July 2026
Sustainable Warwick Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2026
Presentation
Energy Efficiency: Bill Makofske shared several very practical ways to keep households cool and offered other helpful tips about energy efficiencies in the midst of excessive summer heat. The grid is being stretched due partly to data centers, EV’s – and excessive heatwaves. Be mindful of peak demand period from 2pm to 7pm. (Check out the dashboard of the NY Independent System Operator to see when the grid has the strongest demand.) Thoughtful citizens look for ways to avoid using heavy electric loads during those times, such as delaying use of washing machines, dryers, and ovens until outside of peak hours, or turning up air conditioners a couple degrees.
Recommendations:
Keep your A/C set around 78 degrees (or as high as you are comfy with) during the day.
If your air conditioner has a variable speed compressor, it uses less energy to run all day at a low speed than if it is off during the work day and has to work full speed to cool the house in the evening.
Open windows and let cool, morning air into your home for the first part of the day, before turning on A/C.
Make full use of blinds, shades and drapes to block out the sun; this will lower the demand on your a/c units / cooling system.
Make full use of fans in lieu of A/C whenever possible, but remember fans only make one feel cool when the breeze passes over skin (they don’t actually lower the temperature of a room).
Village of Warwick Climate Vulnerability Assessment
The Village of Warwick has received a Climate Smart Communities Grant to prepare a climate vulnerability assessment and climate adaptation plan. The public survey is an opportunity for community members (i.e., residents as well as others with connections to the Village) to share what they are already experiencing, what places or services they are most concerned about, and what actions they believe should be prioritized. Please take the survey and ask friends and neighbors to participate.
Proposed Blain Town Square Development: Michael shared a high-level update on the project, which is in the early stages of a long process. On June 3rd, the Planning Board held a hearing that allowed the public to comment on what the developers should examine in their Draft Environmental Impact Statement (or DEIS). The DEIS is supposed to cover basic questions about environmental and other impacts, including on soil, water, and air, in addition to how it will impact local residents and traffic. Many citizens spoke at the hearing and pointed out important issues to be considered in the DEIS, including:
Beyond the marked Blain Cemetery, there may be other burial sites in the proposed development, and current laws require setbacks from each such site.
Previous economic studies of the local economy were created more than 10 years ago, before Amazon could deliver such a wide variety of goods so quickly. The developers need to show that businesses leasing shops will fill some unmet need for Warwick residents.
The current plans call for single-bedroom, 700+ square foot apartments above the shops, and one speaker questioned whether this format was successful outside of urban environments.
Would the light pollution impact the Warwick Drive In?
How will sound pollution affect the neighbors on Wilder Drive?
And many others.
On one hand, the developers own the property in question and have the rights to build on that property; on the other hand, they must follow the Town’s zoning regulations and building code and not create environmental impacts for others to deal with. As they work through developing the DEIS, they will undoubtedly revise and update their plans.
We also briefly discussed the Ball Farm Development, where the developers own a 40-acre property, but will end up building 14 houses on about 10 acres, while the other 30 acres must have the development rights sold into the PDR program. This clustered design allows for development while also preserving land.
The Town Planning Board is always reviewing new applications, and SW welcomes any members who wish to closely follow Planning Board activities to help us stay on top of development issues. Here’s a link to the Town of Warwick Planning Board Portal, which transparently shares all the documentation provided for each project: townofwarwickny.municollab.com/planning-board/projects (and a link to the Blain Town Square Project).
Action Reports
Instagram Update: In the last 30 days, the Sustainable Warwick Instagram account had 1400+ views, 90% of which were followers. We had a net gain of 22 followers in the past 30 days and 90 interactions with our account. We currently have 490 followers and are still working on increasing that number.
Food Scraps to Compost: PLEASE NOTE: Reduced hours for August at the Farmers’ Market—10:30am to 1:30pm. We will resume full hours starting in September.
The Goodmaker Acres’ food scraps drop-off program has been paused for July/August. The program will resume Labor Day weekend.
We have begun recruiting volunteers for September/October. Volunteers are always welcome, including students in need of Community Service Hours. Sign up here!
FREE compost available each Sunday at the Farmers’ Market—bring a bucket! For large amounts, please contact the committee to make arrangements: garden@sustainablewarwick.org.
Pollinator Pathway: We continue to meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 9 AM at Mountain Lake Park to tend our native plant gardens and struggle against invasive plants. On July 27th we’ll have a special event to cut down mugwort before it goes to seed. If you are interested in joining us that day or would like to lend a hand at a different day/time, please get in touch. Pollinators@sustainablewarwick.org.
Hiking Club: The club has hosted two successful hikes this year and two more are scheduled in September and October. The club is exploring shared hikes with other groups, including the O.C. Audubon Society, to expand its offerings. Visit our website (and social media) for more updates. Events@sustainablewarwick.org
Book Club: In June, our club read and discussed Blowout, by Rachel Maddow. This book discusses the corrupting effects of fossil fuels, from how the fossil fuel industry in this country used its wealth to bend the government in its favor, to how Russia has become a rogue state, primarily by the country’s leaders using oil wealth to consolidate their power. In July, we read The Great Displacement, by Jack Bittle, which examined a wide range of natural disasters that were clearly enhanced by climate change and the impacts on people and communities.
In August we will read The Lost Cause, a novel, by Cory Doctorow. Copies of the book are available at the front desk of Albert Wisner Public Library, and everyone is welcome to borrow a book and join our discussions.
Members are always invited to nominate titles for the club to read and vote on which titles they would like to see added to the list. BookClub@sustainablewarwick.org
Upcoming Events
Hands Across the Hudson: The event will take place on Aug. 30, from 1-3pm, at the Walkway Over the Hudson (between Highland and Poughkeepsie, NY). This event is sponsored by a coalition of Indivisible groups in the Hudson Valley celebrating America's 250th birthday. Registration is recommended. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. For more information, visit: facebook.com/groups/newpaltzny, or jessica50f.substack.com/p/hands-across-the-hudson.
Sustainable Warwick Annual Zero-Waste Potluck Picnic
Date: August 19th
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Wickham Woodlands – picnic area
What is a Zero-Waste Picnic?
We are encouraging everyone to bring their own place settings (plate, knife, fork, spoon, napkin, cup) and taking them back home after the picnic... leaving no trash for the barrel and less waste for the landfill! Please bring a dish to share (appetizer, main dish, salad, desert... whatever pleases you!) and be sure to also bring a beverage.