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MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- The Village of Mamaroneck will try to reduce its impact on the environment by setting a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 200 tons per year through 2015.
The non-mandatory goal would represent a 5 percent reduction from 2005 to 2015. In 2005, village-controlled operations emitted 3,751 tons of carbon monoxide equivalents. By 2015, that number should be 3,563 tons, the village said.
To do that, Richard Slingerland, village manager, and Dan Sarnoff, assistant village manager, have compiled a list of proposed projects that would reduce the village's emissions. One was taken at the Feb. 13 Board of Trustees meeting when it authorized the purchase of two hybrid vehicles to replace patrol enforcement vehicles that are no longer usable.
The board selected the Toyota Prius, which costs approximately $23,500 each. Slingerland said it has been tested by Consumer Reports as achieving 44 miles per gallon in city driving.
"It's a good value for the village and it will allow us to pursue and achieve higher clean air and lower our carbon footprint," Slingerland said.
The village will also look into converting traffic lights from incandescent -67 watts per bulb - to LED, which have an average of eight watts per bulb. This could reduce electricity usage and emissions by 90 percent, according to the village's Emission Reduction List.
Other proposed projects include retrofitting garbage and other trucks to burn bio-diesel, converting two firehouse furnaces from fuel oil to natural gas, and replacing drafty and inefficient windows in the courtroom and chambers.
The village Committee for the Environment (CFTE) believes the village will reach its goal by 2015, and suggests it may move it up to the end of 2012 and amend its goal to a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2015. This would make the village's goal consistent with the county, according to the CFTE.
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