$$$$$ Commuter Rail E $$$$$ E Bus Rapid Transit Transit

1 2 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Commuter Rail What is it: • A form of transit that uses buses in Transit (CRT) designated, traffic-free lanes, allowing What is it: them to run like trains • A form of rail that transports Fast Facts: commuters from suburban areas into • BRT is faster, more reliable, and more cities convenient than regular bus systems because Fast Facts: it separates buses from the rest of traffic • CRT systems usually travel at high • Raised station curb, smart cards, and ticket speeds and with few stops kiosks help speed up boarding • Feature roomy trains, digital customer • Technology is used for elements such as information, ticket vending machines, tracking of buses to provide accurate enhanced shelters, wifi, apps etc. schedule information and for giving Community Benefits: buses priority at stop lights Community Benefits: • Commuters save money by using mass • Gives an alternative to train/rail transit for transit rather than driving their own cars areas that cannot support that infrastructure • Increases accessibility of city to those • Cleaner air/less pollution from every living in suburbs switch that is made to public transportation • Reduce dependence on fossil fuels from individual cars • Decreases commuter traffic congestion, • Decreased traffic congestion as well as air pollution and emissions • Bus stops can be well-designed and from automobiles become a hub for business E $$ Transit Making E $$$ Transit Making E Connections E Connections

3 4 Walkable Sidewalks Transit Connections What is it: What is it: • Bus and train routes that make transit • Wide and spacious sidewalks easy for people to navigate and encourage more pedestrian use travel within and between towns/ Fast Facts: the county without relying on a car • Walkable sidewalks are beneficial for • At train stations there are also bus community members of all ages. stops and at bus stops there is Walking is good for your health, it bike storage, with connections to reduces pollution from driving, it is bike lanes, and walkable sidewalks less costly and can be more social. Community Benefits: Fast Facts: • Increase accessibility of the • Overall, public transit saves the U.S. community--a car is not required to get 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually everywhere (Ameri can Public Transit Association) • Safer sidewalks and roadways • Cleaner air/ less emissions from Community Benefits: decreased car usage • Cleaner air/ fewer emissions from the • Aesthetically pleasing decreased individual car usage • Increase the overall sense of • Easier for community members to get connection and community in a town to school, work, doctor’s appointments, etc. E E $$ Transit Making $$ Transit Making E E Connections Connections

5 6 Preferred Parking for Bike Lanes, Storage Racks & Bike Rentals Carpool and Hybrid What is it: What is it: • Bike lanes are lanes on roadways that • Specially designated parking spots for are designated for cyclists only carpool and hybrid cars located closest to • Bike storage racks, often covered from buildings rain, provide places for cyclists to leave their bikes safely. Fast Facts: • Preferred parking spots are an incentive Fast Facts: for using these methods of transportation • Dedicated bike lanes cut injury risk by • Providing parking spaces costs money 90% (American Journal of Public Health) • Both items encourage bicycle use for a builder, so the number of special parking spots will be limited by use. Community Benefits: • Safer roadways and less congested Community Benefits: sidewalks • Carpooling saves on fuel use, wear and • Moving from driving cars to biking tear on roads, and emissions. means less emissions/ air pollution • Hybrid cars reduce our dependence on • Health benefits from exercise oil and reduce emissions. • Bike rentals bring business to the area $$$$ $$$ Geothermal Heating Using the Sun and Cooling

1 2 Rooftop Solar Panels and Geothermal Heating and Daylighting Buildings What is it: Cooling • Solar panels on the roof allow the sun What is it: to be used for energy • Uses a piping loop into the ground • Daylighting buildings is the use of large, below a home to circulate heat from the strategically placed widows to take interior of the earth during the advantage of the sun’s light throughout winter and to circulate warm air from the the day house down to cool it during the summer Fast Facts: • Can also be used for hot water heating • Enough sunlight falls on the earth’s Fast Facts: surface every hour to meet world energy • Uses geothermal pumps to harness energy demand for an entire year. • Almost 100% energy efficient, only loss • Daylight is beneficial to mental health of energy is in friction that takes place Cost Savings: during the process • reduce dependence on non-renewable Cost Savings: resources for energy • Extremely low greenhouse gas • daylighting also reduces electricity bills emissions as it gets rid of the need for lights to be • Saves on energy costs in the long-run on inside during the day

