Red Hook Goes Green
by Rachel Bennek

Anyone who has picked up a newspaper, switched on a TV, or flipped through a magazine in the last decade has heard the catch phrase "Going Green." It's political, it's fashionable, and it's a movement gaining momentum. People are getting involved on an individual level simply by bringing reusable shopping bags to the grocery store, lowering the heat in winter, or remembering to turn off their computers and radios when they're not in use. As awareness grows, communities are coming together to make a difference and, I'm proud to say, Red Hook has recently proven itself to be one such community.

On April 14, 2009, the Red Hook Town Board voted to pass legislation that would require all new houses built in Red Hook to meet Energy Star standards. The Energy Star program is a collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. The goal of the program is to help consumers save money while protecting the environment. It officially began in 1992 as a labeling program that helped people recognize products that were energy-efficient, beginning with smaller products like computers and lighting fixtures and eventually expanding to include building materials and buildings themselves. The Energy Star program can boast of 940,000 homes built to their standards to date.

About 16 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are generated from energy used in houses. Since homes that meet Energy Star standards are 20–30 percent more efficient than a standard home, each one can make a big difference in our environment, both locally and globally. Energy Star homes often have high-performance windows, effective insulation, and efficient equipment that greatly decreases the need for excessive energy use in heating and cooling.

Red Hook's Conservation Advisory Council (CAC), which was established in 1976, first began exploring the Energy Star program in July of 2006. The group, chaired by Brenda Cagle, began researching and promoting the program by inviting professionals to speak to the Chamber of Commerce and at Town Board Meetings, sponsoring educational forums for local builders, and hosting discussions at events like the Earth Day celebration. In November of 2007, after a year and a half of discussion and consideration, the Red Hook CAC officially brought the idea of Energy Star legislation before the Town Board.

While many rallied in favor of the legislation, there were still those in the community who were hesitant about making the program mandatory. The main argument presented by the opposition was the increased upfront cost of building a new home. While an exact figure seemed to elude everyone, it was suggested that the additional initial cost of building an Energy Star-qualified home as opposed to one built under then current regulations would be $3,000 to $5,000.

How much would that really add to the overall cost of a mortgage? Calculated over thirty years using current average interest rates, the additional cost of an Energy Star home ends up being less than $350 per year. By most estimates such an energy efficient home would save a minimum of $200 and perhaps as much as $700 a year in utility bills. Considering the positive impact one can have on the environment for an estimated maximum cost of $12.50 a month, the application of the standards makes sense in both the short and long run.

One community member argued that rather than just being concerned with getting young people into homes, we need to be concerned with keeping them there. The long-term cost efficiency of the Energy Star standard should help accomplish this goal. CAC member Denis Collet summed it up nicely when he said that Energy Star is "a holistic approach, a concern that goes beyond just economy and efficiency, but also the health and welfare of the occupants."

It seems that the Town Board agreed that long-term savings outweigh any initial costs: the law was passed, with one council member absent. The legislation will take effect in October and applies to new one-to-four family dwellings no more than three stories tall. The law does not affect additions, alterations, or commercial buildings.

Builders of new homes will now be required to obtain certain Energy Star certifications, but the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides incentives to help offset the costs of these. Additionally, homebuyers interested in building an Energy Star-qualified home may receive a $500 cash incentive if they meet an income standard. It has been estimated that in 2008 alone consumers saved $19 billion using Energy Star certified products. This translates into a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions equal to the average emission of 29 million cars.

Even if you are not building a new house, and thus are not required by law to own an Energy Star-qualified home, you can still take steps towards a more environmentally friendly abode. So start carrying your reusable bag to the grocery store, turn off the lights when you leave a room, install some Energy Star approved appliances in your kitchen and laundry room—and think about taking advantage of some of the State and Federal incentives currently being offered if you upgrade your windows or start utilizing alternative energy sources. Slowly but surely, we as individuals, we as a community, and we as a nation can make positive change in our environment for ourselves and generations to come.