Climate Smart Communities Certification Report
Download PDF Versionbronze Certified
This is the Climate Smart Communities Certification Report of Newfield, Town (Tompkins). Newfield, Town (Tompkins) is a bronze certified Climate Smart Community.
Newfield, Town (Tompkins) was certified on April 21, 2023 with
158 points earned from 22 completed actions. Listed below is information regarding
Newfield, Town (Tompkins)’s Climate Smart Communities efforts and materials associated with its certified actions.
The certification for Newfield, Town (Tompkins) will expire on September 30, 2028.
Contact Information
The designated Climate Smart Communities contact for Newfield, Town (Tompkins) is:
| Name: | Heather McCarty |
|---|---|
| Title/Position: | Board Member / Town Board |
| Address: | 166 Main Street Newfield, NY 14867 |
Actions Implemented
Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Newfield, Town (Tompkins) was approved for in 2023 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.
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1. Build a climate-smart community.
PE1 Action: CSC Task Force
20 PointsBronze Mandatory Silver MandatoryProgram Summary: Attached are the Meeting Minutes from the official Town of Newfield board meeting held on December 10. 2020 establishing the Climate Smart Communities Task Force by resolution number 47 (page 3-4). Meeting minutes from two climate smart community task force meetings: 12.10/2020 and 11/16/2020. Also attached is the CSC Pledge Resolution passed by the Town Board on July 9, 2020 11/14/2022: Updated with meeting minutes from 2022, the 2022 member listing of the task force.
- pdf Resolution establishing a Climate Smart Communities Task Force and Terms of Reference - Meeting Minutes
- pdf Climate Smart Communities Pledge Resolution
- word 20220606 Meeting Minutes of Newfield Climate Task Force
- word 20221017 Meeting Minutes of Newfield Climate Task Force
- word 2022 Town of Newfield Climate Smart Communities Task Force Members
PE1 Action: CSC Coordinator
10 PointsBronze Mandatory Silver MandatoryProgram Summary: Attached is RESOLUTION NO 48-2020 - Appointing Newfield Climate Smart Communities Coordinator on December 10, 2020. See page 5. This position continues to be filled by the same coordinator appointed on December 10, 2020. This position is noted on the town website: https://newfieldny.org/government/committees/climate-smart-communities/?
- pdf RESOLUTION NO 48-2020 - Appointing Newfield Climate Smart Communities Coordinator - Meeting minutes
- word 2022 Town of Newfield Climate Smart Communities Task Force Members
- word 20221017 Meeting Minutes of Newfield Climate Task Force
- image 2023 Climate Smart CommunitiesTask Force Members website screenshot
PE1 Action: National/Regional Climate Program
3 PointsProgram Summary: The attached documentation shows the Town of Newfield's participation in the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities program.
PE1 Action: Partnerships with Other Entities
3 PointsProgram Summary: The supporting documentation includes minutes showing participation in the Tompkins County Council of Governments Energy Committee, a letter of support for a grant proposal signed on to by the Town of Newfield, and a description of the committee and current membership.
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2. Inventory emissions, set goals, and plan for climate action.
PE2 Action: Government Operations GHG Inventory
16 PointsBronze Priority Silver PriorityProgram Summary: We are submitting a copy of a local government operations GHG inventory report that was published in 2022. The inventory includes the Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions from government operations for the Town of Newfield. The report includes a section describing the methodology and how it complies with established protocols. We are also providing screenshots of the report linked to the town website as evidence that the report was released to the public.
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3. Decrease energy use.
PE3 Action: Government Building Energy Audits
10 PointsBronze Priority Silver PriorityProgram Summary: We have provided a copy of the ASHRAE Level-1 energy audit report for the town hall and town barn conducted in 2022. We have submitted a listing of all buildings using energy and owned by the town government.
PE3 Action: Interior Lighting Upgrades
3 PointsProgram Summary: Upgrades to interior lighting were completed in the Town Hall (66 fixtures in April 2021 ) and Town Barn (94 fixtures in Jan 2021). Fixtures were installed within 7 years of application date and exceeded ASHRAE 90.1 when installed. Total square footage for all Town buildings is 27,712.863, so 40% of buildings (11,000 square feet) had LED conversions (Town Barn and Town Hall).
PE3 Action: Benchmarking - Municipal Buildings
2 PointsProgram Summary: Email certification for completing the action
PE3 Action: Fleet Inventory
4 PointsProgram Summary: Attached is the Town of Newfield vehicle fleet inventory as of May 12, 2021. The inventory includes the 11 categories of information required and covers every four-wheeled vehicle owned or operated by the local government. The procedure for updating the inventory is that the Highway Superintendent helps the Town bookkeeper update the fleet inventory annually, as it is required for insurance purposes. Cleaning the Newfield fleet, through increasing fuel efficiency or switching to electric vehicles, would have the largest impact on emissions from the municipal operations. Electric vehicles are ideal, but expensive and not yet practical for all applications. Upgrading to newer or more fuel-efficient vehicles could also help the town reduce their emissions. The Town of Newfield’s planned climate actions (detailed in the in-progress Climate Action Plan) are currently being finalized and include adopting a vehicle fleet efficiency policy.