$$ Think Small to Save Big

3 Energy Efficient Lighting/ KEY FOR CARD USAGE Compact Fluorescent (CFL) and LED, The Dollar signs on the cards are meant to give a relative cost for the project. In reality the High Performance Windows projects range in size based on the funds and needs. For more cost information refer to the What is it: table provided. • Easy changes that can be made to reduce energy consumption E Represents Energy Focus Fast Facts: • Dual pane windows that are glazed and E Represents Environmental Focus have argon gas fill can save heating & cooling costs. Windows that open T Represents Transit Focus can have better efficiency as they are made with multipoint locks to seal tightly. W Represents Water Focus • Compared to incandescent bulbs, CFLs and LEDs use 1/10 of the energy, last THE CARD COLORS HAVE MEANINGS much longer and stay cooler. Cost Savings: Yellow is for Energy • Efficient Lighting options and High Blue is for Water Performance windows reduce energy use Green is for Environment and saving money while reducing the Red is for Traffic amount of CO­2 released Light Blue is for Community • High Performance windows reduce Pink is for Service heating and cooling costs by 15-20% Orange is for Recreation $ Watersense Fixtures E $ Preserving Our E Water Resources

1 2 Low Flow Toilets, Shower Head, Alternative Landscaping

Washer and Dishwasher What is it: • Using native plants to eliminate the use What is it: of sprinklers and conserve water • Low flow water fixtures that reduce water consumption Fast Facts: Fast Facts: • Native plants need minimal irrigation • According to the EPA, if all U.S. house beyond normal rainfall holds installed water-efficient fixtures and • Native plants require little to no appliances, (WaterSense toilets, fertilizer and pesticides faucets, high efficiency clotheswashers • Native plants are low maintenance and dishwashers) the country would save • Native wildlife and pollinators prefer 3 trillion gallons of water and $18 billion native plants dollars per year. Cost Savings: Cost Savings: • Decreased use of water resources and • Aesthetically pleasing way to conserve lower water bills water and save money on garden • Low flow and aerated faucets and irrigation and maintenance showerheads are inexpensive, with the payback being less than a year. $$ Pervious Pavers T $$ Collecting Rainwater E

3 Rain Gardens, 4 Pervious Pavers Run-on Stormwater What is it: Retention, Rain Barrels • Paving material that allows stormwater What is it: to be absorbed through its surface and • Methods for slowing and decreasing put back into the ground below, rather storm water run-off and allows natural than run-off into a storm drain system. infiltration of the water • Can be used to pave sidewalks, parking • Features allow rain water to be lots, bike paths, etc. returned to the ground, rather than run- Fast Facts: off into streets and into streams • Decreased run-off means decreased Fast Facts: soil erosion and less sediments and • Decreased run-off means less soil pollution winding up in watersheds erosion, fewer sediments and less •Increases infiltration of water pollution ending up in waterways Cost Savings: • Our groundwater is recharged • Can soak up as much as 70% to 80% of Cost Savings: annual rainfall. • Aesthetically pleasing way to manage • No need to put in detention pond or storm water, can increase property value other storm management solution—more • Reduce hazards such as flooding property to work with. brought on by storm water

$$$ Green Roof E $ Environment E Reuse Resources

5 3 Green Roof Recycle! Everything from What is it: Paper & Containers, Compost • Roof of a building that is specifically Food Scraps, Reuse Building prepared to allow a plant covering to add greenspace, cool the building, and Materials What is it: collect water to reduce run off • Conserve resources by reusing them rather than using new materials Fast Facts: Fast Facts: • Absorbs rainwater, provides insulation • Only 2.5% of all waste food was composted in 2008 – the rest went to for building, creates habitats for wildlife, landfill or incinerators (Clean Air Council) can help lower air temperature in urban • Recycle paper to save trees, containers areas reduces plastic (oil) • Pavement, wood, brick, and metal, are commonly recycled building materials Cost Savings: • Gabion Baskets are one way to reuse rocks • Reduction in energy usage and heating and concrete materials in erosion prevention Cost Savings: and cooling costs • Reduce environmental impact of • Reduction of stormwater runoff, plus extracting new building materials some local governments give a • Composting adds soil nutrients back stormwater tax reduction for green roofs • Composting and recycling reduce amount of waste that sits in landfills and • Increased durability of roof itself reduces the need for new landfills $ Environment w $ Community Enhancing Resources Enhancing Resources

