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

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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

•Appliances: •Oven&rangehood •Refrigerator •Fixtures: •Faucets,showerhead&toilet •Heating •Airconditioner •Lighting •Finishes: •Windows •Walls&flooring

IV. Green Resources pg. 17-31

•Localresources: •Food,communitycenter •Parks&recreation •CypressHillsLocalDevelopmentCorporation •Localresourcemaps: •Transit,emergency&medicalservices,postoffices •PublicSchools •Seniorcenter,libraries,greenretailers •Online&phoneresources

V. Bibliography pg. 32

Index

I. Building Overview

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‘Going Green’‘Going green’ is a phrase with many different interpretations. Commitment to going green

can be shown by peoples’ decisions to recycle and compost their personal waste, or eat local

foods,orlimittheiruseofnon-renewableresources.Theseactionsarealldifferentbuteach

one makes progress toward the same goal. ‘Going green’ is not any one action but an overall

lifestyle decision; it is a commitment to actively care for the health of the planet on which

we all so heavily depend, and in doing so to further your own welfare and that of future gen-

erations.

Cypress Hills Local Develoment Corporation (CHLDC), the developer of this building, has a

commitment to being ‘green’ and mindful about the environment throughout their opera-

tions,andthisbuildingisnoexception.CHLDChasputforththeutmosteffortinreducing

costs and keeping this building afforadble for tenants, all the while improving indoor and

outdoor air quality and protecting the environment.

Theseeffortsandthecontinuedcommitmenttoqualitylivingandenvironmentalsupport

invested in this building are part of an organizational commitment, the Cypress Hills Verde!

initiative.TheVerde!initiativeistheembodimentofavisionofalivablecommunitywith

permanentlyaffordablehousing,energyefficienthomes,safeandefficienttransportation,

access to nutritious, affordable food, and pathways to sustainable, living wage jobs.

Buildings, in particular, are responsible for a lot of NYC’s negative environmental impact, but

this building and others in the Verde! initiative are hoping to reduce that impact by joining

with residents in an effort to preserve the building, keep its systems running smoothly, and

promote a healthy environment for all of us, our friends, our neighbors, and the planet.

Thismanualisaboutthebuilding,butasyouincreaseawarenessabouthowyourchoices

about a healthy building relate to your own personal health and that of your neighborhood

and environment you may start to realize there is much more you can do to ‘go green’ inreal-

tiontofood,activity,communityinvolvementandsomanyotherthings.That’swhywealso

included a resource section in the back that can take you where this book stops!

02

About my building:A building can be considered ‘green’ by the choice

ofconstructionmaterialsused,theefficiencyof

the energy systems implemented, and the life-

style the building promotes.

Your building incorporates all three approaches,

though they may not be readily apparent as you

goaboutyourdailylife.Thisoverviewhighlights

the green features of which you might have en-

joyedthebenefitswithouteverknowingoftheir

existence.

Materials:Thereisawidevarietyofgreenmaterialsavail-

able including those that have been or can be

recycled, locally sourced materials that have

minimal transportation impacts, natural or simple

materials that require few resources and little

energy for processing, and renewable materials

that can be easily replaced without environmental

harm.

Your building uses high quality materials that en-

hance the functionality of the energy systems and

tightly secure the building’s envelope, which is

the physical separation of the indoor and outdoor

environment. A secure building envelope ensures

that energy spent to establish your indoor envi-

ronmentstaysinyourbuilding.Thesematerials

include:

Roofing:

•Averageof6”-thickrigidinsulation(avg.R-37);

awell-insulatedroofpreventsheatexchangte

with outside air, which saves energy and ensures a

comfortable building temperature year round.

Building Overview

My Building’s Green Features

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My Building’s Green FeaturesRoofing continued:

•High-emissivetoplayer;thelightcolorofthe

roofreflectslightwhichkeepsthebuildingand

its surroundings cooler, reducing cooling costs

in hot weather.

Walls & Insulation:

•21/8”-thickXPSfoaminsulationinbuilding

walls(R-17.5);thisinsulationexceedsNYC

standards to reduce your energy bills without

reducing yourcomfort.

•2”-thickrigidinsulationonallfoundation

wallsandflooredgewalls(R-13);thisinsula-

tion reduces the loss of heat through the foun-

dationsandtheadjacentflooredges.

Windows:

•Custom,Argon-filled,low-Ealuminumwin-

dows(U-0.37);Argonfillingbetweenpanes

actsasinsulationtominimizeheatexchange

between the indoors and out. Custom, remov-

able panels avoid the need for A/C sleeves,

which let heat escape in the winter.

