Helping Friends and Neighbors Live in More Comfortable Homes & Save Money

December is a time when people come together in community. The days grow shorter and shorter until we reach the Winter Solstice, when the cold light of the sun returns little by little. Gatherings of community in these winter days, when the sun carries little heat and less hours of light, are what sustain us as beings that desire connection. Community can take many forms but one thing all community has in common is purpose. Your community may be faith-based, civic minded, activity related, professional, or a part of your identity, but however you participate or engage you are demonstrating your commitment to that connection and most often the common good.

Energy Navigator Volunteers are a group of volunteers whose purpose is to help friends, neighbors, and other community members learn about ways they can reduce their energy use and energy bills, and enjoy a safer and more comfortable home. Energy Navigator Volunteers lead by example within their communities. They have had energy assessments done on their homes, worked on conserving energy in their homes, and have utilized incentives for solar and air source heat pumps. These volunteers are not necessarily contractors, engineers, or experts in energy, but they do have a passion for helping others understand their energy use, how to save energy and money, and how to take advantage of programs to help them and their families be more comfortable in their home or apartment.

If you are interested in helping friends, neighbors, and members of your community by joining our community of Energy Navigator Volunteers, you can join one of our upcoming trainings. Trainings are online and we are looking for interested people throughout the North Country (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties).

There will be a Winter 2025 training from February 13 to March 20, every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6 PM, and a Spring 2025 training from April 3 to May 13, every Tuesday and Thursday from 1-3 PM. If you would like to become an Energy Navigator Volunteer or are interested in future trainings, register here:

https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=Energy_Navigators_240

More information about about trainings, what is expected of an Energy Navigator Volunteer, please visit: https://stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu/-energy/energy-navigator-volunteers

Celebrating Indigenous Excellence | Native American Heritage Day

Comanche code-talkers of the 4th Signal Company (U.S. Army Signal Center and Ft. Gordon)

Native American Heritage Month is to commemorate and celebrate the traditions, languages, and cultures of Indigenous peoples across the United States. This is a time to acknowledge the traditions and progress of Indigenous communities–both the joys and hardships of being native in this world. Indigenous cultures are alive today because of the resilience of Indigenous peoples in face of forced removal. I am here today because of my ancestors' fight for the future. I come from Indigenous excellence of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk). 

In celebration of Indigenous excellence I want to highlight some incredible figures throughout history whose work has opened doors for natives across the world. 

GOVERNMENT

This year there were at least 170 Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawiians on the ballots for public office, the most there has ever been. Additionally, Secretary of the Interior, Deb Halaand, is the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary and the second to be in a Cabinet. 

SCIENCE

There are many renowned Indigenous scientists and academics. The first Native American woman to earn a medical degree was Susan La Flesche Picotte, who was known for her work in advocating for tuberculosis research. Mary Golda Ross was a renowned mathematician and aerospace engineer whose work had a lasting impact on the aerospace industry much of which is still classified. Astronaut John Herrington in 2002 became the first Native American in space followed by Nicole Mann who was the first Indigenous woman in space in 2022.

ARTS

Within the entertainment sphere, Wes Studi became the first Native American to win an honorary Oscar in 2019, he is best known for his roles in Dances with Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans. Activist and model, Quannah Chasinghorse, uses her platform to advocate for Indigenous rights. Chef Pyet won Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef cooking competition with Indigenous food, putting Indigenous food on the world stage. America’s first prima ballerina was Maria Tall Chief, enrolled in the Osage nation, who revolutionized ballet in the US. Kiawentiio Tarbell, from Akwesasne, was casted as Katara in the live-action Avatar the Last Airbender series. Bear Fox has won many awards, including Best Music Video Concept for Skyworld at the Native American Music Awards. Lily Gladstone has become the first Native American to win a Golden Globe for best actress as Mollie Kyle in Killers of the Flower Moon. In 2021, Reservation Dogs became the first American film series to feature all Indigenous writers and directors and has since been titled one of the best television series for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Marvel Studios casted Devery Jacobs, from Kahnawake, to voice Marvel’s original character, Kahhori, a Mohawk superhero who debuted in the MCU in Marvel’s What If…?, animated series. The episode is entirely in the Mohawk language. 

MILITARY

Native Americans have the highest military service rate compared to any other race in the US, to fight for their people and land. In both World Wars, over 33 Native tribes served in the US military as code talkers to transmit secret code in their native languages. Since the codes were never broken, this project remained classified until 1968. Approximately 534 Indigenous servicemen served in WWII as code talkers. This includes 24 Akwesasne Mohawks: Mike Arquette, Joseph Barnes, Thomas Cole, Louis Stanley Conners, Angus B. Cook, Joe King, Louis E. King, Angus J. Laughing, Alex Wilson Lazore, Charles Lazore, Alex Oakes, Louis Levi Oakes, Alex W. Peters, Joe Harry Pyke, Mitchell Sunday, Albert Tarbell, Reginald White, Joseph Robert Herne, Edgar Jock, Abe Ransom, Louis Ransom, Andrew Rourke, Peter White, and Philip Thompson. With Thomas Cole and Louis E. King being my great grandfathers.

