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Climate Smart Communities Certification Report

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bronze Certified

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

Pelham, Village (Westchester) was certified on September 19, 2022 with 138 points earned from 23 completed actions. Listed below is information regarding Pelham, Village (Westchester)’s Climate Smart Communities efforts and materials associated with its certified actions.

The certification for Pelham, Village (Westchester) will expire on September 30, 2027.

Contact Information

The designated Climate Smart Communities contact for Pelham, Village (Westchester) is:

Name:Chris Scelza
Title:Village Administrator
Address:195 Sparks Avenue
Pelham, NY 10803

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Pelham, Village (Westchester) was approved for in 2022 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.

    PE1 Action: CSC Task Force

    20 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: Attached is a copy of the resolution adopted June 11, 2019 (date located in vote record chart attached) that established the CSC Task Force. Also attached are minutes from three meetings within the past year. The CSC Task Force and Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) meetings are congruent. The CSC Task Force members as of December 1, 2021 include: Yenna Chan (Co-Chair) Gabrielle Sasson (Co-Chair, CSC Coordinator) Tom White (Secretary) Hanan Kamal Eldehy (Village of Pelham Trustee) Cara Farrell (Village of Pelham staff till 12/2021) Anna Riehl Ben Smyser Ella Burns Heather Glickman-Eliezer Lindsay Preftakes Marc Burgess Maryanne Joyce Nadine LeeSang Tai Montanarella

    PE1 Action: CSC Coordinator

    10 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: Attached is the original resolution appointing the CSC Coordinator on 6/11/2019 (date located above the vote record) as well as the resolution dated 12/14/2021 appointing a new CSC Coordinator, Gabrielle Sasson. Gabrielle, a resident of the Village of Pelham, has served as co-chair of Pelham's Sustainability Advisory Board and Climate Smart Communities Task Force since July 2020. Along with co-chair Yenna Chan, Gabrielle leads monthly SAB/CSCTF meetings, coordinates SAB/CSCTF projects and CSC documentation, and liaisons with the Village Mayor and Board of Trustees.

    PE1 Action: National/Regional Climate Program

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Village is participating in 2 REGIONAL PROGRAMS: 1. NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities (CEC) Program: The Village of Pelham was officially recognized as Clean Energy Community in 2021 and continues to work within CEC program. https://www.pelhamgov.com/sustainability-advisory-board/news/clean-energy-community-designation 2. Sustainable Westchester: The Village of Pelham is a member of SW, a consortium of Westchester County local governments that facilitates effective collaboration on sustainability initiatives. The Village has active participation in SW including: Community Choice Aggregation, Zero Waste/Recycle Right, Community Solar, EnergySmart Homes and Grid Rewards campaigns https://sustainablewestchester.org/pelham/

    PE1 Action: Partnerships with Other Entities

    3 Points

    Program Summary: January 26, 2021 the Village of Pelham (VOP) entered into an agreement with the Village of Pelham Manor (VOPM) to launch a Food Scrap Recycling Program located on VOP property open to residents from both villages. Resolution attached. Also attached is the Inter-Municipal Agreement between the City of New Rochelle and the Village of Pelham for the Disposal of Organic Waste, including Yard Waste, Leaves, Brush, Logs and other similar acceptable organic waste, at the City of New Rochelle Waste Transfer Station, per the agreement provided for by the City of New Rochelle, effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. This partnership has been continuously renewed since 2009.

  • 3. Decrease energy use.

    PE3 Action: Benchmarking - Municipal Buildings

    4 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Pelham's Board of Trustees adopted the resolution for Municipal Building Benchmarking on 2/23/2021 and received recognition from NYSERDA's CEC program for completing that high impact action, reflected in the CEC Scorecard attached below. (2pts) The Village has also posted on its public website and submitted to NYSERDA the first benchmarking report covering a 24-month period of June 2020-June 2022 and is awaiting the award of additional CEC points associated with that action. (2pts) Direct link to VOP's Municipal Building Benchmarking report: https://www.pelhamgov.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif3661/f/uploads/village_of_pelham_buildings_energy_report.pdf

    PE3 Action: Fleet Inventory

    4 Points

    Program Summary: The attached fleet inventory was completed by May 31, 2021. Also attached are the procedures by which the village fleet inventory is updated.

