Green Renters’ Manual: Liberty Green Apartments 119 Fountain Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11208 Managed by Prestige Management Inc. Part of the Cypress Hills Verde! initiative by Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation Document created by the Pratt Center for Community Development ____ May 2011
This is a document I wrote and constructed in my work for the Pratt Center for Community Development and in partnership with Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation. It was intended to familiarize tenants of a new NYC housing development with green features of their building and to encourage them to live a sustainable life.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Green Renters’ Manual: Liberty Green Apartments119 Fountain Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11208
Managed by Prestige Management Inc.
Part of the Cypress Hills Verde! initiative by Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation
Document created by the Pratt Center for Community Development
____
May 2011
I. Building Overview pg. 1-4
•Goinggreen •Mybuilding’sgreenfeatures
II. Green Amenities in the Common Areas pg. 5-8
•Elevator •Lobby&mailroom •Communityroom •Recycling •Playground&garden •Laundry •Lighting III. Green Features in My Unit pg. 9-16
What’s special about this elevator?•Mostpeopleprobablydon’tthinkofenergy
consumption in an elevator, but elevators can
be large energy consumers. For instance, it
takes a lot of force to move several hundred
pounds straight up and down at a constant
rate.Elevatorsalsohavenolightswitches,
sothelightsarealwayson.Thiselevatorhas
beenengineeredtobeasefficientaspos-
sible while moving people and cargo between
floors.Allofthelightsintheelevatorare
LED,sotheyuseaslittleenergyandemitas
little heat as technology allows.
How can I save energy on the elevator?•Themostenergy-efficientelevatoristhe
unusedone.Elevatorsareintendedforuse
by the eldery or disabled and those bearing
heavy loads; if you are none of those, try tak-
ingthestairs.Stairsarelocatedattheendof
either hallway, and taking them saves energy
and boosts your personal health.
•Donotpressthe‘CloseDoor’buttonunless
youaretrulyinanurgentsituation.Thedoor
closes best on it’s own mechanism.
What if I have problems or questions?•Contactyoursuper.
Elevator
06
Green Am
enities
Lobby & Mailroom, Community Room
About my Community Room:Thecommunityroomhasaclimatecontrol
system that is optimized to provide clean,
temperature-regulated air and create a
healthy indoor environment.
How can I keep the community room green?
• Please do not touch the climate controls.
All climate controls are preset to maintain
a comfortable temperature in the most
efficient manner.
•Contact the super if you are not
comfortable with the temperature.
About my Lobby & Mailroom:Thoughthelobbyandmailroomaremore
passive spaces, care was taken to make them
as green as possible. As with the building’s
structure, materials were specially chosen to
make these spaces green.
What are the green materials?•Thewallsofthelobbyaresurfacedwith
Plyboo® wall panels, which are crafted from
bamboo.Thesepanelsarefreeofharmful
chemicals, and Bamboo is quickly grown, and
easily harvested.
•ThemailboxshelfismadeofIceStone®,
which is an award-winning material made
from100%recycledglassandcement.Itis
also manufactured in Brooklyn, which provides
local jobs.
•Likeallcommonareasofthebuilding,all
lightingfixturesinthelobby&mailroomare
outfittedwithLEDand/orCFLbulbs.
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About my playground & tenant garden:TheplaygroundandTenantGarden,runin
conjunctionwithEastNewYorkFarms!,have
numerousgreenbenefits.
•Theplaygroundsurfaceismadefromall
recycled materials, which preserves resources
while preventing waste.
•Soilallowsrainwaterreturntotheground-
water system instead of causing runoff and
overflowintothecity’salreadyoverburdened
pipes.Plantsabsorbandnaturallyfilterwater;
theyalsoemitoxygenandimproveairquality.
•Outdooractivity,asidefromrequiringnoen-
ergy consumption, promotes physical, mental
and emotional health.