Energy Systems:

Energysystems,whichprovidebuildingswith

heat, cooling and water, are the largest op-

portunities for a building to save or squander

energy.Traditionalsystemshavereliedoncoal

or oil burning that produces harmful chemicals

and depletes non-renewable resources, the

harvesting of which has also proven to be envi-

ronmentally devastating. By-product minimiza-

tion and resource distribution were secondary

to production, but new systems have shifted

focus to equally focus on all three. New sys-

tems rely on cleaner energy sources and focus

ontheefficientdistributionand,when

04

My Building’s Green Features

Appliances

possible,recaptureofresources.Thesemea-

sures reduce initial environmental impact and

continue to save resources, energy and money

throughefficientoperation.

Your building implements cutting edge, high

efficiencysystemstomaximizefunctional-

itywhileminimizingenergyexpenditureand

waste.Thesesystemsinclude:

Heat & Water:

•LAARSRheosmodulating“smart”hydronic

heatingboilerhasanefficiencylevelof87%,

meaningitissignificantlymoreenergyeffi-

cient than standard boilers.

•TURBOMAXhigh-efficiencyhotwaterheaters

•Variablefrequencydrivepumpsdeliverheat

only when called for, preventing energy waste.

Air:

•Ventilationandexhaustsystemsaredesigned

to assure indoor air quality while reducing

buildingheatloss.Specialattentionispaidto

correctly sealing all duct joints.

•AHeatRecoveryVentilator,ontheroof,

capturesheatfromexhaustedairtowarmair

coming in to the building. (photo bottom right)

Lifestyle Choices:Thebuiltenvironmentimpactsthelifestyle

choiceswemake,whichwhichcansignificantly

impact the environment.

The rest of this manual outlines building and

unit features that enable you, through their

proper use, to make conscious decisions to live

green on a daily basis.

II. Green Amenitiesin the Common Areas

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s About my Elevator:•Make:Kone

•Model:Ecospace

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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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•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.

Where & When:Saturdays,June-November,9pm-3pm@SchenckAve.betweenNewLotsandLivoniaAves.Wednesdays,July-October,3:30pm-6:30pm@NewLotsAve.betweenAlabamaandGeorgiaAves.

Contact: http://www.eastnewyorkfarms.org/

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/

Membership contact:NewYorkCityCoalitionAgainstHunger,ph:212.825.0028ext.210 oremaileastnycsa@gmail.com

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Local Resources: Food

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Local Resources: Food, Community Center

Green Resources

East New York Farms!

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.

Contact: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/highlandpark

Highland Park Children’s Gardens

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.

Address: 570JamaicaAvenueBrooklyn,NY11208

Contact:phone718.277.1600or718.277.1601;fax718.277.2081 http://www.ymcanyc.org/north-brooklyn/north-brooklyn-home/

Hours:Monday-Sunday,5am-12Midnight

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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

Contact:625JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.2800

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

•Youth Build: OffersGEDinstructionandjobtrainingandexperienceinconstructionforyoungadults.Par-ticipantsgainexperience,whileworkingonCHLDC’saffordablehousingprojects.Contact:832JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.277.3600

•Cypress Hills Employment Solutions: EmploymentplacementservicesforadultsinCypressHills.Contact:2836FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY11207ph:718.235.8837

•Adult Education: CypressHillsoffersfreeEnglishasaSecondLanguageclasses.Contact: 528 Ridgewood Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.235.1028.

Contact: CollegeSTEPS:2810FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY,11207ph:718.484.8531StudentSuccessCenter:999JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:647.2100ext.8705

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.

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Community Development, continued

•Cypress Hills Homeownership Initiative Project (CHHIP): Acquisition,rehabilitationandsalesofformerlyvacant1-4familyhomestolowincome,firsttimehomebuyers.ClickhereforinformationbothinEnglishandSpanish.

•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.

Contact:625JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.2800

Community OrganizingTheCommunityOrganizingDivisionbringslocalresidentstogethertoadvocateforpositivechange in their community.

•Cypress Hills Advocates for Education: Parents and residents who work to improve local public schools.

•Future of Tomorrow: Young people who organize to improve local high schools.

Contact:3214FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.8100

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.

Contact:108PineStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.5005

•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

Contact:999JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11416ph:718.647.1672*LocatedontheFKLaneCampus,notinsideFKLane

Cypress Hills Community School (PS 89)Co-Directors:IreneGreeneandMariaJaya-Vega

CypressHillsLocalDevelopmentCorporationco-foundedtheCypressHillsCommunitySchool

in1997withtheNYCBoardofEducationandagroupofactivistparents.Theschoolwas

openedthedoorstoitsnewlybuiltpermanentlocationonthecornerofWarwick&Atlantic

onSeptember10,2010,aftermanyyearsofbeinghousedinsideanintermediateschooland

portableclassrooms,andnowservesstudentsingradesK-8.

•Duallanguagecurriculum:AllstudentslearntheirsubjectsinbothEnglishandSpanish.

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Cypress Hills Community School (PS 89), continued•ParentGovernance:Parentsareactivelyinvolvedinalllevelsofdecision-makingatthe

school, and the school is led by parent and teacher co-directors.