    PE3 Action: LED Street Lights

    8 Points

    Program Summary: By the end of 2019, the Village of Pelham replaced 497 inefficient cobrahead fixtures with energy efficient LED fixtures under the New York Power Authority's (NYPA) Energy Efficiency Program. The total annual energy savings will amount to 93,861 KWh. Included in the attachments is the Village of Pelham's Clean Energy Community Score Card from NYSERDA indicating completion of the LED installation.

    PE3 Action: Energy Code Enforcement Training

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Building Inspector Joe Senerchia successfully completed Energy Code Enforcement Training under NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program October 2021.

  • 5. Use climate-smart materials management.

    PE5 Action: Recycling Bins in Government Buildings

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Village policy requires placement of recycling bins wherever there is a trash bin, to establish a one to one match garbage bins to recycling bins. All government buildings have been provided recycling bins for common and individual work areas. The attached photos show the different locations in Pelham’s government buildings. The Village does not currently have an inventory of all receptacles but will work to do this in the future.

    PE5 Action: Waste Reduction Education Campaign

    2 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Pelham’s Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) and Climate Smart Communities Task Force (CSCTF) has a successful and ongoing waste reduction education campaign with the purpose of educating the public and encouraging waste reduction, recycling, and composting. Efforts include the Recycle Right App, a variety of events, and social media outreach. These efforts culminated on April 10, 2021 with the grand opening of the Pelham Food Scrap Recycling collection site, which was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by many members of Pelham and surrounding communities: https://pelhamexaminer.com/34228/latest-news/snapshot-pelham-all-of-it-begins-recycling-food-scraps/

    PE5 Action: Residential Organic Waste Program

    8 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Pelham has a community-wide curbside pick-up yard waste program (4 points) and food scrap drop off site (4 points). https://www.pelhamgov.com/home/pages/refuse-collection-and-recycling-guidelines https://www.pelhamgov.com/sustainability-advisory-board/pages/residential-food-scrap-recycling-drop-program

  • 6. Implement climate-smart land use.

    PE6 Action: Smart Growth Policies

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Attached is a detailed explanation of the Village of Pelham's Smart Growth Policies, for a total of 10 points, attained through the Village's Business District Floating Zone (BDFZ). Also included in the attachment is the BDFZ code, as well as links to additional supporting documentation.

    PE6 Action: Complete Streets Policy

    4 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Village of Pelham created the VOP Pedestrian Safety & Traffic Calming Committee and adopted the attached Complete Streets policy. This Committee has been involved in major construction projects on Lincoln Avenue (including the Lincoln Avenue Bridge Project and the corridor's repaving project). They also have conducted calming studies on Sparks Avenue which acts as an on-ramp to the Hutchinson River Parkway. Please see attached.

    PE6 Action: Alternative-fuel Infrastructure

    4 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: May 3, 2022 the Village of Pelham announced Pelham's first public electric vehicle (EV) charging station https://www.pelhamgov.com/home/news/pelhams-first-public-ev-charging-station. The Level 2 station, available 24/7, is located in the parking lot behind Village Hall. Over the coming months, the Village will be installing four additional EV charging stations throughout our downtown. Attached is the press release regarding the new charging station as well as a photo from June 2022 of two cars being charged at the site.

    PE6 Action: Local Forestry Program

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Village of Pelham, NY Tree cover Survey: This survey was conducted in January 2020 using the i-Tree application. The methodology and results including the raw data are included in the submitted documentation. The results show a 41.2% tree cover, which translates into 27,313.80 tons of stored carbon dioxide Annual carbon sequestration of carbon of 1,087.60 tons translates to a value of $ 50,407. Grassland accounted for 14.4% of land cover. The survey used 2437 samples to produce results with a sampling error of less than 1%. More detail is found in the report.

  • 8. Support a green innovation economy.

