By: Sarah Wilson Credit: textiletoday.com.bd Some aspects of our carbon footprint are easy to identify, such as flying, commuting with a gas-powered vehicle, using single use plastics, etc. But when it comes to our clothing, the impact is not as apparent. As the price of clothing has declined, people are buying more of it, but they are tossing it out…
The Impact of Our Diet on the Planet
By: Shubir Kapoor The global food system, which spreads across production and post-farm activities such as processing and distribution is a key contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It’s a problem for which we don’t yet have viable technological solutions. A study conducted by the University of Oxford in 2018 revealed 13.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq)…
Three Steps to Sustainable Home Heating
By: Bob DeAngelis (Photo credit: HeatSmart Westchester) For much of history, we have burned things to heat our homes: wood, oil and gas. Now we know that burning fossil fuels contributes significantly to global warming as well as creating other forms of pollution. So what option do we have? If I were building a new home, I would choose a…
Yorktown100 joins CURE100!
By: Mary Ann Kelly Yorktown100 is excited to announce that we have become one of four charter chapters of CURE100. What does that mean for Yorktown100? We are now part of an impressive team of environmental leaders in Westchester. CURE100 (Communities United to Reduce Emissions 100%) has a carbon reduction mission to educate and advocate for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reductions…
Innovations In Solar Technology
By: Anuj Kapoor When people think of solar power, most of the time they think of the traditional, common solar panel technologies. These include the solar panels fixed into a rooftop, or the large arrays of solar panels in large open spaces. However, there are many newer solar technologies that will revolutionize the way we think about not just solar,…
Let’s Make Sustainable Resolutions for 2021
By: Susan B. Buck Sustainable: 1. able to continue over a period of time. 2. causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time. (dictionary.cambridge.com) Resolution: 1. a firm decision to do or not to do something 2. the quality of being determined 3. the action of solving a problem, dispute, or…
A Holiday Gift for our Planet – Reducing our waste
By: Shubir Kapoor, Bob DeAngelis and Susan Buck The holiday season is upon us. Especially in this year of COVID-19, many of us are reflecting more deeply on those less fortunate and how we can help. While in this frame of mind, let’s also consider future generations who will be impacted by our actions today. Let’s leave them a legacy…
Community Solar – What it is and how it works
By: Laura Kosbar Community Solar – What it is and how it works If you live in the Town of Yorktown, you may have recently received a letter indicating that the Town is enrolling its eligible electric accounts in Sustainable Westchester’s Community Solar program, and suggesting that residents consider participating in this program as well. For many people, this may…
Eating meatless while “On the Go”
By: Sarah Wilson A recent article in these pages featured the Meatless Monday movement. Meatless Monday is a global movement that encourages people to reduce meat in their diet for their health and the health of the planet. Our region is filled with great local restaurants who can provide us with satisfying plant-based meals. But what are your options when…
Compost: The Dirty Details
By: Nadya Hall & Phyllis Bock What is compost? Compost is made of decayed organic material and can be used to enrich soil in gardens, potted plants, and landscaping. ‘Organic material’ is a fairly broad category, but in this context it typically means food scraps and yard waste. Food scraps (along with grass clippings and coffee grounds) are called ‘greens’,…
