HISTORY
After World War II, people began to move out of cities in search for cleaner air, backyards and a place to raise their families. With transportation becoming more more reliable and widespread, people could now move from New York City, out to the densely populated farmland of Long Island. With help from the GI Bill and a need for housing. Levitt and Sons proposed their plan to build 2,000 homes in 1947 and suburbia began. By 1949, Levittown became a symbol of postwar America.
NOW
With global warming effects being felt nation wide, Nassau County is trying to do something about it by trying to erase its carbon footprint by going green. In January, County Executive Tom Suozzi announced a plan that would incorporate government, local businesses and environmental organizations in making Levittown the first green suburb, setting a prototype for the rest of the nation. But with an economy that keeps trickling downward, going green is not on everyone’s minds.
“With the economy as it is softening a bit, it has become a little bit tough for people, “ said Councilman and resident Gary Hudes, “So it’s difficult at this point now to ask people to dig into their pockets and to spend $500, $2000 to insulate their homes and to make their homes more air tight or go out and buy more energy efficient appliances.”
Most of the initiatives consist of spending money at a time when people don’t really have extra money to spend. Residents are being asked to replace old appliances with new energy star appliances, insulate their homes and buy greener products.
“On one hand the economy makes it harder,” said Executive Director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Adrienne Esposito. “ But on the other hand the cost of energy is so high right now and so daunting for the average home owner that it is really an impetience for people to make some changes.”
The least expensive thing people can do is buy new compact fluorescent light bulbs that cost about $9, last for at least six years and use four to five times less energy than old incandescent light bulbs.
But the easiest way to go green without spending a penny is to recycle.
“To me I find it not a big deal to just put my stuff in the recycle box instead of the garbage can,” said Levittown resident, Tom Butcher.
Levittown is doing it’s best to spread the word about recycling; they’ve even gone to some of the public schools to implement recycling programs.
“The great thing about it is that the kids now are getting into the whole green idea,” said Hudes. “They’re taking it upon themselves to say ‘you know what, I want to do my part I want to do what I can, it’s my future’.”
For those that do have the extra money to spend, there are many options in upgrading your home in a green way. Companies such as P.C. Richards and Sons and the Bethpage Federal Credit Union are offering discounts and loans to make homes more energy efficient.
Alure home improvements, in East Meadow offers both interior and exterior options including kitchen tops that are made from 100 per cent post consumer used materials. Tragar Oil of Wantagh offers a bio-fuel made from 95 per cent regular heating oil and 5 per cent soybean oil.
“By replacing a heating system, the homeowner increases their efficiency of their heating system by 30 per cent,” said Denis Traina, Vice President of Tragar Oil. “It’s one of the greatest returns on your investment that homeowners can do to make their home a more efficient home.”
Going green may cost a lot up front but in the long term, the environment and your wallet are saved.
“So the ultimate cost, there’s none, it’s a value there’s savings involved,” said Building Analyst, Hubie van Meurs of Alure.
As for the future of Green Levittown, there seems to be promise. Traina recently attended a summit in Washington D.C. to represent Green Levittown at the National Climate Change Summit to discuss what is being in done in Levittown and how it can be replicated across the country. Also, in Plainview, an organization is trying to implement similar initiatives to Levittown’s.
“We’re really hoping that Green Levittown will be a pilot program for an expanded concept,” said Esposito.
The reality is that going green is becoming a trendy way to help save the environment and it’s working. So far, out of the 10,000 doors the CCE has knocked on in Levittown, 3,000 of them have showed an interest in making their home greener.
Hudes said, “The fact that the county started Green Levittown, if it does nothing more than get people aware of thinking about greening, thinking about saving energy, thinking about the future then it’s accomplished its’ goal.”
After World War II, people began to move out of cities in search for cleaner air, backyards and a place to raise their families. With transportation becoming more more reliable and widespread, people could now move from New York City, out to the densely populated farmland of Long Island. With help from the GI Bill and a need for housing. Levitt and Sons proposed their plan to build 2,000 homes in 1947 and suburbia began. By 1949, Levittown became a symbol of postwar America.
NOW
With global warming effects being felt nation wide, Nassau County is trying to do something about it by trying to erase its carbon footprint by going green. In January, County Executive Tom Suozzi announced a plan that would incorporate government, local businesses and environmental organizations in making Levittown the first green suburb, setting a prototype for the rest of the nation. But with an economy that keeps trickling downward, going green is not on everyone’s minds.
“With the economy as it is softening a bit, it has become a little bit tough for people, “ said Councilman and resident Gary Hudes, “So it’s difficult at this point now to ask people to dig into their pockets and to spend $500, $2000 to insulate their homes and to make their homes more air tight or go out and buy more energy efficient appliances.”
Most of the initiatives consist of spending money at a time when people don’t really have extra money to spend. Residents are being asked to replace old appliances with new energy star appliances, insulate their homes and buy greener products.
“On one hand the economy makes it harder,” said Executive Director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Adrienne Esposito. “ But on the other hand the cost of energy is so high right now and so daunting for the average home owner that it is really an impetience for people to make some changes.”
The least expensive thing people can do is buy new compact fluorescent light bulbs that cost about $9, last for at least six years and use four to five times less energy than old incandescent light bulbs.
But the easiest way to go green without spending a penny is to recycle.
“To me I find it not a big deal to just put my stuff in the recycle box instead of the garbage can,” said Levittown resident, Tom Butcher.
Levittown is doing it’s best to spread the word about recycling; they’ve even gone to some of the public schools to implement recycling programs.
“The great thing about it is that the kids now are getting into the whole green idea,” said Hudes. “They’re taking it upon themselves to say ‘you know what, I want to do my part I want to do what I can, it’s my future’.”
For those that do have the extra money to spend, there are many options in upgrading your home in a green way. Companies such as P.C. Richards and Sons and the Bethpage Federal Credit Union are offering discounts and loans to make homes more energy efficient.
Alure home improvements, in East Meadow offers both interior and exterior options including kitchen tops that are made from 100 per cent post consumer used materials. Tragar Oil of Wantagh offers a bio-fuel made from 95 per cent regular heating oil and 5 per cent soybean oil.
“By replacing a heating system, the homeowner increases their efficiency of their heating system by 30 per cent,” said Denis Traina, Vice President of Tragar Oil. “It’s one of the greatest returns on your investment that homeowners can do to make their home a more efficient home.”
Going green may cost a lot up front but in the long term, the environment and your wallet are saved.
“So the ultimate cost, there’s none, it’s a value there’s savings involved,” said Building Analyst, Hubie van Meurs of Alure.
As for the future of Green Levittown, there seems to be promise. Traina recently attended a summit in Washington D.C. to represent Green Levittown at the National Climate Change Summit to discuss what is being in done in Levittown and how it can be replicated across the country. Also, in Plainview, an organization is trying to implement similar initiatives to Levittown’s.
“We’re really hoping that Green Levittown will be a pilot program for an expanded concept,” said Esposito.
The reality is that going green is becoming a trendy way to help save the environment and it’s working. So far, out of the 10,000 doors the CCE has knocked on in Levittown, 3,000 of them have showed an interest in making their home greener.
Hudes said, “The fact that the county started Green Levittown, if it does nothing more than get people aware of thinking about greening, thinking about saving energy, thinking about the future then it’s accomplished its’ goal.”
