed these in February of 2020 and they have been in operation since. WC PE6 Action - Alternative-fuel Infrastructure - Charging Station Map Entry: This Word document contains photos of the charging stations by County staff that serve as evidence of their installation and continuous operation. WC PE6 Action - Alternative-fuel Infrastructure - Charging Station Usage Log: This pdf contains a log of the stations' usage over the past year by members of the public. WC PE6 Action - Alternative-fuel Infrastructure - Charging Station Map Entry: This PNG file contains a screenshot of the charging stations profile on the Department of Energy's EV charging station map, serving as evidence of their installation, continuous operation, and public availability. WC PE6 Action - Alternative-fuel Infrastructure - Charging Station Invoice: This PDF contains a copy of the invoice sent to the County for the charging stations, including the state rebate earned for all 10.

  • 8. Support a green innovation economy.

    PE8 Action: Farmers’ Markets

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County owns Muscoot Farm, which is a local farm that holds weekly farmers' markets between May and November. WC PE8 Action - Farmers’ Markets - Summary This Word document provides a full summary of the farmers' market program at Muscoot Farm including snapshots of the website and a history of the farm itself. WC PE8 Action - Farmers' Markets - Schedule This PNG is a snapshot of the schedule for the final farmers' market events of the season in 2020.

    PE8 Action: Buy Local/Buy Green Campaign

    2 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: For the 2020 holiday season, Westchester County launched a “buy local” campaign encouraging residents to shop at small businesses throughout the County. Through the month of December, Westchester featured 14 short videos on the County’s social media promoting local commerce. WC PE8 Action - Buy Local/Buy Green Campaign - Press Release: This PNG file contains the November 25 press release announcing the campaign (https://www.westchestergov.com/home/all-press-releases/8720-county-executive-george-latimer-launches-social-media-campaign-in-support-of-small-businesses) WC PE8 Action - Buy Local/Buy Green Campaign - Participating Businesses This Word document includes a list of all participating businesses with links to each social media post spotlighting them. WC PE8 Action - Buy Local/Buy Green Campaign - Promo Graphic This PNG file contains a copy of the campaign's promotional graphic that accompanied each social media post.

    PE8 Action: Rooftop Solarize Campaign

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County completed the Clean Energy Communities Solarize High Impact Action, receiving approval from NYSDERA in July of 2017. WC PE8 Action - Solarize, Clean Heating & Cooling, or Solar for All Campaign - Notice of Approval This word document contains a screenshot of email from NYSDERA giving Westchester notice that the County has completed the Solarize High Impact Action. WC PE8 Action - Solarize, Clean Heating & Cooling, or Solar for All Campaign - Press Release This PDF contains a May 2017 press release announcing Westchester's membership in the Sustainable Westchester Consortium and involvement in Solarize campaigns. WC PE8 Action - Solarize, Clean Heating & Cooling, or Solar for All Campaign - Campaign Metrics This Excel file contains a spreadsheet with metrics from of one of the County's Solarize campaigns in Northern Westchester.

  • 9. Inform and inspire the public.

    PE9 Action: Climate Change Education & Engagement

    8 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County has promoted a wide ranging campaign of community education and engagement in recent years. The following documentation highlights some of the most high profile initiatives and outlines the full reach of the program. WC PE9 Action - Climate Change Education & Engagement - Guide This PDF contains the County’s official strategy document for climate education. It details the stakeholders involved and the various actions and initiatives taken by the county to further climate awareness among the public on the importance of both mitigation (e.g. CompostED) and adaptation (e.g. Planting Westchester, GIS flood mapping). WC PE9 Action - Climate Change Education & Engagement - Initiatives This document contains a selection of four examples of education programs hosted by the County: A virtual Climate Townhall held in December of 2020, the CompostED food waste education and composting site, the Clearwater Festival, and Ecoawards (the final two events are annually held but were suspended for 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak).

    PE9 Action: Climate-related Public Events

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County held a virtual Earth Day conference in April of 2020 featuring climate experts, elected officials, and local activists. The event was held on Zoom and had over 100 attendees. WC PE9 Action - Climate-related Public Events - Speakers and Agenda This PDF includes a full agenda and speaker list from the event. WC PE9 Action - Climate-related Public Events - Zoom This PNG includes a screenshot of the event Zoom.

    PE9 Action: Local Climate Action Website

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: As of March 2021, Westchester County features a webpage for the Office of Energy Conservation & Sustainability, the department leading the County's climate efforts. The page features the Office's most important programs to combat the climate crisis, information on how County residents can participate in these programs (see CompostED), and a summary of actions that residents and businesses in the community can take to reduce their GHG emissions (see Reducing Your Carbon Footprint). The link to the page is here: https://www.westchestergov.com/office-of-energy-conservation-and-sustainability

    PE9 Action: Social Media

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Overview: Westchester County maintains a social media presence on multiple platforms that frequently spotlight issues clean energy and climate initiatives. The most active in supporting these is the Department of Energy Conservation & Sustainability Facebook page found here: https://www.facebook.com/WestchesterSustainability/. WC PE9 Action - Social Media - FB Posts This Word doc contains three screenshots of posts from the ECS Facebook in the past year.

Climate Smart Communities