Photo from NCPR.

CONCLUSION

These are just a few of the incredible accomplishments of Indigenous people in the US, and so many more that I have missed. I chose to focus on Indigenous joy, it is a beautiful thing. There are many resources available for further exploration of Indigenous accomplishments from the past and present. 

I also urge you to research issues that native people face today, like the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis, residential boarding schools and the Every Child Matters movement, to understand why Indigenous joy in and of itself is resilience and resistance.

Other resources:
A Proclamation on National American Heritage Month

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keeley Jock giving her Ted Talk at the Wild Center. 

Environmentalist, Climate Justice Fellow

Keeley Jock grew up in Akwesasne, as a enrolled member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. From her strong belief in the Seven Generations philosophy taught to them at a young age, it moved them to obtaining a B.S. in Environmental Science from Paul Smith’s College, with the dream of doing something bigger than herself in this world. With a keen interest in wetland ecology and botany, Keeley wrote their undergraduate thesis on Indigenous Knowledge informing EPA standard wetland assessments to help improve regulations for highly impacted/less pristine wetlands. As a recent graduate, she is starting off her future with beginning work at ANCA beginning in 2024, as a Climate Justice Fellow through a NYSERDA grant program. Out of the office you may find them skiing, reading, drinking coffee, or picking up any other random hobby.

Turn Tricks into Treats This Halloween

We have officially entered one of the most beautiful seasons in the North Country, when you can simply stop by your local cider mill, grab some hot, crispy, cider donuts, and hit the road for a scenic trip to pretty much anywhere as you take in the changing colors and the scents of nature getting ready to wind down. For the youngsters, and many adults, this also means Halloween is quickly approaching! Time to get out the decorations, pick your costumes, prepare for the annual horror movie marathon, and make those plans to visit the most haunting houses, farms, and cornfields. While you get ready for these Autumn traditions, consider adding one more this year: a sustainable Halloween. What do we mean by “sustainable”? Well, there are ways to enjoy your yearly activities while helping to keep the North Country a scenic area and saving money on your energy bills. Turn these tricks into treats that you can enjoy throughout the year!

1. Think about going for solar-powered lights and using LED light bulbs to power your decorations, walkway lighting, and, of course, your porch light to shine the way for trick-or-treaters. Solar-powered lighting takes out having to finagle those long extension cords to plug into the house and eliminates adding energy costs to that pesky electricity bill. If you can find timers and sensors to use, that’s a bonus!

2. Time to bring out the carving kits and stencils! Where do you get your pumpkins, and what do you do with them after you carve them? Try going for zero-waste this year. Start with going to a local farmer to purchase your pumpkins. Make a trip out of it! Some farms have other activities going on and it’s always fun to pick your own. Once you get home and start cutting up your jack-o-lantern, you can roast those pumpkin seeds into a healthy treat, sweet or salty, and use the slimy guts (always a favorite) to help make a pumpkin pie, or other dessert if baking is your thing. After the festivities are over, the remaining parts of your pumpkins can be composted! Not sure where to start with composting? Contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office or Compost for Good! Don’t forget to remove anything non-compostable like those solar-powered tea lights, too!

3. Consider the candy you plan to hand out this year. Check for recyclable packaging options, particularly candy in cardboard boxes. You’ll probably recognize Milk Duds as a popular contender, but other candies include Nerds, Junior Mints, Lemonheads, and Mike and Ike. There are options for just about everyone! Looking for something healthier? Raisins and dried cranberries come in boxes, too!

Other sustainable options this year might include thrifting or recycling your Halloween costumes, skipping the plastic cups and flatware for your party, and using items from nature for decorative pieces like corn husks for garland. However you celebrate this year, enjoy time with family, stay safe, and think sustainably!

NYS Parks Make Clean Energy Upgrades

Summer is almost over and you might be wondering about your next outdoor adventure. With peak foliage season just around the corner, New York has a system of 250+ state parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, and boat launches that are a perfect opportunity to enjoy our unique landscape for leaf peeping. As the leaves begin to change, you may have also noticed a few other changes happening within your local state park systems–clean energy solutions. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is celebrating their centennial by committing to transitioning to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030. Already we can see the park systems undergo changes to reach this goal and help New York build climate resilience and navigate community risks, like extreme heat.