    PE8 Action: Farmers’ Markets

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Pelham and Chamber of Commerce entered into an agreement to hold a Farmer's Market every Sunday May 16 through October 31, 2021. The Village of Pelham Sustainability Advisory Board and Climate Smart Communities Taskforce maintained a table at the market promoting food scrap recycle, Healthy Yards, and other sustainability programs. https://www.instagram.com/p/CSmVC0Ur9ed/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CTvc2FhsD-g/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CUAaJ0WLbYD/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CUCv4vPLZjv/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CUCv4vPLZjv/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CVatDfGrLT0/

    PE8 Action: Community Choice Aggregation

    18 Points

    Program Summary: On November 3, 2015, the Village of Pelham adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2015 to establish a Community Choice Aggregation Program, a law committing its participation in Westchester Power's Community Choice Aggregation program run by Sustainable Westchester. The VoP’s population is 7,016 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This earns the Village 18 points for this action. CCA Code: https://ecode360.com/31079465

    PE8 Action: Rooftop Solarize Campaign

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Village of Pelham working with EcoPel and the Solarize Pelham team held workshops to introduce the Pelham community to the benefits of solar panel installations on March 15, 2018 (Town of Pelham’s Daronco Town House); March 28, 2018 (Daronco Town House); April 26, 2018 (The Manor Club); and May 5, 2018 (Town of Pelham Library). We also held a Solar Open House Tour on May 20, 2018, for Pelhamites to visit solar-equipped homes; and held a workshop specifically for commercial property owners at Rockwell’s Restaurant on June 18, 2018 . These efforts resulted in a total of 42 Pelham homeowners installing solar. Attached is the documentation showing the Village of Pelham's participation in the NYSERDA Solarize Campaign, earning full points for this action.

    PE8 Action: Community Campaigns

    6 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Pelham ran successful "Demand Response" (3 points) and "Clean Heating and Cooling" (3 points) community campaigns during 2021, recognized by NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities program. Attached are screenshot of the emails from NYSERDA confirming successful completion of the Demand Response campaign (October 12, 2021) and Clean Heating and Cooling campaign (December 23, 2021) as well as a screenshot of all completed actions from the NYSERDA CEC website.

  • 9. Inform and inspire the public.

    PE9 Action: Climate Change Education & Engagement

    4 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Attached is the Village of Pelham's Climate Change Education and Community Engagement Strategy including goals, scope, partners, and a summary of Outreach efforts made during the past year (June 2021 - June 2022) supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives and education, including over 9 events, as well as weekly community tabling and other outreach efforts.

    PE9 Action: Climate-related Public Events

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Pelham held many climate-related public events within the past year, outlined starting on page 3 of the attached document, including links to pictures and videos.

    PE9 Action: Local Climate Action Website

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Village's Sustainability Advisory Board's page https://www.pelhamgov.com/sustainability-advisory-board and Climate Smart Community Task Force's page https://www.pelhamgov.com/climate-smart-communities-task-force provide an overview of climate related government efforts of the Village of Pelham. The site outlines the Village’s major initiatives underway related to building community resilience to climate change and climate change mitigation efforts. It also provides external resources related to sustainability, energy efficiency, and other information on how citizens can make a difference. Actions Residents & Businesses In The Community Can Take to Reduce Their GHG Emissions are listed here: https://www.pelhamgov.com/climate-smart-communities-task-force/pages/actions-residents-businesses-community-can-take-reduce

    PE9 Action: Social Media

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Facebook: @sustainablepelham https://www.facebook.com/SustainablePelham/ Instagram: @climatesmartpelham https://www.instagram.com/climatesmartpelham/ Through Facebook and Instagram postings, the SAB and CSC Task Force share information on climate and sustainability-related news, initiatives, educational opportunities and other events that may be of interest to Pelham residents, and encourage Pelhamites to learn more about climate change and sustainability issues and to take action, both on an individual and community level. SAB and CSC Task Force also cross-post with local and regional organizations and share information with local community groups. The two attachments below contain links to VOP CSC/SAB posts as well as cross-posts.

Climate Smart Communities