About my recycling area:Eachfloorhousesa‘RefuseRoom’whereyou
can take all of your recycling and garbage
for disposal. Bagged and sealed garbage goes
down the chute with the silver door; a non-
disposables list is above on a red sign.
What can I recycle?•Officepaper,newspaper,andcleancard-board go in the container labeled ‘Paper’.
•Plasticbottleandjugs,glassbottles,cans,tin foil and other household metals go in the container with the clear blue bag.
What do I need to do to recycle?
•Allitemsshouldbecleanedpriortorecy-
cling; soup cans are recyclable, soup is not.
•Sharporbrokenobjectsshouldbewrapped
in cardboard or double-bagged and labeled.
Recycling,Playground&Garden
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About my laundry room:Your laundry room is equipped with high ef-
ficiency(HE)washingmachinesanddryers.
HEmachinesaredesignedtosaveenergyand
money when maintained and used correctly.
Thoroughinstructionsarepostedonthebul-
letin board, but here are a few reminders:
•HEwashersuselesswaterandneedlessde-
tergent. If using regular detergent, only use
halftherecommendedamount.SpecialHE
detergents are available at large retailers.
•Cleanlinttrapssaveenergyandensureyour
clothes dry more quickly.
•Washingclothesincoldwaterprevents
color-bleeding and saves heating energy.
•Airdryingsavesenergyandhelpsmaintain
fabrics like wool or athletic material.
About my building’s lighting:All lighting in the communal areas of the
buildingiseitherlightemittingdiode(LED)or
compactfluorescent(CFL).LEDs&CFLsuse
far less energy and last much longer than or-
dinarybulbs,whileemittingpurerlight!LEDs
&CFLsevensaveoncoolingbillsbecause
they create so little heat.
•Halllightsaresettoconserveenergy.When
unoccupied, hallways are lit only along one
side. Motion sensors (shown to the bottom
left) detect movement to light the halls when
in use; outdoor and stairwell lights also oper-
ate on a sensor system to eliminate energy
waste. If a sensor is defective, please inform
the super.
Laundry, Lighting
Green Am
enities
III. Green Features in My Unit
09
Gre
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in M
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Appliances:Oven&RangeHoodAbout my oven & rangehood:•OvenMake:GeneralElectric
•OvenModel:JGBP27DEM
•HoodMake:Broan
What’s special about this oven & hood?Gas ranges like yours are far more energy ef-
ficientthanelectricones.Thismodel’ssolid
surface and simplicty of materials also makes
iteasiertoclean.Therangehoodhasbeen
certifiedbytheHomeVentilationInstitute,
HVI®,forexcellentperformance.
How do I take proper care of it?•Keeptheovendoorclosedwhileitisinuse;
opening a hot oven releases a lot of heat and
reduces the oven temperature by upwards of
20 degrees.
•Makesuregasheadsremainclean;spilled
foods could clog holes and create ignition
problems. Heads should only be cleaned when
the stove top is off and cool.
•Cleanheadsandtheovenorhoodsurfaces
with dish soap and a cloth or sponge. Foods,
especially those high in acidity, are best re-
moved promptly; they could damage the oven
surface if left on too long.
What if I have problems or questions?•Checktheowner’smanual,whichshouldbe
in your kitchen.
•Checkthemanufacturers’websitesformore
information:www.ge.com&www.nutone.com
•Contactyoursuper.
10
About my refrigerator:•Make:GeneralElectric
•Model:GTH18IBXCRWW
What’s special about this refrigerator?•Anordinaryrefrigeratorcanusemoreen-
ergy than any other appliance in your home.
Thisparticularmodelhasbeenverifiedfor
energyperformacebyCSAInternational.This
means it saves energy and money through
betterinsulation,anefficientmotorand
more precise temperature control.
How do I take proper care of it?•Keepthetempereatureinyourrefrigerator
between35and38ºF.Keepyourfreezerat
precisely0ºF.Thiswillsavethemostenergy
and best preserve your foods.
