At nighttime in Philipstown, New York, orange LED bulbs glow from windows and porches.
The lights signal that a home or business has pledged to reduce carbon as part of the Philipstown Fights Dirty campaign.
Jocelyn Apicello is with the Ecological Citizens Project, a nonprofit that’s helping the town run the campaign. She says the goal is for the town to become carbon neutral by the year 2040. And to make that happen, each resident of Philipstown has to cut one ton of carbon each year for the next 20 years.
She says participants take a range of actions – from installing solar or buying an EV to washing clothes in cold water and installing efficient lightbulbs.
Some have also volunteered to knock on doors and make calls to help get their neighbors involved.
These volunteers are armed with information, for example about the Philipstown Climate Fund. This fund helps low- and moderate-income households afford the direct costs of cutting carbon.
“We believe firmly that climate action shouldn’t be a privilege, and so we want to find ways to bring everybody on board,” Apicello says.
So by offering solidarity and support, organizers hope to make climate action contagious – and see more orange light bulbs throughout the town.
Reporting credit: Stephanie Manuzak/ChavoBart Digital Media