State and Local Climate and Energy Program

Density that Works: EcoVillage Concepts

Tompkins County, New York

Federal Funding: $375,450
Project Timeline: February 2011 – February 2014

Project Summary
Community Characteristics
Program Results/Estimated Results

Project Summary

Leading by Example in Three Pilot Communities to Show Benefits of Sustainable Development

The EcoVillage project to show benefits of sustainable development is well underway. The Energy and Design committee for TREE is advocating using as much renewable energy as possible, and it is likely that the neighborhood will exceed the goal of 80% energy efficiency over existing standards. TREE is scheduled to break ground in May 2012. All TREE Joint Venture members have completed a baseline survey and will be tracking heat, electricity, and water usage on a quarterly basis. Additionally, the Aurora Dwelling Circle gained preliminary approval for its new site plan configuration. Data on current energy consumption in EcoVillage’s first two neighborhoods has been collected and reviewed, and will be used to develop a best practices report. Furthermore, new zoning regulations have been drafted based on the EcoVillage at Ithaca experience of creating dense, pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods. Lastly, Tompkins County has engaged in outreach about the project through several published articles and presentations.

Tompkins County has set a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80% from 2008 levels by 2050, with an interim goal of a 20% reduction by 2020. In order to meet this goal, the County plans to create three pilot projects modeled after the award-wining sustainability community, the EcoVillage at Ithaca (EVI) development. The County will use lessons learned from EVI and partner with the EVI Center for Sustainability education to update, document, and package EVI best practices for widespread use, create model building codes, policies, and zoning ordinances to support sustainable development practices, and apply these principles in three different settings as pilot projects.

The first pilot project will be a rural hamlet, known as TREE, which has a target of emitting 80% fewer GHGs than typical American homes. The second pilot project will demonstrate sustainable development practices in a classic urban neighborhood. The project, the Aurora Development Circle (ADC) will create a micro-neighborhood within walking distance of downtown Ithaca, and will demonstrate a comfortable community with 5-8 homes on one urban lot with shared gardens and 80% fewer GHG emissions than a comparable community. The third pilot project will demonstrate a sustainable village using 26 acres of County-owned land slated for development. The County will issue an RFP for developers to create densely clustered, walkable neighborhoods of 37-45 homes, while maintaining open space and easy walking distance to public transportation and community services.

As the pilot projects are launched, the County will monitor and evaluate the projects for building systems performance and GHG emissions, including monitoring during construction to evaluate building envelope integrity. Ultimately, the County will broadly disseminate these models through educational materials, workshops at municipal and professional conferences, training workshops for professionals, and web-based materials. By conducting outreach and sharing the story of these model communities with planners, developers, local government officials, sustainability professionals, educators, community members, and students, Tompkins County hopes to set an example for sustainable development across the country.

Community Characteristics

Population:	100,583
Area:	476.05 square miles
Government Type:	County
Community Type:	Multiple
Median Household Income:	$46,506

Program Results/Estimated Results

Expected Direct GHG Reductions:	475 metric tons CO₂e annually
Expected Longterm GHG Reductions:	7,884 metric tons CO₂e annually

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