•Minimizethetimethedoorisopen,and
makesurethedoorisfirmlyclosedwhennot
in use.
•Cleansurfaceswithmild,non-abrasive
cleanersuchasClorox®GreenWorks,Simple
Green®,orMrs.Meyer’sCleanDay®.These
cleaners are readily available at most retail-
ers.
What if I have problems or questions?•Checktheowner’smanual,whichshouldbe
in your kitchen.
•Checkthemanufacturer’swebsiteformore
information: www.ge.com
•Contactyoursuper.
Appliances: Refrigerator
Green Features in M
y Unit
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About my water fixtures:Your faucets, both in your kitchen and bath-
room,andshowerheadarealloutfittedwith
Moen‘lowflow’heads,meaningthatthey
have been engineered to use less water while
performing to the same standard as any other
faucet.Yourtoiletisalsowater-efficient,
usingonlyonegallonperflush.Usinglow
flowfixturesisanextremelyhelpful,every-
daywaytohelpconservethelessthan1%of
the world’s water that all of humanity has to
share.
How do I take proper care of them?•Careisjustlikeanyotherfaucet.Using
naturalcleanersfromClorox®GreenWorks,
SeventhGeneration®orMrs.Meyer’sClean
Day® keeps harmful chemicals out of the
watersupplyandreducesstrainonfiltration
systems.Thesecleanersarereadilyavailable
at most retailers.
How else can I save water?•Turnthewateroffwhilebrushingyour
teeth, and don’t leave running water unat-
tended.
•Whileitdoesnotsavewater,washingdishes
or showering at night helps reduce strain on
local water systems since peak demand gen-
erally occurs during the day.
•Drinktapwater.Morewatergoesintothe
production of a bottle of water than the
bottle itself contains.
What if I have problems or questions?•Contactyoursuper.
Fixtures:Faucets,Showerhead&Toilet
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Green Features in M
y Unit
Fixtures: HeatingAbout my heating system:•Bydefinition,heatingsystemsuseenergy
to maintain your indoor environment at a
comfortablelevel.Typically,sixtypercentof
residential energy use is devoted to heating
andcooling,whichmeansthatefficient
systems and proper use can save a lot of
energy and money. Banded heating systems
likeyoursaremoreefficientthanmany
systems because they release heat low to the
ground and over a long area, thus supporting
an easy-to-monitor environment that is
created in large part by natural heat transfer
instead of pushing air around with motorized
fans.
How can I help my system work?•Keepthetemperaturesteadyaround
68to75ºF.Thismiddle-rangetakesless
energy to achieve and maintain while keeping
you warm and comfortable in cold weather.
•Minimizethetimetherefrigeratoror
freezer door is open; the introduction of cold
air can put undue strain on your system.
•Don’topenyourwindows.Ifyouaretoo
warm, simply lower your thermoset a few
degrees. Opening your windows allows heated
air to escape without passing through the
heat recovery ventilator and makes your
system work harder.
•Keepfurnitureandotheritemsclearof
vents,astheywillhinderairflow.Keepyour
vents clean with a duster or damp rag.
What if I have problems or questions?•Contactyoursuper.
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Fixtures:AirConditioning
Gre
en F
eatu
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in M
y U
nit About air conditioning systems:
•Bydefinition,airconditioninguses
energy to pull in atmospheric air, lower its
temperature and disperse it through your
home in order to maintain your indoor
environmentatacomfortablelevel.While
this function is not necessarily green, it is
necessary. Proper use, especially in relation
to other features of your apartment, can
maximizeyoursystem’sefficiencyand
minimize unnecessary energy loss.
How can I help my system work?•Onlyyoursupercanproperlysizeand
install a window air conditioning unit. If you
desireawindowunit,contacthimfirst. An
inappropriately sized or installed unit will
waste energy and fail to meet your needs.
•Keepthetemperaturesteadyataround
73to79ºF.Thismiddle-rangetakesless
energy to achieve and maintain while keeping
you comfortable in warm weather.
