July 8, 2021
Monthly Forum: Dirty Energy Around the World
With the international emphasis on electrification, we must focus on the amount of electricity that is being generated by renewables rather than carbon based fuels. In all but one state in the US (and in much of the EU), there are not as many renewables as hoped in the energy mix. With the efficiency of electricity from the plant to the plug around 35%, and for instance, electricity in NYC and elsewhere 25 cents/kwh or more, can we afford the increased carbon and cost of electrification? Further, pushing natural gas bans in new construction and retrofit has environmental justice implications for people in low income housing, where electrification mandates could increase costs for families while increasing carbon emissions in the same neighborhoods.
Join GreenHomeNYC for an honest and civil discussion on how dirty our electricity really is, and how we must focus on clean energy before electrification.
(more…)May 28, 2021
Monthly Forum: Primary Day (June 22, 2021)—Voting Matters!
By Evan Mason and Raul Larios
If there’s one thing that we learned from the November 2020 elections, it is that voting really does matter. And in NYC, voting in the primaries matters even more given the fact that Democrats outnumber Republicans 8:1. This means that the Democrats who win in the upcoming June 22nd primary will probably become our political leaders for the next several years.
(more…)May 3, 2021
Monthly Forum: The Future of NYC’s Streetscape
With the mayoral elections coming up and a multi-billion dollar federal infrastructure funding on the horizon, 2021 is a pivotal year in NYC. There is a lot of potential for real change on the Streets of New York. There has been significant progression in making our streets more equitable and sustainable over the last year, but still many roadblocks remain.
(more…)April 3, 2021
Monthly Forum: How Has COVID-19 Impacted Energy Use?
When COVID-19 hit, the virus not only infected bodies, but also homes. Our kitchens, bedrooms, even bathrooms became office spaces as people had to suddenly cram both work and leisure into the same place. This change drastically altered the distribution of energy usage across the city (and the world) as office buildings emptied and people were confined to their homes.
(more…)February 4, 2021
Monthly Forum – Climate Action Movements
Location: Online
January 7, 2021
Monthly Forum – Green Catwalk 2021: The Circular Economy in Quick Soundbites
It’s been a GreenHomeNYC tradition to kick off our year of programming with our Green Catwalk, a dynamic event in which our speakers showcase exciting developments in our sustainable world through a series of rapid-fire presentations.
This year’s presenters will share programs and projects that are redefining waste as a resource, moving us towards a more efficient, circular economy. Join us as we explore the many ways to “re” to decrease the size of both our carbon and our landfill footprints. The circular economy spurs economic development worldwide by redesigning, reducing, reusing, repurposing, recovering, refurbishing, regenerating, and recycling biological and technical materials to meet the growing resource needs of our consumptive society.September 30, 2020
Monthly Forum – Circular Economy
The circular economy has been a buzz word in recent years, with reference to it from the United Nations to the World Economic Forum. But what does transitioning from a linear take-make-waste economy to a circular one really entail? And what are the tools and missing links that can enable this transition to happen?
Join us at our monthly forum, featuring professionals who are passionate about connecting the dots for this systems design ideology that some are touting to be our way forward towards a more regenerative, resilient world. So that we may dive deeper into conversation with our guests, please consider viewing this excellent introductory video before the event, produced by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the leading voice in the field: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/concept Date: Wednesday October 21, 2020 Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Place: Online REGISTER HERESpeakers:
Daniela Osio // Founder, Kloopify
Constantin Kostenko // Sr. Director – Solutions Architecture & Strategy, ConsenSys
Robert Gaafar // Head of North America, Algramo
Dr. Ahmed Ali // Assistant Professor of Architecture, Founder and Director of the Resource-Based Design Research Lab, Texas A&M University
September 10, 2020
Monthly Forum: Material Impacts on Indoor Air Quality and the Environment
We spend 90% of our lives indoors, as reported by a 2001 EPA-funded study. Flash forward to 2020, it’s safe to say that we have been indoors even more lately. But what you may not know is that your interior finishes and furniture may contribute to toxic indoor air quality in your home or office. These indoor pollutants impact our health, productivity, and hormonal balance without us realizing it. Moreover, toxins that are not good for human health, usually also negatively affect the environment. How can we make healthier and more sustainable choices if the toxins are silent, invisible, or odorless? Join us for a discussion on making better material choices.
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Place: Online
REGISTER HERE!
Speakers for this event include:
Kalli Solby // Senior Analyst at the International WELL Building Institute
Mikhail Davis // Director of Technical Sustainability at Interface
Scott L. Aker // Architect and Professor of Interior Design at The New School and the University of Pennsylvania
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August 3, 2020
Monthly Forum: Community Solar, Energy Storage, and Beyond
In New York, solar energy still accounts for less than 2% of the state’s electricity generation. With the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act setting up the state to aim for highly ambitious clean energy targets in the coming years, there is a lot of work to be done in renewables generally, and solar energy specifically.
One area of solar that has gotten a lot of attention recently is community solar. Community solar allows residents, small businesses, organizations, municipalities and others to receive equal access to the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy generation, without having to install solar directly on their property or even own it. And, as renewable power sources like community solar provide a larger portion of New York’s electricity, concerns rise about having that power be available when and where it is most needed. This is where energy storage technologies start to come in and play a larger role, not only helping to smooth out the intermittent generation of renewables, but also making the electric grid more stable as well as cleaner.
At GreenHomeNYC’s Monthly Forum in August, we’re bringing in several renewable energy professionals to discuss what is happening in community solar and energy storage in New York, with a focus on actual projects being done, and how they are helping move the needle on renewables and clean energy in the state.
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Place: Online
REGISTER HERE!
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July 14, 2020
Monthly Forum: Urban Heat Island and COVID-19 – A Perfect Storm?
Summer in the City: Urban Heat Island, Environmental Justice and Covid 19– a Perfect Storm?
Temperatures this summer are rising to uncomfortable levels. But what policies are in place to assist people who are confined to small, crowded apartments, with inadequate ventilation and no air conditioning —or unaffordable air conditioning—in the case of a heat wave? What are the environmental justice issues that should be considered, since traditional practices like opening community centers and shelters may be contraindicated in the era of Covid? What populations are being disproportionately affected by urban heat and climate change? Please join Adriana Espinoza, Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice, NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate Policy and Programs, who will speak about environmental justice from a macro level, and how systemic inequality and environmental racism has created the disparities that exists in the City today. She will also discuss how the City plans to better incorporate equity and EJ into the city climate decision-making. To dive deeper into the conversation, Mike Harrington, Assistant Director of the Tishman Environment and Design Center, will speak about the historical inequalities of urban heat island impacts on communities and some possible solutions from a policy and design perspective. He will also share some of the lessons learned from personal experience and the recently released “Turning the Heat” report that he co-authored as part of the Urban Design Forum’s Forefront Fellowship. Sonal Jessel, Policy & Advocacy Coordinator at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, will discuss what makes extreme heat a public health issue, why there are inequities in impact, and how communities cope. She will also highlight particular challenges that exist for vulnerable populations this summer due to COVID-19.Here is the Link to register:
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Place: Online REGISTER HERE! (more…)