Good News!!! Cornell AgriTech has included Build Green Now in their 2024-25 grant to acquire the necessary equipment to start the "Insulate Upstate" project. We have identified 8 buildings as candidate projects. Follow progress on the Events page.
As a Nonprofit, our focus is immediate expansion of C02 Sequestration solutions for Communities Disproportionately Impacted! Our mission is centered on local supply chains for: Food Waste Diversion, Small Farm Services, and Industrial Hemp Insulation. Through training and collaboration, we develop municipal scale capacity.
As a Nonprofit, our focus is immediate expansion of C02 Sequestration solutions for Communities Disproportionately Impacted! Our mission is centered on local supply chains for: Food Waste Diversion, Small Farm Services, and Industrial Hemp Insulation. Through training and collaboration, we develop municipal scale capacity.
FOOD WASTE DIVERSION: |
Community Ecology Boxes: Each ton of food waste diverted from landfills to composting avoids about 0.5 to 1.0 metric tons of CO2, reducing methane emissions and producing valuable compost. Greenway Topsoil, our collaboration partner has solutions for schools, apartment blocks and community gardens.
Event Scale Zero Waste: Greenway Topsoil, provides "Zero Waste" solutions for the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival 2022 - 2024. They operate a New York State registered compost facility. Municipal Scale Composting: The town of Hurley, NY has partnered with Greenway Topsoil to pioneer a more sustainable approach to waste management. This project reduces the need for 300-mile waste transport and fosters job creation, generating 40 new jobs. |
Small Farm Services |
Hemp Cultivars: Through our network of universities and experts, we assist farmers with Industrial Hemp cultivar selection and planning. As a nonprofit we are uniquely positioned to offer Technical Assistance with grant writing, paperwork and logistics.
Cover Crops: We help farmers receive up to $82/acre for dual species after showing growth has progressed to about 80% (about 3-5 weeks) as proof of cultivar viability. For details visit: www.ucswcd.org or if you are in NYS, call: (845) 883-7162. Fund Management: Grants require strong financial reporting solutions. Leveraging our relationships in financial services and our data analytic experience, we offer customizable solutions for websites and reporting. |
Industrial Hemp insulation |
Spray Foam Risks: We have highlighted the dangers of unregulated spray foam, noting that New York State risks causing 225 million tons of damage or achieving 7 million tons of benefits if they choose Hemp-lime insulation instead.
Carbon Storage: Hemp-lime insulation effectively stores significant amounts of carbon in easily verifiable structures, such as walls, supporting creation of a NYS carbon credit markets. Industrial hemp can capture approximately 1.2 to 3.6 metric tons of CO2 per acre per year. Training: We built New York State's first Hemp-Lime retrofit and played a key role in the US Hemp Building Association (USHBA) ICC-11 team that integrated it into the International Building Code (Certifications Dir. and President). As the first NYS team trained in spray-applied Hemp-Lime, we provide training for municipal leadership, including building safety, fire safety, architects, and contractors, to jumpstart the local supply chain. Time saving productivity justified booking an introductory conversation. Market Development: We support NYS' 2030 goal and provide evidence of the emerging $2B/year market for insulation as NYS seeks to complete 200,000 insulation projects per year for the next 7 years. We also provide the arguments for Hemp-lime insulation as a way to reduce CO2 due to lower energy demands. 8 City 2024-25 Insulation Tour: We have partnered with community leaders to develop Hemp-lime insulation plans for community buildings in eight cities. Check the Events page for updates. |
Circular Solutions Approach
Composting and farming are essential for growing industrial hemp locally. Composting enriches the soil, providing nutrients for hemp cultivation, resulting in stronger plants and high-quality insulation. Integrating composting into farming supports sustainable agriculture, reduces waste, and promotes hemp growth. This synergy enhances soil fertility, boosts hemp yields, and supports eco-friendly building materials. This approach benefits the environment, strengthens local economies, and creates jobs in composting and hemp farming, fostering a sustainable community infrastructure.
Helping communities quickly adopt industrial hemp insulation is more beneficial than focusing on a few profitable projects early on. Providing guidance to multiple municipalities establishes a foundation for widespread adoption and greater overall impact. For example, assisting 20 municipalities in updating building codes and starting hemp insulation projects leads to significant CO2 reduction and energy efficiency compared to a few high-profit projects. This approach creates informed communities, accelerates market development, and achieves economies of scale.
Helping communities quickly adopt industrial hemp insulation is more beneficial than focusing on a few profitable projects early on. Providing guidance to multiple municipalities establishes a foundation for widespread adoption and greater overall impact. For example, assisting 20 municipalities in updating building codes and starting hemp insulation projects leads to significant CO2 reduction and energy efficiency compared to a few high-profit projects. This approach creates informed communities, accelerates market development, and achieves economies of scale.
Invitation to Community Leaders
The NYS Hemp Fiber Community Working Group was founded to help New York State accelerate CO2 sequestration initiatives. We invite you to apply our knowledge and experience in your community. Please contact us if we can assist you in moving forward.
We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing our expertise widely, at cost, and only request that there is a verifiable community benefit. You can find our schedule on the events page.
We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing our expertise widely, at cost, and only request that there is a verifiable community benefit. You can find our schedule on the events page.