•Minimizethetimetheovendoorisopen;
the introduction of very hot air into your
apartment can put undue strain on
your system.
•Don’topenyourwindowswhiletheair
conditionerisrunning.Thesealaroundyour
windows ensures stability of your indoor
environment, and introducing so much
unconditioned air will make your system
incapable of doing its job.
What if I have problems or questions?•Contactyoursuper.
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Fixtures: Lighting
Green Features in M
y Unit
What’s different about my lights?Allofthelightingfixturesinyourapartment
areoutfittedwithcompactfluorescent
lightbulbs. CFLs use far less energy and last
around ten times longer than ordinary bulbs,
while emitting purer light. CFLs even save on
cooling bills, as they create so little heat.
How can I save more energy through lighting?•Don’tlightanemptyroomoranempty
apartment.Turnlightsoffasyouleavea
room or your apartment.
•Whenpossible,duringdaylighthours,save
energy by leaving overhead lights off and
using natural light.
•Whenreplacingbulbs,usetherightbulbfor
thefixture;compatibilitymeansefficiency.
What if I have problems or questions?•Ifalightbulbburnsout,checkforthe
model number at the base of the bulb. Home
improvement stores, like Lowes or Home
Depot, should carry the bulb, but you can
search the company’s website before making
a trip.
•Don’ttrytoreplaceburntoutbulbswitha
standardlightbulb.Yourfixturesaredesigned
forusewithspecificbulbtypesandmay
not function properly if other types are
substitued.
•Whenrecyclinganoldbulb,wrapitinpaper
or shopping bags to ensure workers’ safety.
•Ifyouhavetroublelocatingthebulb’smodel
number, contact your super.
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Finishes:WindowsAbout my windows:•Windowsaffectenergyconsumptiondirectly
and indirectly. All windows let in outdoor
light, which reduces need for electric light-
ing.Somewindowswasteenergybytransfer-
ring heat into or out of the indoor environ-
ment, but your custom-made windows are
double-paned and insulated with Argon gas to
minimizeheatexchangeandcutenergycosts.
How can my windows save energy?•Thetightsealaroundyourwindowsensures
stability of your indoor environment, which
helps your heating and air conditioning sys-
temexpendlessenergy.
•TheArgoninsulationminimizesheatex-
change with the outdoors, making sure you
stay cool when it’s hot outside and vice versa.
•Duringtheday,yourwindowscanreplace
overhead lights. If it’s too bright, adjust the
curtains or blinds before turning on a light.
How do I care for my windows?•Cleaningyourwindowswithnaturalclean-
ers keeps chemicals out of the air and your
lungs.Clorox®GreenWorks,SeventhGen-
eration® and Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®, are
natural cleaners available at many retailers
and large stores like Home Depot or Lowes.
•Windowcleanercanbemadefrom4table-
spoons of lemon juice to 1 gallon of water.
Coffeefiltersarecompostableandmakegood
window wipes.
What if I have problems or questions?•Contactyoursuper.
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How can walls and floors be green; they’re just walls and floors, right?•Wallsandfloorsdonotactivelyexpend
energy, but a lot of energy and resources can
go in to their production. Additionally, some
finishescanemitharmfulchemicalsintoyour
home.
•Yourfloorshavethestrengthandlookof
wood but are made of something much more
sustainable: bamboo. It takes decades for a
single tree to reach a harvestable size, but
a single stem of bamboo, a grass, can grow
over ten feet in one year. Bamboo also mul-
tiplies readily, regenerates rapidly, and can
thrive on few resources.
•Yourtilesarecompositesofrecycledma-
terials; they are made largely from recycled
materials and required few new resources.
•Yourwallpaintwasformulatedtoemit
fewer VOCs than most wall paints. Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted from
certain products such as paints or cleaners.
VOCs in high quantities can be damaging to
health and the environment. VOC-free paints
are available at most supply stores, should
you need touch-ups or repainting.
