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POUND RIDGE, N.Y. The town of Pound Ridge has taken a step toward become a little bit greener.
Town officials officially helped launch Energize Pound Ridge on Sunday at the Armstrong House. It's a program that helps applicants get free home-energy assessments and shows them how to find rebates and subsidies for energy-efficiency renovation projects that may be needed.
More than 20 people attended the event where Dr. John Maddocks, chair of towns Sustainability Task Force, and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) architect and Cooper Union professor, gave a brief talk about the recent history and advances in building science and how many pre-1980s homes in Pound Ridge need energy assessments because they are losing energy through the walls, attics and elsewhere.
Several homeowners who have already had their homes assessed using the support of Energize Pound Ridge/Energize NY were in attendance. Josina van der Maas said she was happy with her assessment and plans on having some home maintenance done by Healthy Homes, one of the nine companies recommended by Energize Pound Ridge.
Some attendees were concerned about how to best find a contractor who can do energy-efficiency renovations on historic homes. Heather Flournoy and Elyssa Rothe of the Energize support team suggested interviewing the contractors before having them do an assessment and ask for references for their work with old homes. Rothe also said homeowners can also call the Energize office for help in selecting a contractor.
Elyse Arnow, director of the Armstrong House project and president of the Pound Ridge Land Conservancy (PRLC), said the Armstrong House was the ideal venue for a meeting about energy efficiency. The PRLC renovated the 1912 home to create a green, off-the-grid building that will serve as an education center with gardens and an outdoor classroom.
The Armstrong House was the perfect location for the event, she said. It is not only cozy and beautiful and comfortable, it is an educational, private facility prototyping a 'green' living lifestyle to promote the recognition that land preservation, natural resources protection, and habitat conservation are possible through a combination of outright land protection and lifestyle choices. The off-the-grid residence demonstrates that a smaller ecological footprint is possible without having to give up the benefits of modern 21st century living.
To find out more about the Armstrong house, visit the PRLC website at http://prlc.net/.
For more information on getting a free comprehensive home energy assessment and guidance through the state's energy efficiency home-improvement rebates and subsidies, visit www.EnergizePoundRidge.org or call 914-244-7210.
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