Clean Energy

Gasland’s Josh Fox honored on Long Island

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The Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, a statewide New York based environmental organization, honored Josh Fox, creator of the Academy Award nominated film Gasland, at its annual gala this past week. Gasland was the film that shed light on the controversial issue of hydrofracking for natural gas in the shale under areas of the country including upstate NY and Pennsylvania. Due to the numerous chemicals used in the “fracking” process, which are unfortunately exempt from the Clean Drinking Water Act, this method of gas extraction has been the cause of numerous cases of poisoned drinking water wells. Land owners are paid by gas companies to drill under their property, often not realizing the dangers. Josh is a personable, creative and committed film-maker, and his courage in making this film has exponentially raised awareness on this issue. See gaslandthemovie.com.

Josh signing copies of his film for guests, after receiving an "Academy Award" from CCE
Beth Fiteni and Josh Fox, maker of "Gasland"

Earth Day NYC 2011!

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4/2//11 – Earth Day in NYC was fabulous this year, as always. There were celebrations in Times Square and at Grand Central Station. I’ll let the pictures tell the story!  For more info see EarthDayNY.org.

There is also a “Re-green the World” campaign where by you text the word TREE to 85944 and you’ll be donating $5 for the planting of trees around the world.

The best yet-- this man is advocating rooftop gardens on buses, and has a demo "bio-bus
ShutDownIndianPointNow.org (anti-nuke campaign)
The latest electric car- USA made
Get styrofoam out of schools campaign
Green Mountain Energy staff help promote wind power
Earth Day announcements on the big screen!
Activists promoting the new film "Bag It" about plastics reduction

Town of Oyster Bay Women of Distinction

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Tonight I was honored by the Town of Oyster Bay, NY as a Woman of Distinction! Eight women are selected each year for this honor for their efforts in various areas such as volunteerism, health care, business, and the arts. My category was government, for my work through the Sustainability Institute on our Clean Energy Leadership Task Force and various energy policies. It was a great ceremony and each winner was very worthy of the title. We each got an introduction by a Town Council member and proclamation. Our names will be engraved on a plaque that will hang in Oyster Bay Town Hall forever-more!

Plaque Listing Oyster Bay Women of Distinction
Congrats to all!

Cruise Ship Goes Green

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I just had the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Solstice. It was great to be pampered for a week, enjoy delicious food, and get some sun in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Maarten! The best part was meeting the ship’s environmental officer, James Mitchell. He attended the Maritime Academy in Boston and is attending Harvard for graduate school, but takes a few months off at a time to serve as the coordinator of the Solstice’s environmental programs. He ensures compliance with environmental regulations regarding waste disposal, and educates guests about the green features of the ship, including 280 solar films over the solarium pool, which produce enough electricity to power the constantly running elevator up and down 14 decks. The ship was designed with a special hull coated with silicone paint to reduce drag, and the ship is outfitted with LED lights throughout. These efforts have resulted in a 2-4% savings, which adds up to thousands of dollars considering the large amount of fuel used to propel the ship (63,000 gallons of diesel per day!). The ship even featured a permanent environmental exhibit. It was great to learn that each ship in the Royal Caribbean line (which owns Celebrity) now is staffed by an environmental officer.

Solar panel films over pool
James' Cool Lapel
beth-james-mitchel1
Beth Fiteni & James Mitchell

New LEED Home on Long Island

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I had the privilege of meeting Stephanie March through my consulting business, Green Inside and Out, after she and her husband, Bobby Flay, built a new green home in Amagansett. I visited their lovely, traditional-style home when construction was nearly complete, and helped advise the landscaper on how to establish and maintain an organic lawn. Low VOC paints and low-flow water fixtures were used in the home, and cisterns will capture rainwater for irrigation. The house is very energy efficient and utilizes solar power and a geothermal heat pump. They hope to achieve a LEED Gold status from the US Green Building Council.

In addition to the environmental features of the home, we met in NYC this week, at Bar Americain, to discuss the health benefits of using greener materials in the home. E.g. the importance of using green cleaners, minimizing use of carpets where possible, and asking for safer, natural pest control products at the local nursery.

This is an exciting project, one of very few like it on Long Island. I hope Ms. March and Mr. Flay will “live happily ever after” in their new green home, …and that maybe Mr. Flay will invite me over for a vegetarian meal some day! : ) A girl can dream, right?

Beth Fiteni and Stephanie March at Bar Americain, NYC

Met Gov. Paterson at solar carport event!

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Congratulations to Suffolk County, NY and LIPA as they launch their partnership for 7 carports made of solar panels. Today was the groundbreaking for the first one, located at the Brentwood train station. A win for the environment and local jobs– good stuff. Attended by County Executive Steve Levy, former CEO of LIPA Kevin Law, Town Supervisor Nolan, Assemblyman Ramos, Legislator Vivian Fisher, the LIRR, Gordian Raacke of Renewable Energy LI and Adrienne Esposito of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. The best part: NY State Governor Paterson was there, and I got to speak to him afterwards! He grew up near Molloy College. :  )

A good day for Long Island….

 

Beth Fiteni & Gov Paterson

 

Gov. Paterson at Solar carport groundbreaking, Brentwood, NY