How do I take proper care of it?•Finishesonbamboofloorscanbedelicate;
most large supply stores should have a clean-
ertopreserveyourfloor’sfinish.Cleantiles
withmildcleanerslikeSeventhGeneration®
orMrs.Meyer’sCleanDay®.Thesecleaners
are available at many retailers. Duane Reed
also carries a green cleaning line, Apt. 5®.
Finishes:Walls,Flooring
Green Features in M
y Unit
East New York Farms!
Farmers Markets:Our two community-run farmers markets make fresh food available and affordable, while building our local economy and creating places for neighbors for meet and greet.TheEastNewYorkFarmersMarketisacommunity-runmarketincluding23localgardeners,3regionalfarmers,and11localvendors.Togetherweserveover14,000.Since1998wehave been providing fresh produce, homemade and crafts and a safe public space for fami-liesinEastNewYork,Brooklyn.OurmarketistheonlyplaceinEastNewYorktofindlocaland organic produce and Caribbean speciality crops like karela, bora, and callaloo.*Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons (FMNP), EBT/Food Stamps and cash are accepted.
East NYC- Community Supported Agriculture:TheEastNewYorkCommunitySupportedAgriculture,amixed-incomeCSA,providesanaf-fordable alternative to standard grocery shopping. Our member-run program works to make healthy,fresh,organicfoodaccessibletoeveryoneinthecommunity.BypurchasingaCSAshare, a family can get a bag of fresh, organic produce at only $10 a week. In the grocery store,thiswouldcostabout$20eachweek!Evendeeperdiscountsareprovidedforlower-incomefamiliesandpurchasesmadewithFoodStamps.
CommunitySupportedAgricultureprogramsarefoundthroughoutNewYorkCity.ThroughCSAs,peopleareabletopurchasefreshvegetablesandfruitsdirectlyfromlocalfarms.Thismeans that all of our money goes directly to the farmers, which helps to support our local economy.TheEastNewYorkCSAworkstoencourageahealthyandaffordablefoodcom-munitythateveryonecanenjoy.ByensuringtheavailabilityofthefreshestproduceinEastNew York for people of all income levels, we are working to increase food security in the community by providing universal access to healthy food.
Pick up Point:Wednesdays,June22-November23,5pmto7:30pmat862GlenmoreAve.(@Montauk)*EBT accepted & price subsidized by NYCCAH.
Information contact: Nuala or Yakima at Cypress Hills LDC, ph: 718.235.1013 http://eastnycsa.wordpress.com/
Urban Agriculture: Wegrowfoodforourcommunityandprovidesupporttohelpothersdothesame.Weman-age two urban farms (the UCC Youth Farm and Hands and Heart Garden) and work with an ever-growingnetworkofoverfiftygardenersrepresentingoveradozencommunityandbackyardgardensthroughoutEastNewYork.
Contact: http://www.eastnewyorkfarms.org/
Youth Internship: Over 20 young people participate in our Internship Program every year. In this intensive 9-month program, young people engage in hands-on learning around environment, health, community development, leadership and social justice.
Contact: http://www.eastnewyorkfarms.org/
United Community Centers
United Community Center is a community-based organization that provides services and sup-portforresidentsofEastNewYork,Brooklyn.Forover50years,we’vehelpedfostersocialchange, worked with neighbors to address community concerns, and provided services to helpmakeEastNewYorkabetter,healthierplacetolive.
Contact: 613 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207 ph: 718.649.7979 http://www.ucceny.org/
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LocalResources:Parks&Recreation Highland Park
Conveniently located on a high plateau that straddles Queens and Brooklyn, Highland Park of-fers stunning views of surrounding neighborhoods, the ocean, and nearby cemeteries.Acquired in pieces over time, the park took its present shape between 1906 and 1908, quickly became a popular spot among residents of both boroughs, and continues to play an important role in the community. Children's farm gardens act as hands-on classrooms, barbecue areas serveasmeetinggroundsformasscelebrations,andnumeroustenniscourts,baseballfields,handball courts, and basketball courts provide New Yorkers with safe, clean spots for athletic recreation.
