Message from the Executive Director
 

We have just moved out of "the decade from hell," according to the pundits. If your life is anything like mine, you might not be too sure. While I do not believe in "decade packaging" of history, I do believe that the hunger for fresh approaches is pretty broad and deep, as the twin disasters of climate change and economic stagnation are driven home day after day.

Well before sustainability was a mainstream concept, we were educating the region on challenges and opportunities including local greening strategies, "local first" economic development. Today the issues and strategies are more widely understood... the playing field is full and fractious... and the new role that is emerging for us is helping to coordinate and support the hundreds of initiatives now underway in communities and industry groups. We are a heartbeat away from a Facebook presence and a month or so away from a redesigned website to provide a "switchboard for the movement" without me in the middle.

Our model of change combines three simple elements: clear vision and strategy, dynamic support systems, and motivation. At the core of our new program of outreach and action is the challenge campaign, beginning with the Ten Percent Challenge, inviting communities, businesses, institutions - and everyone - to take advantage of 2010 as a springboard for deep carbon cuts using strategies that get people involved. Visit this site often - especially the calendar - for new commitments to take the Challenge, plus outreach, training and action opportunities.

Melissa Everett, Ph.D.

click here for 2009 Highlights

This Event has been postponed to March 13, 2010 due to bad weather!
February 27 March 13 at SUNY New Paltz, a regional gathering on innovations in local energy financing will be held. Co-produced by the League of Women Voters, Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance, SHV and others, the meeting will feature in-depth practical presentations on "PACE" mechanisms for financing home energy improvements and SHV's Ten Percent Challenge. SUNY New Paltz. Details to follow shortly. A followup to last fall's Community-Based Climate Change Strategies for the Mid-Hudson Valley (which took place Oct. 20 at 7 pm in New Paltz)
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Take the 10% Challenge in Your Community!
 
Communities are facing up to the need for sharp reductions in their environmental footprint through more efficient use of energy - including the resources like water that take energy to produce and distribute. As a first step down the long path of "80% by 2050," Sustainable Hudson Valley is initiating a challenge campaign to communities to start now and take some meaningful action that moves the needle in the right direction and gets people involved. We are challenging - and supporting - actions that reduce eco-impact 10% by the end of 2010. We believe that harnessing people-power in the short term is what's needed to make the longer-term changes possible.
 
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Hear Melissa Everett present the 10% Challenge on WDST's Woodstock Round Table.

 
SUNY and SHV create Clean Energy Technology Training Website and Resource Centers. Course listings and details...
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