PE3 Action: LED Street Lights
12 PointsProgram Summary: Attached is the Town of Newfield’s inventory of all streetlights. NYSERDAs LED Street Light Calculator is attached following the Town’s submission to NYSERDA being approved (approval emails also attached). The LED Street light Calculator is the supporting document for the 12 points, showing that 98% of the cobra-head style streetlights, and 100% of the decorative-style streetlights within the jurisdiction are converted to LED.
- pdf Completion of the LED Street Lights – Decorative Fixtures High Impact Action under NYSERDA CEC Program
- pdf Completion of the LED Street Lights – Cobra Head Fixtures High Impact Action under NYSERDA CEC Program
- excel Town of Newfield LED Street Light Calculator 12-9-22
- excel Newfield Streetlights inventory
- pdf Town of Newfield CEC Scorecard
PE3 Action: Energy Code Enforcement Training
5 PointsProgram Summary: NYSERDA CEC Action Approval for Code Enforcement Training
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5. Use climate-smart materials management.
PE5 Action: Recycling Bins in Government Buildings
3 PointsProgram Summary: The Recycling Resolution shows that the Town of Newfield has a policy requiring placement of recycling bins wherever there is a trash bin. The photos show two photos for each type of location (common areas and employee desks in government buildings). Information on the number of trash and recycling bins provided in each of the two categories is included.
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6. Implement climate-smart land use.
PE6 Action: Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements
21 PointsBronze Priority Silver PriorityProgram Summary: 2013 Town of Newfield Comprehensive Plan - Adopting Resolution 9-12-13 - Sustainability Elements of Newfield Comprehensive Plan: Document outlining sustainability elements in the Comprehensive Plan
PE6 Action: Unified Solar Permit
5 PointsProgram Summary:
PE6 Action: NYStretch Energy Code
10 PointsProgram Summary: The supporting documentation includes a certified copy of the adoption of Local Law #3 adopting the NYStretch Code, and the approval email of the NYStretch Code High Impact Action by the Clean Energy Community program.
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7. Enhance community resilience to climate change.
PE7 Action: Climate-resilient Hazard Mitigation Plan
4 PointsProgram Summary: The Town of Newfield HMP Update pdf includes links to the Tompkins County hazard mitigation plan completed in 2021, with an explanation, including page references, of how the plan addresses climate change and includes climate science projections. Section 9-15 - Newfield (T) 081321 pdf identifies the Town of Newfield as a participating jurisdiction. The Town of Newfield Hazard Mitigation Plan - Resolution No 43 - 2021 is proof that the plan has been formally adopted by the local government. The FEMA Adoptions List Tompkins County 20211214 pdf shows that the plan was approved by FEMA within five years prior to the application date.
PE7 Action: Culverts & Dams
12 PointsProgram Summary: Documention contains two letters of compliance for two culvert replacements. Before and after photos.
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8. Support a green innovation economy.
PE8 Action: Rooftop Solarize Campaign
3 PointsProgram Summary:
PE8 Action: Community Campaigns
3 PointsProgram Summary: This is documentation of approval from NYSERDA for completion of a Clean Heating and Cooling campaign which is a Clean Energy Communities Community Campaigns high-impact action. The campaign started on 4/20/2021 and ended on 8/19/2021.
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9. Inform and inspire the public.
PE9 Action: Climate-related Public Events
3 PointsProgram Summary: In collaboration with the Town of Newfield, the Newfield Library, HeatSmart Tompkins, and Get Your Greenback Tompkins the town of Newfield Climate Smart Community Task force design and carried out two climate-related public events: 1) Newfield Campaign for Clean Heat webinar for community members to learn about home weatherization and energy-efficient heat pumps 2) The Powerhouse tiny home, a mobile energy education and outreach tool of Get Your Greenback Tompkins visited the Town of Newfield for a one-day event for Newfield residents to explore the tine home's interactive exhibit on energy efficiency measures, heat pumps, and going solar.
- pdf Newfield town board minutes - see pg 2
- pdf Media Coverage - Newfield launches sustainability campaign
- image Community Partner HeatSmart Tompkins webpage for Newfield campaign
- image Community Partner Newfield Library post for Newfield campaign
- image Town of Newfield post about Newfield CH&C campaign powerhouse event
- excel List of participants for Town of Newfield Clean Heating and Cooling campaign
PE9 Action: Local Climate Action Website
3 PointsProgram Summary: Web page for Newfield: https://newfieldny.org/government/committees/climate-smart-communities/ Within the past year the Newfield CSC Task Force has updated the website with information about the formation of the task force, task force membership, and resources to learn more. 11/14/2022: Further Updates have been implemented as per feedback.
PE9 Action: Social Media
3 PointsProgram Summary: The documentation includes the Town of Newfield Facebook Page address, 5 examples of posts about Climate Smart Communities participation and Clean Energy Community actions, and the Town of Newfield Social Media Policy.