*Ithaca Sustainability* works towards reducing GHG emissions in City and Town of Ithaca government operations and community-wide 80% by 2050. View this email in your browser <http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=eb2e344cfb0e253666458e813&id=5d059529a5&e=[UNIQID]> *NEWS* *County and City Launch Energize NY Finance Program* Officials of Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca joined business leaders and energy services providers on Thursday evening to officially launch the Energize NY Finance program, designed to help building owners reduce operating costs and increase the value of their buildings through clean energy improvements. The program uses the innovative Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing tool. Read the press release here <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/eb2e344cfb0e253666458e813/files/Tompkins_County_and_City_of_Ithaca_Launch_Energize_NY_Finance_Program.pdf>. *About 70 government and business leaders celebrated the local launch of the Energize NY Finance Program.* *City, Town Join Compact of Mayors* Both the City and the Town of Ithaca have signed on to the Compact of Mayors, the world’s largest cooperative effort among city leaders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, track progress, and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Learn more here <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/eb2e344cfb0e253666458e813/files/191_CompactofMayors_FAQforCities_2March2015_original.pdf> . *76West Clean Energy Competition* 76West gives clean energy innovators a chance to join the ranks of clean energy leaders already in New York's Southern Tier region. 76West is a $20 million competition, which includes a $10 million clean energy business competition and $10 million for business support services to the local clean energy market. Learn more here <http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/76west>. *Jerone Gagliano Joins Ithaca College Sustainability Staff* Jerone Gagliano was hired in November to serve as Ithaca College’s new Director of Energy Management and Sustainability. Previously, Gagliano was the vice president of energy engineering services at locally-based Performance Systems Development. *Tompkins Hears Calls for Climate Action* Following the historic climate deal reached at the Paris climate talks, calls to strengthen greenhouse gas emission reduction goals locally resonated at the Tompkins County Legislature meeting on December 15. One speaker suggested our community should aim for an 80 percent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, and a 100 percent by 2040. Read the article here <http://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/local/2015/12/15/tompkins-hears-climate-action-calls/77393020/> . *City of Ithaca Joins the Ban The Box Initiative* The City of Ithaca is pleased to join several employers in NYS and many major cities and counties throughout the country to “Ban the Box” in relation to employment applications. Participating communities have agreed to remove the question on employment applications which asks if the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime. Learn more here <http://www.cityofithaca.org/list.aspx?MID=131>. *Tompkins County Commercial Energy Now Newsletter* Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to produce the newsletter Tompkins County Commercial Energy Now. The first issue features the Ithaca 2030 District, Energy & Economic Development Task Force, and much more. Read it here <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/eb2e344cfb0e253666458e813/files/Tompkins_County_Commercial_Energy_Now_Issue_I.pdf> . *EVENTS*
*Bus to "State of the Climate" March & Rally Wednesday, January 13, 6:30am-5pm, Ithaca-Albany * Come to Albany for a march and rally before the Governor's State of the State address - join hundreds on NYers from across the State to tell the Governor - No More Fossil Fuels! 100% renewable by 2030! Learn more here <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bus-to-state-of-the-climate-march-rally-ithaca-to-albany-jan-13th-tickets-20279586790?ref=enivtefor001&invite=ODk1MDA0My9pcmVuZTMyMzQwQGdtYWlsLmNvbS8w&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inviteformalv2&ref=enivtefor001&utm_term=attend>. *Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast * *Saturday, January 16, 9-11:30am, Beverly J Martin Elementary School* Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr at GIAC's annual Community Breakfast. The event will feature guest speaker Cal Walker, music, poetry and other entertainment. Learn more here <http://www.cityofithaca.org/327/Greater-Ithaca-Activities-Center>. *TCCPI January Meeting* *Friday, January 29, 9-11am, Tompkins County Public Library, Borg Warner Room * Attend the January meeting of the Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative. For the most recent TCCPI Newsletter, click here <http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=1c43edc1-3568-425f-ace6-54555c42cedd&c=ce3d28d0-0e3f-11e3-b35d-d4ae5275dbc8&ch=ce4195a0-0e3f-11e3-b35d-d4ae5275dbc8> . *Groundswell 2016 Course Schedule * *Starting January 2016* Groundswell offers hands-on experiential education in agriculture for anyone interested in learning more about farming and the local food system in the Finger Lakes region. These courses are appropriate for people at all levels. See a list of the 2016 courses here <http://groundswellcenter.org/2016-programs-listing/>. *Perspectives on the Climate Challenge - Public Seminar Series Mondays, February 1 - May 9, 3:35-4:25pm, Cornell University Plant Science Bldg 233* This free and open-to-the-public seminar provides important views on the critical issue of climate change, drawing from many perspectives and disciplines. Experts from both Cornell University and other universities will present an overview of the science of climate change and climate change models, the implications for agriculture, ecosystems, and food systems, and provide important economic, ethical, and policy insights on the issue. Learn more here <http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/blogs/news/posts/bee-2000-perspectives-on-the-climate-change-challenge?platform=hootsuite> . *Save the Date: Commercial Green Buildings Open House February 27, various locations in Ithaca area* Tour commercial buildings in the Ithaca area that have implemented green building methods, materials, and technologies. Building owners have saved thousands of dollars, while improving indoor air quality and cutting carbon emissions. Learn more here <http://ccetompkins.org/your-home/green-building/green-buildings-open-house> . *Commercial Energy Efficiency Collaborative Workshop Series Spring-Fall 2016* The Tompkins County Commercial Energy Efficiency Collaborative will be holding its second round of workshops led by energy professionals from Taitem Engineering and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Participants will receive a comprehensive energy audit of their building and support reaching their energy savings goals. The series helps participants learn about and implement cost-effective measures. To learn more, contact Sara Culotta at sculotta@taitem <[email protected]>. <[email protected]>com <[email protected]>. <http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FbKNVPb> Share <http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FbKNVPb> <http://us6.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=eb2e344cfb0e253666458e813&id=5d059529a5&e=[UNIQID]> Forward <http://us6.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=eb2e344cfb0e253666458e813&id=5d059529a5&e=[UNIQID]> *About Ithaca Sustainability* *The Ithaca Sustainability initiative is a collaboration between the City of Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca. Both municipalities have a fundamental commitment to protect and enhance economic, community, and environmental resources. Currently, they are focusing primarily on environmental sustainability, working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within government operations and community-wide.* For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom Shelley, at [email protected].
