Sustainable Hudson Valley (SHV) is enlisting communities to participate in the Ten Percent Challenge in partnership with Central Hudson, NYSERDA, and other key technical assistance providers to engage 10% of the population in commitments to cut energy use by 10% in a year’s time or less.

SHV has developed a package of incentives and tools to assist the early adopter communities, including:

1. a series of free workshops on energy-efficient building operations, lighting and renovation in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council Upstate Chapter - Hudson Valley Branch;
2. a two-day outreach event bringing 30 AmeriCorps members into a selected community, with training in outreach for the 10% Campaign;
3. a free solar thermal system, contributed by EarthKind Energy, for the first community to meet the 10% goal.

The Town of Red Hook and members of the Conservation Advisory Council have committed to the challenge and have laid out the following items to meet this challenge.

1) Goals:

• 10% reduction in fossil fuel use in the Town and both Villages
• 10% leadership participation in the Town and both Villages

2) Actions:

1. Reduction:
   • Central Hudson (CH) sponsored reductions
     • Energy assessments / audits
     • Equipment / appliance upgrades
     • Rebate submissions
   • Behavior changes
     • Bike to work
     • NYSERDA supported building performance audits
     • Upgrades to insulation, lighting or HVAC
     • Renewable installations
     • Weatherization efforts
     • Light bulb swap outs
     • Policy changes
2. Outreach:
   
   • EVENTS – engage and empower community, create leadership coalition, and provide venue for registration / participation.
     • 7/12 – Regional Energy Symposium w SHV (RH will be a case study, announce our commitment to the Challenge, and gather info)
     • 7/29 – Red Hook Together meeting to develop leadership coalition
     • 8/19 - 8/20 – 2-day Americorps canvassing villages to sign up, provide giveaways, and raise awareness about the Challenge
     • Presentations to Chamber of Commerce to continue to build leadership coalition and outreach to business sector
     • 9/25 – Hardscrabble Day – promote the Challenge, sign up to participate, promote the 10:10 event, participating vendors may be present.
     • School Art departments: competition to make FLYER for 10:10 event
     • 10/10 Global Work Party and Celebration - a Day to Celebrate Climate Solutions
       • 10 Community Actions around Red Hook - we will implement solutions to the climate crisis: from solar panels to Victory gardens, conservation exchanges to bike workshops. Sponsored by Bard CEP, BERD, Bard Sustainability Council, Town of Red Hook, Red Hook Together, and Sustainable Hudson Valley
     • Jan. ’11 Bard freshmen canvas residents and businesses to assess participation and actions taken.
   • PARTNER – build support and access tools for action
     • NYSERDA
     • Central Hudson
     • U.S. Green Building Council
     • SUNY Dutchess
     • Bard College
     • Americorps
     • DEC Climate Smart Communities Program
     • Local institutions: churches, schools, organizations
     • Sustainable Hudson Valley
   • PROMOTE – to raise awareness
     • Publicize RH commitment and calls-to-action
     • Press releases to local media outlets
     • Provide decals and bumper stickers (CACP funding)
     • Website for Red Hook (blog)

3) Deliverables:

• Measurable reductions in fossil fuel use by at least 10%
  • Central Hudson: compare electric bills for town for length of campaign
• Documented participation rate of at least 10%
  • Red Hook CAC and SHV: document participation at events and website sign ups
• Development of replicable model for other towns
• Development of tool kit for Red Hook homeowners, businesses and institutions to continue their participation in the reduction challenge