The town of Brighton is New York’s latest “Climate Smart Community.”
The certification was presented Thursday at Brighton Town Hall by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Town Supervisor Bill Moehle said the town has taken steps to cut energy consumption by 33 percent at town facilities over the last three years.
He said it makes sense for the planet and the taxpayers.
“Anything we can do to reduce energy consumption reduces expenditures,” said Moehle. “Brighton was voted the best place to live in New York state last year. And we think one of the important reasons for that is the work we do to make Brighton a sustainable community.”
Moehle said the town did environmentally friendly infrastructure work along Monroe Avenue, improved town facilities and windows to make them more energy-efficient, and converted streetlights to LEDs. They also installed a white roof on Town Hall, which helps keep buildings cooler in the summer and lowers energy use.
Brighton is the 22nd municipality in the state to earn the certification. In Monroe County, the city of Rochester is the only other community to reach this status.
According to the state DEC, Brockport, Pittsford and Irondequoit are working toward the same goals. More than 250 communities in the state have pledged to reduce their emissions.