ThisistheoldestChildren’sGardeninthecountry.Membershipisrequired,andCypressHillsVerde has a plot for growing food!
Contact: Nuala or Yakima at Cypress Hills LDC, 718.235.1013http://ridgewoodreservoir.blogspot.com/2009/06/highland-park-childrens-garden.html
YMCA- North Brooklyn Branch
TheYMCAofGreaterNewYorkisacommunityserviceorganizationwhichpromotespositivevalues through programs that build spirit, mind and body, welcoming all people, with a focus on youth. All YMCA programs teach the core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsi-bility and continue our 158-year tradition of emphasis upon youth, health and wellness, adult education,andcommunitycollaborationandproblemsolving.TheYMCAofGreaterNewYorkgives young people a place to come after school for safe, productive activities that encour-age and support academic performance, help to build their self-esteem and develop healthy lifestyles. Among the hundreds of programs offered by the YMCA of Greater New York are a variety of youth programs, including child care, day care and after-school care programs; swimming,sportsleagues;instructionalclasses;eveningTeenCenters;counselingandhealthawareness; life/social skills; mentoring; leadership training and development; service learn-ing; computer training; college/career preparation; day camps and sleep-away camps.
Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDCCypress Hills Local Development Corporationwww.cypresshills.org
TheCypressHillsLocalDevelopmentCorporation(CHLDC)wasformedinMay1983byagroupofactivistresidentsandmerchants.CHLDCisanot-for-profitcommunityorganization,serving 8,000 residents a year through a comprehensive array of community service programs and neighborhood development projects.
Career and Educational Development ProgramsAdministrativeOffice,DivisionDirector:LowellHerschberger
College Success ProgramsCollegeSTEPShelpslocalyoungpeopleeachyeartoapplytoandentercollege.Weprovideindividualcounselingtoassistwiththeadmissionsandfinancialaidprocess,workshops,andcollegetrips.TheStudentSuccessCenter,locatedontheFranklinK.Lanecampus,offersthe same services on site to students on the campus.
•YouthLEAD: YouthLEADprovidesGEDinstructionandemploymentservicesforyoungpeople,ages16-24who are not in school or working. Contact:2836FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY,11207ph:718.235.8837
Community DevelopmentTheCommunityDevelopmentDivisiondevelopsandmaintainsaffordablehousingandcom-munity facilities to stabilize the neighborhood through construction and renovation of dis-tressed or underutilized properties.
Current Projects:•CypressHillsCommunitySchoolPermanentFacilityproject:Substantialrenovationofa52,000squarefootformerindustrialfacilityintothe400-seatpermanenthomeofCHCS,acommunity-foundedalternativepublicschool.Thebuildingisnow completed.
•Renovation and maintenance of multifamily affordable rental housing: Wehavecreatedandcurrentlymaintainapproximately200affordablerentalapartmentsinCypressHillsandEastNewYorkwith300additionalunitsindevelopment.
•Vacant land development: Weareworkingtoconstructaffordablehousingonvacantlandparcelsinourneighborhood.
•Homeownership Opportunities: Thereareaffordablehomesforsale,somewithreducedprices.WearetakingapplicationsfortheGlenmoreGroveCondos,whichwillbeplacedonawaitinglist.Specialpreferenceforresidents of Brooklyn Community Board 5, and households with persons having mobility, visual or hearing impairments.
•Cypress Hills Verde: CHLDC has launched a new, holistic community development initiative called Cypress Hills Verde!ThegoalofVerdeistomakethecommunityagreener,healthier,moresustainableplacetoliveforallofitsresidents.Weenvisionalivablecommunitywithpermanentlyaf-fordablehousing,energyefficienthomes,businesses,andchurches,safeandefficienttrans-portation, access to nutritious, affordable food, and pathways to sustainable, living wage jobs.
