Sustainability Accomplishments
The Town of Ithaca has demonstrated its commitment to be a leader in sustainability through several actions and initiatives. A sampling is highlighted below.
Created a Full-Time Sustainability Planner Position
Adopted the Ithaca Energy Code Supplement
Adopted the Ithaca Energy Code Supplement (IECS), code requirements for new construction that will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions while emphasizing affordability. Learn more on the Town Codes page and here.
Produced GHG Emissions Inventories
Adopted a Form-Based Code
Learn more about form-based code on the Planning Department’s page about new neighborhood code.
Researched Existing Building Policy
Collaborated with the Town of Bedford and Saratoga Springs on existing building policy; developed three model laws.
Clean Heating Campaign
Ran Clean Heating Campaign in partnership with HeatSmart Tompkins, resulting in community heat pump installations and $5,000 in grant funding.
Adopted Green New Deal
The main goal of the Town’s Green New Deal is to achieve an equitable transition to carbon-neutrality Town-wide by 2030. The Town also set two goals for its own operations to be met by 2025: to meet the electricity needs of Town government operations with 100% regionally sourced renewable electricity and to reduce emissions from the Town fleet of vehicles by 50%.
Green Fleet
Adopted the Town’s first Green Fleet Policy.
EVs and Charging Stations
Installed an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at Town Hall (2019), added two EVs to the Town fleet, and partnered in EV Tompkins, to increase the number of local EV drivers.
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)
Purchased renewable energy credits (RECs) to offset GHG emissions from purchased electricity (Various years)
Clean Energy Community
Designated as a NYSERDA Clean Energy Community.
Climate Smart Community
Attained NYS DEC Climate Smart Community Status at the Bronze level (first Town or City in Southern Tier to do so)
Residential Energy Score Project (RESP)
Led the Residential Energy Score Project (RESP), a collaboration with four other Tompkins County municipalities to develop a residential energy score program to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes. New York State rolled out regional pilot programs in several locations across the state, including Ithaca, partly due to these efforts. Learn more about RESP.
EPA Green Power Partnership
EPA Green Power Partnership – Green Power Leadership Club.
Solar Energy Regulations
Adopted solar energy regulations to facilitate development and operation of solar systems.
Town Composting
Initiated composting programs at Town facilities.
Wastewater Treatment
The Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility, recognized by the U.S. DOE for its efforts, has improved the efficiency of its operations dramatically and offsets its energy needs on-site through the production and use of biogas.
National Sustainability Initiatives
Leveraged and promoted local and national sustainability initiatives
Green Purchasing Policy
Adopted a Green Purchasing Policy
Comprehensive Plan
Adopted the Comprehensive Plan, which features sustainability as a thread-through theme and contains a chapter on energy and climate protection
Energy Action Plan
Adopted the Government Energy Action Plan, and met the goal of reducing GHG emissions in government operations by 30% by 2020.
First Town Sustainability Planner
Created a shared Sustainability Planner position.
Climate Pledge
Adopted the NYS DEC Climate Smart Communities Pledge.