Rebate for flood victims
An $8 million appliance rebate program has been launched to help those who sustained property damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. New Yorkers may qualify for cash rebates by purchasing eligible ENERGY STAR® or High Efficiency equipment, such as refrigerators ($350 rebate), clothes washers ($250), clothes dryers ($250), dehumidifiers ($100), furnaces ($2,000), boilers ($2,500) and qualified hot water heaters ($400).
The New York Storm Relief Rebate Program serves those who are not receiving compensation from FEMA or insurance companies. Visit www.nysappliancerebates.com.
Water woes
By the year 2013, 36 states will have serious water shortages, according to Save Water Today, a public service campaign created by Students Conservation Association and American Water. The average family uses 400 gallons of water a day. Tips on how to start saving water can be found at www.savewatertoday.org, including:
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keep showers under five minutes;
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run the dishwasher only when it's full;
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don't run water while brushing your teeth.
Green schools initiative
The Green Schools Initiative provides "7 Steps to a Green School" at www.greenschools.net, as adapted from Eco-Schools International:
1. Establish a green team
2. Adopt an environmental vision statement or planet pledge
3. Conduct a school environmental survey or audit
4. Create a green school action plan.
5. Monitor and evaluate progress
6. Integrate greening into the curriculum
7. Inform, involve and celebrate