Pollution Prevention Institute Partners with Manhattan Agency

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RIT and New York State Pollution Prevention Institute announce partnership with GreenHomeNYC

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology is partnering with a Manhattan organization to help educate residents in New York City and Buffalo on waste prevention, energy efficiency and eco-friendly construction.

GreenHomeNYC was selected as a winner in the 2011-2012 Community Grants Program at the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute. The grants, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, will be used to support projects that raise awareness and understanding of pollution prevention practices and lead to implementation at the local level.

“NYSP2I is committed to assisting community organizations in their mission to train and educate their constituents on sustainable practices and pollution prevention,” says Anahita Williamson, director of the Pollution Prevention Institute. “We are excited about this year’s award winners and the benefits their projects will bring to the environment, the economy and public health throughout New York state.”

With funding from the grant, GreenHomeNYC will create the Green Homes, Green Cities outreach program. The initiative will be aimed at educating residents on waste prevention, energy efficiency and the use of non-toxic, recycled and reusable building materials in construction and renovation in New York City and Buffalo.

“The state Department of Environmental Conservation is pleased to support and fund these important community initiatives through the Pollution Prevention Institute,” says New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens. “Practicing pollution prevention at the local level leads to a healthier environment and a more sustainable economy.”

A workshop organized to educate homeowners will be held on at 7 p.m. June 18 at Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. “Green Building 101” will offer experts from New York City and Buffalo discussing the best and most cost effective tips to green your building. Speakers include Shai Lauros, GreenHomeNYC, as well as Fred Fellendorf and Bernice Radle, Buffalo Energy. The event is free and open to the public.

In total five New York City-based agencies, a Long Island agency and two organizations from Rochester will receive this year’s grant awards.

GreenHomeNYC connects New York City residents with local experts and actionable information to help them improve the energy and environmental performance of their homes and buildings. The organization is a community-oriented, volunteer-run organization, whose mission is to facilitate the adoption of sustainable building methods and materials by owners of small residential and commercial buildings in New York City.

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute is housed at Rochester Institute of Technology and provides state-wide, comprehensive and integrated programming in technology research, development and diffusion, training and education aimed at making New York state more sustainable for workers, the public, the environment and the economy. The institute was created in 2008 through a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Additional partners include Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Clarkson University, State University of New York at Buffalo and New York’s 10 Regional Technology Development Centers.