Sackets Harbor, a village of 1,400 on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario, is going green. They want to become a sustainable community from green buildings to walkable communities to energy efficiency. They've enlisted the help of 15 students in the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry's Environmental Communication Workshop under the direction of Dr. Susan Senecah.
"Sackets Harbor has a very ambitious and a very inspirational goal of becoming a sustainable community and to mark action in a very short term. We are also putting together a green guide for them that helps them think through the various ways that they might think of that sustainability and might pursue it with funding and resources and what that might look like," Senecah said.
With the state of New York now making every effort to be as green as possible, we proudly launch a new weekly series today titled "Going Green." Our first report takes us to the Village of Sackets Harbor, where the process of going green is well under way.
"Well, the guide will be an extensive document. We're looking at everything from green architecture to sewage systems to having a local home garden so you can cut down on your carbon footprint so you're not buying food that you have to travel a long ways to get to you," said student Jessica Schneider.
The ESF students conducted community conversations, an opportunity for residents to learn about sustainable communities and to share ideas and discuss sustainable options for the village.
Sackets Harbor Mayor Mike Kinne initiated the project because he sees an opportunity to be good stewards, save money and, oh yes, increase tourism.
"Oh, absolutely, we're known as a historic community. There's no reason why we can't be known as a green community as well. Just another reason to come to our beautiful village," said Mayor Kinne.
"People often wonder why a community would want to go green or be sustainable and Sackets Harbor has asked another question, why not? Why wouldn't a community want to go this way, energy efficiency, less burden on the environment on ecological systems that the quality of life that everyone is attached to. There is nothing but win, win pursuing this," Senecah said.
And the green guide for Sackets Harbor can be used by others to become sustainable communities.
Going Green is produced in cooperation with the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. For more information, visit their website at www.esf.edu.