Cypress Hills Child Care CorporationA wholly-owned subsidiary of the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation3295FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NewYork11208ph:718.235.3949Director: Maria Contreras-Collier
•Cypress Hills Family Day Care Network: Wetrainandsupportneighborhoodresidentstoopenfamilydaycarebusinessesintheirhomesandreferparentstochildcareservices.TheNetworkadministerstheChildandAdultCare Food Program, which provides family day care providers with subsidies to serve nutri-tious meals to low income children.
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Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDCCypress Hills Child Care Corporation, continued•Head Start Program: Full day child care and comprehensive education, health, parental involvement services to low-income families in Cypress Hills.
•Cypress Hills Child Care Center: FulldaycareforfamiliesandUniversalPre-Kfor4yearolds;admissionsandfeessetbytheNYC Agency for Child Development, based on income, family size and other criteria.
•Financial Literacy Classes for Women: Educationandsupportinbudgeting,savings,creditrepairandotherfinancialtopics.
Cypress Hills Collegiate PrepCypress Hills Local Development Corporation led a planning team of teachers, residents, parents, and CHLDC to staff to create Cypress Hills Collegiate Prep, an alternative public high school, which opened in 2006.
•Theschoolincludesthreedistinctiveelements:LatinAmericanandCaribbeanstudies,com-munity service, and college preparation.
•CypressHillsCollegiatePrepoffersstudentsanintellectuallychallengingcurriculumandsmall classes that emphasize developing college level writing and analytical skills. Our belief is that every student can succeed, and will leave high school ready for college.
•Weuseaninquiry-basedcurriculum,whichencouragesstudentstoformulatequestionsbasedontheirowninterests,identifyresourcestoexploretheirquestions,andtotakeown-ership over their education and their future.
•WehaveapartnershipwithSarahLawrenceCollege.AprivateliberalartscollegeinWest-chesterCounty,NY,SarahLawrenceisknownforitsseminarstyleofteachingandstrongemphasis on writing
•Homeownership Counseling: As part of the New York Mortgage Coalition, we connect prospective home buyers with ten banks dedicated to increasing minority and low income homeownership and help buyers understand mortgage products and credit reports and obtain affordable mortgage products, closing costs and down payment assistance grants.
•First Time Homebuyers Workshops:Werunafree,fourpartworkshopseriesteachingsmarthomebuyingpractices--qualifyingfor a mortgage, savings and budgeting for homeownership, legal aspects of homebuying, in-spection of the house prior to purchase and much more. Click here to register for the upcom-ing seminar.
•Foreclosure Prevention Counseling: Help for homeowners falling behind on mortgage payments to negotiate repayment agree-ments, clear up debt and avoid foreclosure.
