Sullivan continues green momentum

New building to incorporate sustainable practices

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY — The new jail and all other county-owned facilities in the future will have to be green. That directive comes as a result of a resolution passed by the Sullivan County Legislature on September 27 to promote environmentally friendly and sustainable practices in 15 separate initiatives.

First among them is that future county facilities must “meet LEED certification standards or equivalent sustainable principles, practices and technologies.” LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is the nationally accepted standard for design and construction of green, energy-efficient buildings.

Legislator Kathy LaBuda, chairman of the department of public works, said the exact green components of the jail are not known, because the design of the jail can’t be started until the final site is selected. However, she said the new building may incorporate geo-thermal heating and cooling, like the system at Sullivan County Community College.

LaBuda said after the state finishes its environmental review of the three proposed sites, a final site will be chosen. That should happen within the next six months or so. Then, the consultants and engineers will begin designing the jail and incorporating green elements.

Legislator Leni Binder, who is also closely involved with the process of building the new jail, said the cost of the green technologies will be more expensive initially, but the county will save money over the long run. She said the county’s green initiative is similar to the one that went into effect in New York City in January 2006, and the county did it “because it’s the right thing to do.”

Among the other initiatives adopted in the resolution were ones to “coordinate with the appropriate agencies to prioritize the branding of Sullivan County as ‘green’,” and another to “develop an environmentally friendly county fleet and vehicle replacement schedule considering hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles.”

Other green news

The local advocacy group Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development (SASD), which has been working to promote renewable energy initiatives in the county, received status as a 501c3 nonprofit organization last week. At a meeting on October 4, SASD member Richard Riseling announced the group’s new status and proposed that legislators take a tour of more than a dozen sustainable or green sites and projects ongoing in the county. LaBuda agreed to organize the trip.

Riseling also told lawmakers about a new vertical-style windmill. He proposed that it be considered for installation at the green technology park at the college, which is being developed. Officials are already considering an alternative design.

Riseling also said that he and other members of SASD continue to work with the Towns of Freemont, Callicoon and Rockland about wind energy projects that would bring revenues to the towns.