By the Bronxville Green Committee

Jan. 8, 2024: The Bronxville Green Committee’s mission is to advise the Village Trustees on issues of environmental health and sustainability and help to propose and implement sustainable programs in our community. As we look ahead to 2025, we are also taking a moment to reflect on our busy 2024. Here’s a quick recap of our work:  

Recap of 2024 Initiatives

Awarded Grants! Through NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program, the Village was awarded $77,500 in grants to spend on energy efficiency projects in its municipal buildings.  So far, the money has been spent on interior LED lights, and some outdoor LEDs, in the Bronxville Library and Village Hall. The Village continues to investigate spending the remaining funds on an energy management system which would make our municipal buildings even more energy efficient.

Through the same program, the Village is now eligible for an additional $125,000 in grant funding. If the Village’s application is accepted and the funds become available, we can invest in still more clean energy projects!

Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Municipal Operations Progress: In November 2023, the Trustees adopted a Climate Action Plan to reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030. The Village is spending the grant money it’s been awarded on the clean technologies that will help meet this goal.

Bronxville’s Climate Action Task Force Received Climate Award: At the 2024 New York State Hudson Valley Regional Council Annual Conference, Bronxville was recognized for achieving notable climate action milestones in a remarkably brief timeframe. 

NYS Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Status: Bronxville was awarded CSC Bronze Certification in September 2022, the first level of achievement in this NYS program which provides a framework for tackling climate change and sustainability in local municipalities. In March 2024, the CSC program granted Bronxville points for 21 action steps —11 actions requiring recertification and 10 new actions—allowing it to retain its Bronze status. The Village has 220 points in this program; 300 are required for Silver status, which we hope to achieve by 2026.

Recycling & Waste Reduction Programs: The Green Committee continued to promote local recycling rules and waste reduction programs, specifically expanding the Village’s residential Food Scrap Recycling program, coordinating two successful community TAKE BACK DAYs, educating businesses and residents about new County waste reduction laws, promoting the Village’s NEW textile home pick up and installing NEW book donation bins at the DPW.

Healthy Yards: The Green Committee also assisted the Village in renewing our membership in Tree City USA, through the Arbor Day Foundation, and expanded and maintained our native plant garden at Alfredo Park, off Archer Place. We joined and led community clean-ups and removal of invasive plants.

The Bronxville Giving Garden: Farmer Dave Philips successfully grew and donated 300 pounds of organic produce to Community Service Associates of Mount Vernon and Eastchester Community Action Program (ECAP) in Tuckahoe and Green Committee volunteers hosted classes from the Reformed Church Nursery School.

Community Engagement & Outreach Efforts: The Green Committee continued to promote Village programs through various communications, including articles in My Hometown Bronxville, monthly updates in the Village newsletter, and on Instagram @bxvgreencommittee. The Committee also coordinated numerous community events, such as Compost Give Back Day, and maintained important local partnerships to promote sustainability in our community.

Visit our website and follow us on Instagram @bxvgreencommittee for more information about our programs and the resources available to residents. Many thanks to the dozens of volunteers who contributed to our efforts this year. Please consider joining us as we continue this important work.

We are Bronxville Strong & Sustainable – protecting what we love!