Overview of Earth Week 2012 in White Plains

The White Plains Business Improvement District (BID) announced today that White Plains will be hosting its second citywide Earth Week Celebration.

The week starts off Monday, April 16 and culminates in the Sustain White Plains Celebration event on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 12 noon to 4pm on Mamaroneck Avenue between Martine Avenue and Main Street. The celebrations will continue with several Earth Day events on Sunday, April 22nd.  

Click on the PDF for the full Earth Week 2012 itinerary.

Earth Week 2012 is an outgrowth of the City of White Plains SEEC (Sustainability and Environmental Enhancement Committee), in collaboration with the entire community. 

This week-long series of events, programs and projects is sponsored by Reckson, a division of SL Green Realty Corp., OnForce Solar, and Zipcar, all industry leading pioneers in green business and sustainable practices.  Earth Week 2012 represents the second time in White Plains history that so many people and organizations will join together to celebrate, energize and advance the importance of green living and sustainability.

Mayor Thomas M. Roach said, "I'm excited about the 2012 White Plains Earth Week which offers a diversity of events focused on those green themes particularly important to my administration. This year we've added three particularly exciting components: An Electric Vehicle Showcase which displays current EV models, the Renewable Energy Expo exploring various energy alternatives for residences and businesses and the launch of the Mayor's Animal Action Network which is really a countywide coalition of animal organizations dedicated to the no kill movement and pet rescue. We welcome White Plains residents and people from throughout Westchester to join us in celebrating all things green.” 

The week will include events hosted by different organizations throughout the City. Highlights of the week include: 

• A at on Monday, April 16th at 4pm, with a Mayoral welcome, award presentation, tree planting ceremony, musical entertainment by students and more. 255 Main Street.

• Screening of Bag it!, a documentary about our cultural love affair with plastics, on Monday April 16th at 7:00 pm. , Auditorium.

• The Renewable Energy Expo, sponsored and hosted by OnForce Solar, on Tuesday April 17th, 11am – 2pm, with exhibits of multiple types of renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro, co-gen, thermal, and more) and how they can be used in your home or business to save money. Music by folk singer Mark Rust (12 Noon to 2:00 pm). Main St. and Mamaroneck Ave.

• Screening of Revenge of the Electric Car by writer and Director Chris Paine, on Wednesday April 18th, 7pm.  This documentary follows the Director and his film crew behind the closed doors of major auto distributors to chronicle the story of the global resurgence of electric cars.  located at 19 Mamaroneck Avenue (Mamaroneck Avenue & Main Street).

• The Sustainable Local Food, Healthy Food Forum hosted by Hazon CSA of White Plains and the Stoneledge Farm White Plains CSA, with tastings, presentations and discussion about the importance of keeping your food sources closer to home. Thursday, April 19th 6:30 – 9:00pm. , 280 Old Mamaroneck Road.

• A Good Counsel Garden Tour on Friday, April 20, 2012, 9am – 10am. Come and see a school garden in its creation stage! Students from Pre-K to Eighth Grade have a variety of roles in the planning, implementation and maintenance of a garden that will host native plantings that would have existed on this site -- the original farm of Mother Mary Veronica. , 52 North Broadway.

• The Sustain White Plains Celebration to be held under a big tent on Mamaroneck Avenue between Martine and Main Streets on Saturday, April 21st, 12 noon to 4pm.  Our biggest event of the week will include musical entertainment, green exhibits, food, double dutch and hula contests, the launch of the Mayor’s Animal Action Network, an Electric Vehicles Showcase and other activities for kids and adults.

• Recycling at the Gedney Recycling Yard. Sunday, April 22nd 11am. Have a tour of the Gedney Recycling Yard, the Take-It-Or-Leave-It Shed, and see a presentation on recycling by Commissioner Nicoletti of White Plains Department of Public Works. 80 Gedney Way.

• A Park Clean-up at , & , and on Sunday, April 22nd between 9am and 12 noon.  The City of White Plains Recreation & Parks Department invites you to volunteer for as long as you can to help our city’s precious open space. 

• Storytime at the on April 22nd at 2pm.  Celebrate Earth Day with stories, songs and snacks for ages 3+ and families.

• An Earth Day Collage Workshop held at the on April 22nd at 2pm.  Lead by collage and pop-artist , for school age grades 1-6 and families. 

Reckson is the largest commercial landlord in Westchester County, and in 2007, was acquired by SL Green Realty Corp., adding 9 million square feet of office space to its portfolio, making the company New York City's largest commercial office landlord. 

Reckson specializes in suburban office real estate, totaling 32 properties and 5 million square feet of Class A commercial office space – communities including White Plains, Stamford, and New Jersey.  Since 2007, Reckson has spearheaded a market leading sustainable program across a broad platform of initiatives including recycling to energy/water conservation, and green procurement; most notably receiving 6 U.S. EPA Energy Star Labels, LEED certification, and reduced portfolio energy consumption by more than 10%, saving one million dollars annually.

OnForce Solar is an independent energy consulting and solar integration firm, servicing municipalities, businesses and homeowners in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Through harnessing the power of the sun, OnForce helps its clients achieve their highest possible return on their renewable energy investment, often outperforming the major stock indexes, certificates of deposit and just about any other investment; year after year and regardless of the macroeconomic climate. Their innovative systems reduce energy costs and contribute to a cleaner, greener community.

Zipcar is the world’s leading car sharing network, started over ten years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  With the goals of transforming urban life, facilitating positive social change, and reducing environmental impact, Zipcar offers a practical and actionable example of sustainable living that decreases the adverse effects of transportation. 

The White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) is a non-profit, 501©3 corporation that offers supplemental services to the White Plains Central Business District to enhance its economic, social, and cultural landscape.  The White Plains Downtown BID encompasses 145 properties with approximately 5.5 million square feet of office and retail space.

Our membership includes small business owners, national retailers, Fortune 500 Companies, and industry leading commercial property owners. The BID’s Board of Directors represents the diversity of business interests in the Central Business District and is committed to creating an environment conductive to economic development and business growth.

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