Seminar Informs Residents What They Can Do To Go Green

As part of the ongoing efforts to have North Shore Towers become a more environmentally conscious community, a “Go Green” seminar was held on Wednesday, November 12.
The seminar was sponsored by the House & Grounds Committee, which is chaired by Board member Claire Levitan, and Greenthal Property Sales and Management. It included representatives of the Department of Sanitation, the Department of Environmental Protection and other experts.
“As you know, we’re committed to becoming a green building. Our present goal is to encourage resident involvement and environmental stewardship. Every one of us is poised to becoming a part of this process,” Levitan said. “We would like to implement the best methods for becoming very green and being a trend setter for our Floral Park community. We can start with improving our home environment.”
As Levitan began the seminar, she shared some Go Green tips with residents. They included using reusable bags at the supermarket, purchasing energy efficient appliances, and using mass transit.
The first guest speaker to address the audience was Marilyn Urso, the executive director and ecobroker at the Long Island Village Realty Company.
“I’m very happy to hear that you want to make it [North Shore Towers] a greener facility,” Urso said. “The biggest carbon footprint that we put out there is from our homes so it’s natural that we [realtors] would want to be involved…”
Urso explained that there are many steps people can take to make their homes greener. Three ways are by using bamboo flooring, volatile organic compound paint, and Energy Star appliances.
Also, energy can be saved by making sure that your refrigerator is set at the proper temperature. The refrigerator should be between 38 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer should remain between zero and five degrees Fahrenheit.
“Appliances are a big piece that’s going to help you,” Urso said.
Urso’s other recommendations were to use green cleaning supplies, soy or beeswax candles that burn cleaner, biodegradable trash bags, compact fluorescent or LED bulbs, reusable cleaning clothes or natural scrubbers and cleaning products made from plant sources.
North Shore Towers General Manager Glen Kotowski also spoke, explaining what the cooperative is already doing to go green. He said that the Capital Improvements Committee has made several suggestions over the last several years, many of which involved reducing electric power usage.
“One of the big things we’re doing here at North Shore Towers involves lighting,” Kotowski said.
The arcade lights located near windows are now off in the daytime, which will result in annual savings of $3,500. Another $8,000 a year is being saved now that there are motion sensor lights in the compactor rooms.
The biggest savings have come from putting low watt LED bulbs in the sconce lights in the hallways. It will save the coop $34,000 annually.
Another recommendation from the Capital Improvements Committee that is now being implemented is to have a variable speed drive for the water pumps to slow them down when the water demand is less.
“We took care of the public areas, but we’re asking you to take care of the interior areas - individual apartments,” Kotowski said.
Kotowski also informed residents that the maintenance department will send someone to their apartments to conduct an energy survey free of charge.
Tips that Kotowski shared with residents included running the dishwasher only when it is full, cleaning the dryer lint trap, and cleaning verticon filters twice a year.
Kotowski noted that water costs North Shore Towers averages around a million dollars every year, so it is in everyone’s best interest to do what they can to save water.
The maintenance staff at North Shore Towers is now going through training with environmentally friendly products. Also, in some of the public restrooms, paper towels are being replaced with hand dryers to reduce waste.
In illustrating how people all throughout the Towers are getting involved in the go green efforts, Kotowski said that Country Club Manager Mary Anne Langone suggested they conserve energy by not have the Jacuzzi on all the time. Previously, it ran while the pool was open but is now operating on a timer, which will result in annual savings of $3,500.
“Everyone is pitching in - our department heads, our residents, our committee,” Kotowski said. “It all helps.”
During the question and answer period, one resident questioned the best way to dispose of dead batteries. Kotowski said that New York City currently requires them to be thrown in the garbage. However, the Towers is looking into alternatives.
North Shore Towers resident Maria Miller, who works for the Department of Sanitation, added that rechargeable batteries that are no longer of use can be taken back to the store.
Also during the question and answer period, Levitan made the suggestion that all residents make sure their household help knows how to use the compactor room.
One resident asked if the lights had been turned off on the outside tree branches in order to conserve energy.
“As part of a Board directive to conserve energy and go green, we will only be lighting one tree in front of each building as opposed to lighting all the trees,” Kotowski said. It was also explained that doing so will result in a savings of $6,000.
Linda Rappaport of Greenthal Property Sales spoke briefly to close the seminar.
“I think it’s great that…you’re supporting a great campaign at North Shore Towers,” Rappaport said, noting the “wonderful turnout.”
Following the seminar presentations, raffle prizes that had been donated by various vendors were given out. Residents were also able to visit display tables and speak with the experts on issues related to going green.
If you missed the Go Green Seminar, took for it on the in-house channel so that you can learn more about going green and what you can do to help.