OPRHP ON CLEAN ENERGY

John Craig, Digital Specialist at OPRHP, provides reflections on these transitions to combat climate change:

The Centennial celebration at New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is just as much about looking back at how things began as it is looking forward to what the next 100 years might bring. If this next century has as many changes and advances as the last one, our millions of visitors are in for quite a ride!

When it comes to clean energy, OPRHP is leading by example with a wide range of efforts–from heat pumps, solar arrays, and electric vehicles (EVs), to recycling infrastructure and reduced mowing programs.Our system is leading efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and fleet vehicles. With more frequent heat waves and extreme weather events, green spaces and public lands are critical to making New York communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change.The main goal of our Centennial Campaign includes facing the realities of climate change by making park facilities more resilient to climate change and sea level rise through the next century.

Energy Audits and Upgrades

Across the state, OPRHP has 6,000 buildings at our parks and historic sites. For a decade now, OPRHP has been actively assessing energy performance of these locations, with 55 ASHRAE Level II energy audits completed to date and another 20 planned through 2025. These audits help identify energy efficiency measures, including building envelope improvements, lighting, occupancy sensors, and low water use fixtures. Audits are also key to cost-effectively phasing out the use of fossil fuels in building systems. Since 2015, energy efficiency upgrades have saved over 700 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, or the equivalent of taking 167 gas-powered vehicles off the road. Moving forward, OPRHP is prioritizing electrification of all new or modified building systems to continue decarbonizing its facilities and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Electric Landscaping & Solar

Implemented in 2019, our reduced mowing program has saved nearly 30,000 hours of staff time, reduced carbon dioxide emissions by over 1,400 tons, and saved over $260,000 in fuel costs. Additionally, reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is also realized through OPRHP’s current commitment to replacing gas-powered handheld equipment (i.e., chainsaws and leaf blowers) with all-electric handheld equipment when they have reached their end of life. Moreover, our goal to transition to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030 has driven solar arrays strategically sited on building rooftops, parking lots, and previously disturbed land. Statewide, Parks’ operations consume around 45 million kilowatt hours of electricity (the same annual usage as about 4,000 homes). Right now, OPRHP has over 50 solar installations totaling more than six megawatts of renewable energy, and 14% of current annual electricity use.

OUR PERSPECTIVE

OPRHP has clearly demonstrated a “lead from the front” mentality that we appreciate and align with. Recently, Clean Energy Program Director, Jill Henck, with the Adirondack North Country Association (a partner organization) defended the Climate Act in a recent article. She calls to action community leaders, governments, and other stakeholders to also lead from the front when it comes to climate resiliency strategies, like the clean energy upgrades made by the OPRHP. More specifically, Henck is a member of the Climate Justice Working Group that established the Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) criteria, and she urges “rural stakeholders to have a voice in this conversation” (read full article here).

Not only do we value this mentality, but we also value the vast partnerships around the North Country who have supported these changes, and helped us understand the challenges and barriers our communities face. We acknowledge the uneven terrain of moving towards climate resiliency strategies and aim to make accessible solutions for the diverse landscapes of the North Country. For example, through partnerships, we are able to co-host a “North Country Drive Electric Expo” at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake on September 28th. Many organizations are aligning with what OPRHP has already started integrating and aim to have 100 percent EV fleets by 2035. This type of event allows community engagement and discussion about the realities of owning/operating EVs in the North Country. It also fosters opportunities to understand infrastructure needs and potential solutions to our current economic and energy challenges.

Our team at the North Country Clean Energy Hub will be at many community engagement events, like this one, during the Fall season to offer solutions for energy efficiency upgrades and clean energy adoption. With these changes, we hope to enjoy many more leaf peeping seasons in the generations to come.

If you are interested in visiting one of the many NYS Park locations that have made clean energy upgrades, you can find a list here.

Smart Thermostats Save Money on Energy Bills

Technology is constantly advancing and it is transferring into homes all over the world. A piece of technology in the home that has greatly improved over the last few years is the thermostat. For as long as most people can remember, when you wanted to change the temperature in the house you had to manually change it. With advanced technology that is no longer the case! Smart thermostats make controlling the temperature in your home easier than ever, but most importantly, using these devices helps you save money on energy costs!

WHAT IS A SMART THERMOSTAT?
So, what is a smart thermostat? A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat that allows you to connect with your smart devices, such as your phone, tablet, and computer so that you can remotely change the temperature setting anywhere, allowing for convenience and full control over your home’s energy settings. The smart thermostat is meant to be convenient, so you can remotely change the temperature from your smart device. Though not all smart thermostats are the same, there are a variety of features that can be found with some models that add to the convenience and energy savings.

