Task Force Goals

• Reduce the town's greenhouse gas emissions.
• Continue fostering both short and long term cost-effective, energy-efficient technologies in town facilities.
• Promote a climate smart culture throughout our municipal government and community-at-large.
• Educate and engage the community about the climate crisis.
• Ensure that energy and resource efficiency are explicitly considered and examined throughout town government decision-making.

Among the initial actions the task force is undertaking are:

• Preparing a baseline inventory of our town government's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The inventory will enable the town board and department heads to identify and prioritize new strategies to achieve energy efficiency, thus saving taxpayer dollars.
• Conducting energy audits of municipal buildings to help guide the town board's energy saving decision-making.
• Identifying opportunities to increase the number of LED street lights. LED light use about 50% less electricy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
• Preparing a climate action plan that includes a timeline and recommends specific energy reduction and renewable goals. These can be incorporated into the town's economic development and planning efforts.

By completing these initial and additional actions, the task force sought to achieve New York State certification as a Climate Smart Community. Certification means that the Town of Saugerties will be recognized as a leader in the effort to combat the climate crisis, and will be well-positioned to obtain funding for implementing future climate smart actions.

Saugerties' Progress Toward Certification  Updated: July 22, 2024

The town was awarded Bronze-level certification as a Climate Smart Community on October 1, 2019. Read Press article

The town was awarded recertification at the Bronze level in April 2024.

 

October 2019, The Town receives official certification from NYS as a Climate Smart Community. Pictured are members of the Climate Smart Saugerties Task Force.

120 points were required for the town to achieve bronze certification. Here are the actions we implemented to reach this goal.

 

Points	Actions 2020
20	Town Board appoints Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC) as a task force.
10	Town Board appoints a coordinator.
4	Saugerties takes the Climate Smart pledge.
3	Regional Climate Program Participation.
10	Natural Resources Inventory documented.
3	Website created.
6	LED Street Light Inventory
3	Facebook page created.
3	Outdoor Lighting Upgrades.
9	Solar Energy Installation.
4	Residential Organic Waste Program.
4	Shade Structure Policy.
10	EV Charging Stations.
9	Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements.
3	Renewable Energy Feasibility Study.
16	GHG Inventory for Government Operations.
3	Climate-related public event.
8	Government Buildings Energy Audit.
16	Climate Action Plan for Government Operations.
5	Energy Code Enforcement Training.
5	Unified Solar Permit.
16	Community GHG Inventory.
170	Total Points Earned

As of July 2024 Saugerties accumulated a Total of 189 points as a recertified community at the Bronze level. Bronze recertification requires a total of 120 points.