Welcome to Climate Smart Millbrook
A Task Force of the Village Government
Climate Smart Community
(CSC) Program is a New York State program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate.
The Village of Millbrook took the Climate Smart Community pledge in August of 2022 and is working to achieve bronze certification status in 2025.
The Village of Millbrook is working on several initiatives to earn points toward CSC certification
These initiatives include:
- Installed Electric Charging Stations at the Town Hall
- Completed 2022 Green House Gas Inventory and initial Benchmarks Report for municipal building energy use.
- Planning phases for composting programs for the Village and Town
- Replaced burners in Village Hall with energy efficient models
- LED Light replacement in government buildings and streetlights
- Completed a joint Natural Resources Inventory with Town of Washington (slides shared with community on September 2023)
What can residents and businesses do to reduce GHG emissions?
What You Can Do
- Get a home energy audit (NYSERDA)
- Explore solutions that reduce GHG and save money, including heat pumps and solar energy
- Reduce & Reuse. Learn what can be recycled in Dutchess County
- Start home composting!
- Switch to LED lightbulbs
- Walk or use a bike to get around the Village
- Volunteer for the CSC Taskforce
What Businesses Can Do
- Complete a business energy audit
- Explore solar options to reduce GHG and save money
- Small business can save big money with key changes to lighting and HVAC systems
Natural Resources Inventory (NRI)
The Town of Washington, the Village of Millbrook and the Town of Clinton are working on a joint Natural Resources Inventory. A program supported by the New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation.
A Natural Resources Inventory is an accounting of a municipality’s natural resources. Natural resources include things like water, animal habitats, trees, and vegetation. It can also take account of a municipality’s cultural resources as well. NRIs are maps and narrative descriptions identifying these unique and varied resources.
The Village of Millbrook, Town of Washington and the Town of Clinton, was jointly awarded technical support for this NRI by the Hudson River Estuary Program in conjunction with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Cornell University/Cornell Cooperative Extension.
An updated Natural Resources Inventory was also recommended to our Town and Village as part of the Town of Washington’s 2015 Comprehensive Plan and its 2023 Hospitality Addendum to the Comprehensive Plan.
NRIs enable municipalities to make informed decisions around land use. It is vital to fully understand the location and extent of our natural resources when adopting regulations, reviewing changes and making decisions concerning land use.
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A Natural Resources Inventory for the Town of Washington & Village of Millbrook 2024
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Town of Washington Natural Resources Inventory Project Presentation
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Best Practices for Adopting Conservation Inventories and Plans
To learn more about NRIs:
https://hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu/conservation-planning/inventory-and-planning/
Village of Millbrook NRI Maps:
- Map 8 – Drinking Water Resources
- Map 11 – Floodplains Riparian Areas
- Map 12 – Wetlands
- Map 14 – Habitats
- Other Maps – Town of Washington
Task Force Members
- Mike Herzog, Chair
- Shannon George-Mawson, Village Board Liaison
- Tim Collopy
- Gen Glasson
- Peter Groffman
- Shannon LaDeau
- Eldar Shuminov
Arbor Day Celebration
Friday, April 25th at 10:00 am – Elm Drive Elementary playground
On Friday, April 25th at 10 am, there will be a tree planted by the Village of Millbrook to celebrate Arbor Day. The tree site is near the playground by Elm Drive Elementary School. The public is invited to join us.
