SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Syracuse city officials joined representatives from EnergySmart CNY and National Grid in Soule Branch Library last week to explain the importance of energy efficiency.
The public meeting was a part of the Sustainable Syracuse Initiative, an effort to reduce carbon emissions and prepare for climate change in the local community. Lindsay Speer, the director of EnergySmart CNY, said the meeting was a success.
“I think it was great, we had a great turnout tonight,” said Speer. “A lot of energy in the room. A lot of interest. Some really great questions from people. It was clear people care a lot about this issue.”
One attendee was Haley Clarke, a Syracuse resident who holds a college degree in environmental geoscience. Clarke said she wanted to learn about local sustainability efforts.
“It’s really important to go to public meetings on energy or urban planning or urban sustainable design, just to know what’s going on,” Clarke said.
Members from the hosting organizations took turns presenting about the various techniques and products that can help preserve energy. To emphasize the importance of these practices, speakers explained the ways that climate change will be impacting them in their Central New York communities.
Radhya Adityavarman, a project manager at Environment Design & Research (EDR), spoke about the Canadian wildfires that occurred last summer.
“All that smoke that reached Central New York prevented me from going outside and enjoying some activities,” Adityavarman said. “That’s a direct result from climate change.”
Adityavarman said everyone has a responsibility to help mitigate climate change, even through small actions.
“Everyone can do their part and play a role in educating each other,” he said. “Showing up to events like this, taking it upon yourself to learn about different ways to save energy, is important.”
Last week’s meeting was the third of four scheduled events focusing on different sustainability themes. After discussing flood mitigation, heat islands, and energy, the final theme is transportation and smart growth.
Centro, the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council, the Division of Transportation Planning and the I-81 Project are scheduled to appear at the fourth meeting Oct. 30 at STEAM High School.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Syracuse climate change meeting
Brennan Finder: Syracuse city officials joined representatives from National Grid in Soule Branch Library to explain the importance of energy efficiency. Lindsay Speer, the director of Energysmart CNY, says the meeting was a success.
Lindsay Speer: I think it was great. We had a great turnout tonight. A lot of energy in the room. A lot of interest. Some really great questions from people. It’s clear people care a lot about this issue
Finder: One of those attendees was Haley Clarke, a Syracuse resident who wanted to learn about local sustainability efforts.
Haley Clarke: It’s really important to go to public meetings on energy or urban planning or urban sustainable design, just to know what’s going on.
Finder: One of the goals of the meeting was to educate residents on ways that climate change could be impacting them right here in Central New York. Radhya Adityavarman, a speaker at the event, says recent Canadian wildfires were an example of how Syracuse is feeling the effects of rising temperatures.
Radhya Adityavarman: All that smoke that reached Central New York prevented me from going outside and enjoying some activities. That’s a direct result from climate change.
Finder: Last week’s meeting was the third of four scheduled events focusing on different sustainability themes. After discussing flood mitigation, heat islands and energy, the final theme is transportation and smart growth.