1 1 Conservation of Trees Community Character What is it: and Plants on Property • The unique look and feel of an What is it: area or community • Protecting and preserving trees and plants that are already on the property Fast Facts: • Historic uses and ethnic back- Fast Facts: grounds can be reflected in • The trees and plants that are already the space and give it a unique located on the property are part of the character ecosystem of that area and provide important benefits like carbon storage, Community Benefits: shade, habitat, and slow water absorption • Can be aesthetically pleasing • Helps contribute to the identity of Community Benefits: • Aesthetically pleasing community members and increases • Trees provide natural shading and can sense of “place”, which leads to an reduce the “heat-island” effect from increased desire to care for and extensive paved areas protect the area •Trees and plants provide ‘ecosystem • Can attract visitors to a community services’ such as nutrient cycling, soil bringing economic benefits preservation, and habitat for wildlife $ Environment w $$$ Community E Enhancing Resources Enhancing Resources

2 2 Integrate Wildlife Habitat Protect Historic Areas with Green Space What is it: What is it: • Keeping intact and enhancing areas • Creating a wildlife habitat such as using around structures of historic importance native wetland plants to enhance an during building and development existing wetland, or creating a small pond in your dedicated green space. Fast Facts: • Creating connections to existing water • The Rockland County Historical Society ways, and streams, and planting native has recognized ~80 historic plants with winter berries for native birds sites within the county by marking Fast Facts: them with informational markers • Helps reverse the effects of habitat (see image on back) loss due to development • Helps reinstate native species where Community Benefits: invasive ones have taken over • Historic sites bring character and a • Attracts pollinators critical to habitat sense of place to a community Community Benefits: • These sites have educational benefits • Aesthetically pleasing • Reuse of building materials from a • Bring wildlife back to the area and historic building has environmental enjoy the ecosystem functions they benefits • Preservation of history for future provide generations to enjoy $$$ $$$ E Social Interactions for Social Interactions for All Ages -Recreation All Ages -Community

1 2 Outdoor Recreation Connections

What is it: What is it: • Winter skating, pool, skateboard • Community spaces that provide park, playground etc. A wide places to gather and share such as range of outdoor recreation spaces community garden, library, at varying costs can be included in a farmers markets, etc. plan. Fast Facts: • These places provide Fast Facts: opportunities for cultural growth, • Arenas for these activities support of the local community, and encourage active communities and opportunities for connections gatherings that enjoy the outdoors between and among people Community Benefits: Community Benefits: • Encourages public interaction • Encourages public interaction • Venue for sports events • Educational resources • Creation of community sports • Improve quality of life and often teams health for community members • Attracts visitors to the area • Bring together people from • Encourages physical fitness diverse backgrounds $$$ $$$$$ Social Interactions for Social Interactions for All Ages and Stages All Ages and Stages

3 4 Central Gathering Spaces Entertainment

What is it: What is it: • Plaza, park, outdoor stage/gazebo, • Movie theatre, community center picnic tables, etc. recreation room and gym, etc. Fast Facts: Fast Facts: • These central gathering spaces • Entertainment options can bring encourage people to enjoy both vitality and revenue to a themselves outdoors community Community Benefits: Community Benefits: • Encourages public interaction • Encourages public interaction • Provides spaces for public events • provides a space where all ages such as concerts and fairs, as well as can find enjoyment private gatherings • Improve quality of life for • Helps build local identity and community members appreciation for the community • Increase neighborhood property values $$$$$ Services $$$$$ Services

1 2 Housing for all Incomes Neighborhood Medical

What is it: Center • Housing for multiple ages and What is it: stages of life, and multiple incomes • Urgent care or Neighborhood Medical Clinics are facilities that Fast Facts: are located within the community • Multi-age housing promotes the health and well being of both Fast Facts: young and old • Housing can be located above • Urgent Care Facilities provide an shops to decrease buliding alternative to emergency rooms and ‘footprint’ (see image on back), and hospitals when the medical issue is to promote walkability of shopping non-life threatening Community Benefits: Community Benefits: • Encourages interactions and • After-hours and emergency learning experiences between medical attention close to home generations • Provides jobs • Increased sense of community • Increases safety of community • Provides for multiple income levels • Allows for aging in place $$ Services $ Services E

3 4 Neighborhood Center Locally Owned Stores

What is it: What is it: • Space for community meetings, • Café or restaurant, coffee shop, club meetings, kitchen for pot lucks, corner store, gallery, etc. seniors events, day care, etc. Fast Facts: Fast Facts: • Locally owned businesses require • Neighborhood Centers are less transportation to ship goods versatile and can be used for and thus are usually more whatever use the community environmentally friendly decides is important • As local community owners they •Benefits multiple ages in the often are more community involved community and boast better customer service than bigger chain stores/businesses Community Benefits: • Provides helpful services and Community Benefits: spaces for community members of • Give character to the community all ages • Local businesses often support • Encourages interactions across non-profit community groups efforts generations • Job opportunities