Citizen's Toolkit

Our mission is to educate New Yorkers and help them become engaged and empowered advocates for the environment. The resources listed here can help you learn about environmental issues across the state and take advantage of the ways you can protect environment in your personal life and by getting involved in policy and political processes at the local and state levels. From contacting your representatives to the appropriate avenues to report environmental hazards to how to register to vote, these pages can help you protect the interests that are most important to you. As part of the Citizen’s Toolkit, we also provide weekly “Green Tips” so that you can make sustainable lifestyle choices. In the fight against climate change, every little effort can help to reduce carbon emissions and protect our planet from the worst.

New York has seen quite a lot of snow recently! While snowstorms are magical to watch, some snow removal methods unintentionally harm the environment. Read on to learn more about how to deal with snow in a more eco-friendly way.

In this blog we examine Delivering on Commitment: The 2025 NYC Lead Compliance Report, which highlights the City’s progress toward eliminating lead exposure since the launch of LeadFreeNYC in 2019, an initiative to reduce childhood lead poisoning, expand protections, and tighten safety standards. The report highlights what is working, where gaps remain, and what new strategies are needed to move faster.

The holiday season is in full swing! There is usually a lot of planning that goes into holiday gatherings, including parties, religious ceremonies, or small get-togethers. Follow our tips for hosting a more environmentally-friendly yet fun holiday gathering this year.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Check out our tips below to find out how to make this holiday season more eco-friendly. Travel smart  Not surprising, Thanksgiving travel has a larger carbon footprint than the dinner itself. If you have to travel for Thanksgiving, try to avoid using your gas-powered car for long trips: try…

There is no such thing as a “safe amount of lead” in drinking water. And with an estimated 555,696 active lead service lines in New York State alone, the burden of this issue is not equally distributed. In this blog we look at the progress made, the gaps that remain, and the way forward.

The use of road salt to keep streets safe during winter storms has become an urgent environmental and public health concern. While salt is effective for melting ice and preventing dangerous driving conditions worldwide, including here in New York State, its overuse has significant public health and environmental consequences, especially regarding its impact on drinking water.

With fall almost here, it’s a great time to fight climate change at home with energy efficient changes and upgrades. Even small adjustments made by renters, homeowners and businesses, when added up town by town and city by city, can make a significant difference in reducing our collective carbon footprint. 

In New York City, the general election is coming up. Election day is November 4, and early voting runs from October 25- November 2. This year, in addition to candidates running for office, there are six proposals on the ballot. NYLCVEF is hosting an educational webinar with more information on Wednesday, October 22. RSVP to join. 

By Liam McGowan Electric school buses (ESB’s) are rolling in, and with them, significant beneficial changes. Brand new data from the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Carleton University solidifies electric school bus benefits over diesel buses.  This new study from WRI shines a light on what states and counties stand to gain from a transition…

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Check out our tips for celebrating earth day in quarantine.

Social distancing at home doesn’t mean that you have to lose your connection to the environment. You might even find yourself with some extra time on your hands. Many Americans are turning to movies and TV to stay busy and entertained during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why we put together a list of environmentally themed movies that will inspire you to make every day Earth Day. Stay engaged by checking out these flicks.

National Pet Day is April 11th, and we’re recognizing the day by rounding up a few ways for you to make your pet care more sustainable.

This week, we’re showing you how to calculate the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that your activities emit in a year so you can learn where you stand and where there’s room to cut back.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has swept the globe, leaving many people isolated in their homes indefinitely. Here’s how to freshen up your home to make it more livable, safe, and comfortable.

In recognition of this global observance, we want to share some ways that you can help conserve and protect our water resources.

Held on March 5, 2020, NYLCVEF’s Westchester Clean Energy Summit was a zero-waste event! We learned a lot from this experience and want to share steps that you can take to make your next party, gathering, or business meeting a zero-waste event.  Events of any scale typically produce a significant amount of waste, including uneaten…

Adding plants to your home can beautify your space, improve indoor air quality, and produce a supply of tasty ingredients. We’ve compiled a list of common house plants and key things to know about them.

Creating eco-friendly habits in the workplace is an important step toward lowering one’s environmental impact.

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