•New York City Fire Department, Engine 252 EmergencyPhone:911 Address: 617 Central Avenue Non-emergency ph: 718.965.8252
Police
1. New York City Police Department, Brooklyn 75th Precinct EmergencyPhone:911 Address:1000SutterAvenue Non-emergencyph:718.827.3511
2. New York City Police Department, Police Service Area #2 PoliceServiceArea:718.922.8001 Community Affairs: 718.922.8003 Domestic Violence: 718.922.8019 or 718.922.8020 AuxiliaryCoordinator:718.922.3912 Website:http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/housing_bureau/psa2.shtml Address:560SutterAvenue
Post Office
1. United States Post Office, Cypress Hills Address:222CrescentStreet ph:718.277.6057
2. United States Post Office, Ozone Park Annex Address:7802LibertyAvenue,Suite1 ph:718.843.6776
3. United States Post Office, New Lots Address:1223SutterAvenue ph:718.277.0217
4. United States Post Office, East New York Address: 2645 Atlantic Avenue ph: 718.498.3453
Hospital or Medical Center
1. Preferred Health Partners, Lindenwood Center Website:http://www.brooklyndocs.com/location_lindenwood_center.htm Address: 2832 Linden Boulevard ph: 718.240.2000
2. Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center Website:http://brookdalehospital.org/index.php Address: 2554 Linden Boulevard ph: 718.240.5000
•Poison Control Website:http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/poison/poison.shtml Phone: 212.764.7667 or 1.800.222.1222
Local Resources: Transit,Government&HealthServicesMap
*TheschoolsshownonthismaparethosewithinNewYorkCityPublicSchoolDistrict19thatarelocated closest to Liberty Green Apartments. For further information and a complete list of District 19Schools,pleasevisitwww.schools.nyc.gov
Green Product Retailers• Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® Products: From: www.mrsmeyers.com:
“Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day is an eco-friendly line of aromatherapeutic household cleaners and laundry care that combines hardworking, naturally derived ingredients and essential
oils that are tough on dirt, yet gentle on your home and earth. Inspired by Mrs. Thelma A. Meyer’s own garden, our products clean your entire home from top to bottom in a variety of garden-fresh scents... All the products are eco-friendly and environmentally safe. Packaged in recyclable bottles, products are biodegradable, don’t include ammonia, chlorine bleach,
parabens or phosphates, and are not tested on animals.”
Products are avaialable at these nearby stores: - Bed Bath & Beyond Address: 519 Gateway Dr. ph: 718.235.2049 - Target Address: 519 Gateway Dr. ph: 718.235.6032 - Waldbaums Address: 83-25 153rd Ave. ph: 718.843.5585 - Pathmark Address: 92-10 Atlantic Ave. ph: 718.835.7903
• Clorox Green Works® Products: From www.greenworkscleaners.com:
“Meet Green Works®, a line of naturally derived cleaning products brought to you by the people who invented clean: Clorox. Now you can enjoy the best of both worlds — extraordi-
nary cleaning power without harsh chemical fumes or residue.”
Products are avaialable at these nearby stores: - Target Address: 519 Gateway Dr. ph: 718.235.6032 - Waldbaums Address: 83-25 153rd Ave. ph: 718.843.5585 - Pathmark Address: 92-10 Atlantic Ave. ph: 718.835.7903 - Rite Aid Pharmacy Address: 1242 Liberty Ave. ph: 718.235.7041 - Rite Aid Pharmacy Address: 7814 Linden Blvd. ph: 718.296.2581
* Check for these products and other natural cleaners at smaller retailers too!
Local Resources: SeniorCenter,Libraries&GreenRetailersMap
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Online&PhoneResources
Gre
en R
esou
rces
•Dial:311 311 is a government informational service that can give you information on recycling, among a multitude of other community services
•www.earthlab.com Learn ways to save energy and live sustainably
•www.business.earth911.org Find out where and how to recycle almost anything
• www.epa.gov Access government resources, statistics and educational materials
•www.prattcenter.net Learn about local actions, organizations and how you can get involved
•www.nyc.gov/greenyc Get fun facts and tips on how to live a green lifestyle in NYC
•www.mta.info Gain access to public and mass transit information, routes, schedules and fares
•www.nyc.gov/wasteless Learn more about New York City’s recycling systems and options
•www.madeinnyc.org Learn about local products, services and the people who provide them
•www.studiombk.com/StudioMBK/Links.html Link to resources ranging from energy conservation, to food, to living green
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Bibliography“HOMEOWNER’S MANUAL:The What and Why of How We Build and How to Take Care of
It” www.habitatnyc.org. New York City Habitat for Humanity, n.d. Web. 03 March 2011.
“Illinois Department of Public Health Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality” www.idph.state.
il.us. Illinois Department of Public Health, n.d. Web. 20 April 2011.
“New York City Department of Education School Search” www.schools.nyc.gov/school-
search. New York City Department of Education, n.d. Web. 30 May 2011.
All photos by Jonathan Warner, Pratt Center for Community Development, or Michelle