The town and village of Red hook in Dutchess County have become the first to adopt The Ten Percent Challenge, a program created by Sustainable Hudson Valley to encourage conservation.
The grassroots campaign encourages communities to take simple actions that can make a measurable difference in energy use, environmental protection and economic security.
Sustainable Hudson Valley is a regional organization that speeds up the shift to a low-carbon economy while promoting a high quality of life for all.
Melissa Everett, Sustainable Hudson Valley”™s executive director, said public awareness is becoming keener when it comes to being green.
“People realize that wasting energy is not in anyone”™s best interest,” she said in a statement about the new program. “There”™s a gap between attitudes and common behavior that will only be closed if we work together and nudge each other forward. This pilot project is a model that can be replicated in other Hudson Valley communities, and potentially on a much broader scale.”
Collaboration is key, she said Everett. “Central Hudson has provided seed funding for this important initiative, as well as targeting outreach for its home and business energy efficiency programs in Red Hook, making them a natural partner. Central Hudson has lent strong support for a solar energy initiative, as well as continuously expanding its energy efficiency programs. Mid Hudson Energy $mart Communities, offered through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, is another strategic partner bringing education and financial assistance into the campaign.”
For those who missed the townwide canvass, they will have another opportunity to learn about the Ten Percent Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 25 at Hardscrabble Day.
