Volunteers Bring GREEN Message Door-to-Door

On January 22, 2008 Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Citizens Campaign for the Environment’s Executive Director Adrienne Esposito knocked on the first doors in Levittown to kick off the door-to-door canvass for Green Levittown. They were not alone as dozens of others followed along to witness history. The history being created is to make our nation’s first suburb, Levittown, the nation’s first ‘Green Community’. In the few weeks that have followed we have kept the momentum going forward. Unfortunately many residents are really ‘feeling the pinch’ from outrageous utility bills. At the same time, homeowners know that Global Climate Change is a reality and often times they don’t know what they can do at home to reduce their carbon footprint. These factors combined make this project keenly important.

Most residents know that their windows leak, that their burner is ‘an original’, that their appliances are out of date and inefficient, or that their attic is not insulated. However, most do not realize how much money they could save by making simple changes or upgrades. Also, Bethpage Federal Credit Union has special loan programs set up for Levittown residents seeking to make larger home improvements. Residents are interested in the prospect of having Solar Energy by Earthkind Energy but have never been presented with the idea on their front doorstep. Residents are intrigued by the Intellidyne Economizer when it is presented to them. Who wouldn’t be if you learned that installing it could save you hundreds of dollars on your energy costs? We have found many homeowners don’t know where to begin and this is precisely where the canvass comes into the picture. The canvassers focus on introducing residents to the project, educating residents on the project and involving residents in the project. The canvassers bring the technologies and the expertise being offered by the Green Levittown partners to the residents, as opposed to the residents having to seek out the technologies on their own. Once presented with the information the Levittown residents are willing to learn more from the sponsors.

The first couple of weeks of the campaign have exceeded our expectations. The response in the neighborhoods has been very positive! People are interested in getting involved at all levels. Some are interested in hearing more about some simple changes they can make like switching to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, getting a home energy assessment from Alure Home Improvements, or switching to Tragar’s biofuel. Others are interested in learning more about upgrading to energy efficient appliances from P.C. Richard and Sons. Others are interested in learning more about solar energy or upgrading their boiler or burner to the more modern energy efficienct technology now on the market. To date the canvass has contacted over 700 Levittown residents and we have received interest to implement changes from about half of them. These numbers will continue to grow and as they do Levittown’s carbon footprint will shrink proportionately. Thank you to the Levittown residents we have visited and who have committed to making Levittown a Green Community. To those we have not yet visited, please be patient as one of our friendly, educated representatives will be by shortly to help you save money and save the environment. If you have any questions feel free to contact us at our canvass headquarters: (516)390-7150 and ask for Sharon or Greg.