Tarik Abdelazim Director of Planning, Housing & Community Development
38 Hawley Street, 4th Floor
Binghamton, NY 13901
(607) 772-7028
(607) 772-7063 fax tabdelazim@cityofbinghamton.com
Caroline P. Quidort, AICP Assistant Director of Planning, Housing, and Community Development
607-772-7028 planning@cityofbinghamton.com
Welcome to the Greening Binghamton website. On this site you will find a range of information—from the steps being taken by the City of Binghamton’s toward building a more sustainable community to resources that can help residents and businesses find ways to reduce their energy consumption and save money.
Mayor Matt Ryan signed the United States Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement on April 4th, 2007 pledging a reduction in the City’s greenhouse gas emissions to 7 percent of 1990 levels by 2012. To date, 850 other Mayors have also signed the Agreement. Click here to view the Agreement. Binghamton’s City Council also passed a resolution supporting the Mayor’s endorsement of the Agreement. Click here to view the resolution.
In April of 2009, the City became a member of ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), and committed to participating in ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection campaign, which involves undertaking the 5 Milestone process for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A greenhouse gas inventory (Milestone 1) was completed with the assistance of two Binghamton University students last summer. By the beginning of 2010, the City intends to have adopted a reduction target (Milestone 2) and to have developed its Climate Action Plan (Milestone 3) for achieving the reduction target. Funds from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant will be used toward personnel costs for developing the Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Plan will be written by the City's Sustainable Development Planner with assistance from two Binghamton University interns and in conjunction with guidance from an advisory committee made up of representatives from the City Hall (Mayor’s Office, all departments and City Council), the community (residents, business and educational institutions) and environmental advocacy organizations. The final steps of the CCP will be to implement the action plan (Milestone 4) and monitor and evaluate the impacts of the action plan (Milestone 5).
The City joined ICLEI upon recommendation from the Commission on Sustainable Development and Smart Growth.
Resource Conservation
On May 23rd, 2008, Mayor Matt Ryan introduced a Resource Conservation Policy to help the City of Binghamton reduce carbon emissions, minimize resource consumption, and cut costs. The conservation policy includes new guidelines for City employees to reduce the energy used by electronics, to recycle common office supplies, to properly dispose of batteries and other potentially toxic materials, and to minimize fossil fuel consumption by reducing City vehicle idling. The policy provides supplementary information explaining the positive impact of such practices. Please click here to view the Resource Conservation Policy.
Summer Hours
In addition, City Hall changes its hours of operation to 8am-4am during the summer season in order to save costs on security and utilities. The building begins the summer schedule on Tuesday, May 27th and will resume normal business on Tuesday, September 2nd. The City anticipates approximately $4,000 in savings on security alone.
Hybrid Vehicles
In April 2009, the Binghamton Police Department added to their fleet three 2008 Nissan Altima hybrids, a more fuel efficient alternative to the long-used Ford Crown Victoria. While the Crown Victoria’s fuel efficiency ranges from 8-12 miles per gallon of gasoline, the new hybrids drive at 35 miles per gallon, as they run in part on gas and part on an electric motor.
Using the hybrids, the Department is saving two-thirds the cost of gas. Last year the Department spent roughly $280,000 on gasoline, meaning that a large-scale transition to hybrids would amount to substantial savings. It is also expected that the Altimas will have much lower maintenance expenses, given their dependability, and the frequent breakdowns of the Crown Victorias.
The City is looking to add additional hybrids to the fleet in the near future.
Electric Vehicles for Ely Park Golf Course
In 2009, the City also replaced Ely Park Golf Course’s gas-powered carts with an electric alternative. The new carts arecharged in Ely Park’s storage garage overnight, when electricity rates are at their lowest. Since the carts went into use in April, the change has produced significant cost-savings.
Introduced in July 2009, the Broome-Tioga Greenride Rideshare Website enables residents to carpool with other commuters in the Broome-Tioga region, thereby saving travel costs, relieving traffic congestion, and reducing greenhouse gases.
The Shade Tree Commission is an advisory board for the City of Binghamton made up of seven members, who are charged with studying the problems and determining the needs of the City of Binghamton in connection with its tree planting programs. The Commission is also responsible for helping the Parks and Recreation Department decide what type of trees will be planted in the City, and for assisting with the dissemination of news and information regarding selection, planting, and maintenance of trees within the City limits.
Video: Click the screen below to watch an introductory video on the Shade Tree Commission. The clip is part of Mayor Ryan's four-part Video Series on Citizen Resources.
Trees in our city can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs for our homes and workplaces, moderate the temperature, clean the air and water, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife. Trees also increase property values, enhance economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community. The City of Binghamton sponsors two Tree Planting Programs.
1. Street Tree Planting Program
The City of Binghamton Park's Department offers a free tree planting service. Residents interested in having a tree planted in the utility strip in front of their property should complete the Tree Request Form (click here to download) and return it to the Park's Department. For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 772-7017 or visit their website by clicking here.
2. Yard Tree Coupon Program
The City of Binghamton is sponsoring the Yard Tree Coupon Program in an effort to encourage property owners to plant trees. Developed by the City of Binghamton Shade Tree Commission in 2008, the Yard Tree Coupon Program provides a $35 coupon to eligible property owners for the purchase of a tree that will be planted on their land. Interested residents or property owners should complete the Yard Tree Coupon Application and return it to the Department of Planning, Housing, and Community Development.
For more information, please contact Sustainable Development Planner Amelia LoDolce at 772-7028 or anlodolce@cityofbinghamton.com.
The Recycling Enhancement Program recently produced "Recycle!", a public service announcement on the benefits and convenience of recycling. Please click the below to watch:
Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments (VINES) is an all volunteer organization which supports and promotes urban gardening through the collaboration of neighborhood community gardens around the City. VINES is sponsored by Earth Day Southern Tier (EDST), a not-for-profit Environmental Education organization, and the City of Binghamton Neighborhood Assemblies Project (BNAP).
Click here for photos of the construction of the community garden at 128 Laurel Avenue on May 1, 2008.
To learn more about community gardens in Binghamton, visit the VINES website here.
Video: Click the screen below to watch an introductory video VINES. The clip is part of Mayor Ryan's four-part Video Series on Citizen Resources.
The Environmental Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG)
The EECBG was recently created by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to provide direct funding to states, counties, and cities to assist communities in the development and implementation of energy conservation and efficiency strategies—however, the program has not been funded by Congress. If the EECBG is allocated the full $2 billion as established in its authorizing legislation, the City of Binghamton would stand to receive a sizable amount of financial assistance to support our efforts to become a more sustainable and energy efficient community. On April 7, 2008, the Binghamton City Council passed a Resolution Urging the US Congress and the US President to Provide Funding for the EECBG in the Amount of $2 billion per year. Click here to view the Resolution.
The Bigger Better Bottle Bill (BBBB)
The Bigger Better Bottle Bill would expand New York State’s current Bottle Bill, which was created in 1982, to place deposits on all beverage containers, with exceptions for milk and dairy products, infant formula, wine and liquor, powdered and frozen beverages. Updating the Bottle Bill would help to reduce litter and increase recycling rates. Currently, 80% of deposit containers recycled, while only 20% of non-deposit containers are recycled.
On June 2nd, 2008, the Binghamton City Council passed a Resolution Urging the New York State Legislature to Update New York State’s Bottle Bill. To view the Resolution, click here. For more information on the BBBB, visit the following links:
