10% Challenge
Welcome to the Hudson Valley 10% Challenge site.
We challenge you to cut energy use by at least 10% and get 10% of your co-workers, citizens, or social network involved.
Click here to listen to Melissa Everett speak about the Challenge.
 

 

"We're in a new economic era. We have growing resource constraints but lots of under-employed people. If we're going to achieve a turnaround, in economy and quality of life, we have to build upon our assets, and one of the greatest assets is the power of people who want to make a difference."

-- J. Michael O’Hara, SHV Board Member and City of Hudson Energy Consultant
Click here to listen to Michael O'Hara tell you how it works.

The Ten Percent Challenge is:
  • a fast growing grassroots campaign involving 12 local governments representing a population over 89,000, that can build political will for better policies in energy and transportation, while restoring a sense of local self-reliance and empowerment.
  • a chance to win prizes including a solar thermal system from EarthKind Energy, a sail on the Clearwater for your school stars, a day of R & R at Omega Institute for your town/ village board or city council, and a free Solar Opportunity Assessment of your entire community's potential for solar power, from staff at The Solar Energy Consortium. Watch for more prizes!
  • a call to simple actions that can be scaled up to make a measurable difference in energy use, environment and economic security: lighting replacements, water-efficiency campaigns, deep energy retrofits for buildings and neighborhoods, bike-friendly community plans, farmers’ markets to reduce the carbon footprint of food transportation, and more. Changing a few light bulbs may seem insignificant, but imagine living in the first community to do away with incandescent lighting completely by taking a stand and creating a plan!
  • an investment in people-power, one of our most abundant renewable resources.