Some smart thermostats can learn your temperature preferences and make a schedule based on those preferences. These smart thermostats can also be equipped with a feature that has knowledge of the weather conditions outside and will adjust your unit to the conditions for that day. Additionally, these smart thermostats can be equipped with a feature known as geofencing. This feature will set up a geofence radius around your home and will adjust the temperature inside your home based on the proximity of the smart device.

Smart thermostats can also give you feedback on the consequences of your settings and the effects on your energy bill. According to Energy Star, individuals with a smart thermostat could see savings up to around $100 a year if used properly. This adds up!

HOW TO CHOOSE ONE
When choosing a smart thermostat make sure it is compatible with your HVAC system. According to Energy Star, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when thinking about compatibility. To start, some systems are just not compatible. These systems are baseboard heaters, in-wall heaters, and biofuels. HVAC systems installed after 1975 are usually compatible with most smart thermostats. If your HVAC system is variable speed, multi-stage, or zoned for different areas of your home it will require professional expertise to have a thermostat installed that will handle the systems. For a home that has an oil boiler or a furnace, an adapter might be needed.

Wires and voltage also play a role in compatibility. Smart thermostats use low-voltage wiring. Most smart thermostats need a common wire to provide constant power to the system from the HVAC control board. A quick way to get an idea if your HVAC system is going to be compatible with smart thermostats on the market is to remove your old thermostat cover. If the wires are thick for line-voltage control, then your system is likely not compatible.

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS AND REBATES
If you are ready to take control of your heating and cooling costs, look into smart thermostats and see which one is right for you. The price of a smart thermostat varies depending on what unit you choose. You can go onto Energy Star’s website at https://www.energystar.gov/ to find a smart thermostat with the features you want! There are rebates for smart thermostats and the best way to find out is to contact your local Energy Advisor.

Clinton, Essex, & Hamilton
Carson Schweinsberg
315-816-8677
cns68@cornell.edu

Energy Efficiency Program Helps Farms

Eamonn Ladue, Energy Advisor

Image Courtesy of Katie Zehr-Peer - Sackets Harbor Photographic Imaging LLC

Did you know that of the 34 million acres of land across New York State, farms account for 7 million acres, or about 20 percent of total land in the state? In Upstate New York, we see the fruits of this labor all around us. The abundancy produces about $2 billion in dairy and milk revenue annually. New York State is also known for producing apples, corn, cattle, and poultry, generating around $300 million, $250 million, $330 million, and $150 million, respectively. The grand operations require expensive equipment and round-the-clock attention, which often leads to large utility bills.

By improving the energy efficiency on farms, reliability can be increased while cutting down operational costs. Efficiency upgrades can be costly, but thankfully, there are local programs available to help! Ag Energy NY is a program that was created to support farmers to better understand energy usage, evaluate efficient technologies and alternate modes of operation to maximize efficiency, and help make smart investments based on results that are farm specific. These include fact sheets with potential energy savings and simple payback time on specific topics, such as ventilation, refrigeration, livestock waterers and more!

One way Ag Energy NY implements support is by connecting farm owners with service providers who can provide advice and identify the appropriate energy efficiency grants, loans, and rebates the owners may qualify for. The easiest way to start the process is to contact your local Energy Advisor, who can connect you with the proper resources based on individual needs. They are not farm experts but can connect you

with the right experts for your farm. They can also help connect to residential programs to make your home more energy efficient.

No-cost energy assessments are available to any customer paying a Systems Benefit Charge (SBC) on their electrical bill. This can be found in your energy bill, broken down with the delivery services. Residents who use National Grid or NYSEG most likely pay this charge, but if you are not sure, you can either contact your service provider or your Energy Advisor. Energy assessments are conducted based on individual needs to help farmers understand their energy usage and provide options to make the most out of the equipment they use.

Ag Energy NY was also designed to fill the gaps of farm energy efficiency that utility companies do not cover. The information is farm type specific and covers a wide range of farm products. They have information available specifically for, but not limited to, crops and vegetables, livestock (beef and swine), orchards and vineyards, poultry and eggs, and maple.

EnSave is another program that supports farms in the dairy and greenhouse sectors as well as other producers. They can help with funding and implementation of energy efficiency projects.

Contact the Energy Advisor in your county to get started with Ag Energy NY!

Jefferson & Lewis Counties

Eamonn LaDue
315-788-8450 ext. 280
el692@cornell.edu

St. Lawrence & Franklin Counties

Nolan Rishe
315-379-9192 ext. 426
nar79@cornell.edu

Clinton, Essex, & Hamilton Counties

Carson Schweinsberg
315-816-8677
cns68@cornell.edu