•Ourschoolhassmallclasssize,withnomorethan18-20studentsperclassroom,sothatall

students receive individual attention from teachers.

•CHLDCsponsorsanafterschoolprogramintheschoolservingitsstudents

Contact:265WarwickStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.964.1180

Economic Development•Access to Public Benefits:

OurstaffassistsresidentstouseEarnBenefits,acomputerizedscreeningtoolwhichhelpsde-

termineeligibilityforpublicbenefitssuchasFoodStampsandtheEarnedIncomeTaxCredit.

Wealsoprovidefreetaxprepassistancetolow-incomefamilies.

•Small Business Support:

Weprovidetechnicalassistancetolocalmerchants,andorganizeamerchantsassociation.

Contact:2832FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY11207ph:718.647.8477

Housing CounselingDivision Director: Rene ArlainContact:3214FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.8100

•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.

•Home Repair Loans:

Wepackagelowinterestratehomerepairloansandgrantapplicationstoweatherizehomes.

Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDC

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Youth and Family ServicesDivision Director: Rob AbbotContact:625JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.2800

•School Aged Child Care:Weprovidehighquality,funafterschoolprogramsto625childreninseveralpublicschools:PS7,PS65,PS89,IS171,andIS302.Wealsoprovidesummercamps.

Contact:DirectorofYouthandFamilyServices,625JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.2800

•Beacon:

TheBeaconisaschool-basedcommunitycenterwhichprovidesadulteducation,including

GED,afterschoolandsummerprograms,andrecreation,healthandfitnessforyouthand

adults. Click here for the Fitness Room brochure information.

Contact:IS302,350LinwoodStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.277.3522

•Beacon Family Place:

TheBeaconFamilyPlaceprovidesfamilycounseling.

Contact:IS302,350LinwoodStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.277.9593

Youth and Family Services, continued•CypressHillsCommunityLearningCenteratIS171:

Offersadulteducation,includingESL,andafterschoolandsummerprograms.

Contact:IS171,528RidgewoodAve,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.715.8602.

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Local Resources: Transit,Government&HealthServicesMap

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Green Resources

Fire Department

•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

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Local Resources: PublicSchoolsMap

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Green Resources

Elementary Schools

•P.S. 065 Grades:K,1-5,SE Address: 696JamaicaAve. ph:718.235.2223

•P.S. 108: Sal Abbracciamento Grades: K, 1-5, SE Address: 200LinwoodSt. ph:718.277.7010

•P.S. 158: Warkwick Grades: PK, K, 1-5, SE Address: 200LinwoodSt. ph:718.277.6116

•P.S. 214: Michael Friedsam Grades: PK, K, 1-5, SE Address: 2944 Pitkin Ave. ph: 718.647.1740

•P.S. 345: Patrolman Robert Bolden Grades: PK, K, 1-5, SE Address: 111BerrimanSt. ph:718.647.8387

Intermediate & Middle Schools

•P.S. 089: Cypress Hills Grades:PK,K,1-8,SE Address: 265WarwickSt. ph:718.277.5044

•J.H.S. 166: George Gershwin Grades:6-8,SE Address: 800VanSiclenAve. ph:718.649.0765

•I.S. 171: Abraham Lincoln Grades:5-8,SE Address: 528 Ridgewood Ave. ph: 718.647.0111

•J.H.S. 218: James P. Sinnott Grades:6-8,SE Address: 370 Fountain Ave. ph: 718.277.5044

•J.H.S. 302: Rafael Cordaro Grades:6-8,SE Address: 350LinwoodSt. ph:718.647.9500

High Schools

•P.S.420:Franklin K. Lane High School Grades:9-12,SE Address:999JamaicaAve. ph:718.647.2100

•P.S.510:World Academy for Total Community Health High School Grades:9-12,SE Address:400PennsylvaniaAve. ph:718.922.0650

•P.S.615:Transit Tech Career and Technical Education High School Grades:9-12,SE Address:1WellsSt. ph:718.647.5204

•P.S.618:Academy of Innovative Technology Grades:9-11,SE Address:999JamaicaAve. ph:718.827.2469

•P.S.639:Brooklyn Lab School Grades:9-11,SE Address:999JamaicaAve. ph:718.235.3592

•P.S.659:Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory School Grades:9-12,SE Address:999JamaicaAve. ph:718.647.1672

Local Resources: PublicSchoolsMap

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Local Resources: SeniorCenter,Libraries&GreenRetailersMap

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Green Resources

Senior Center•Cypress Hills Senior Center Address:3208FultonSt. ph:718.827.2487

LibrariesWebsite:www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org

•Arlington Library Address: 203 Arlington Ave. ph: 718.277.6105•Cypress Hills Library Address:1197SutterAve. ph:718.277.6004•New Lots Library Address: 665 New Lots Ave. ph: 718.649.0311

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

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•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

Lee, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation.

Bibliography