Current Champions

Interested in Becoming a Champion?

Emmis Communications

Emmis Communications (New York City) is a publicly held media company with more than 30 media entities spanning print and radio. As a Clean Air NY Champion, Emmis is promoting its commuter tax benefit for employees taking mass transit. This initiative allows commuters to use pretax dollars to purchase their transit passes each month, lowering their taxable income and reducing the amount they owe at the end of each year. In addition, Emmis has set up a carpool matching program for its employees.

Patricia Robinson, Director of Personnel and Administration for Emmis NY, said, "We are very committed as an organization to support Clean Air NY. All avenues of our support are important to minimize our impact on air quality. Our employees are excited to participate, knowing they are contributing to a healthier environment."

Underwriters Laboratories

Underwriters Laboratories (Long Island) is a global independent safety science company offering expertise across five key strategic businesses: Product Safety, Environment, Life and Health, University and Verification Services. UL recently began providing lunch in its office on many of the Air Quality Action Days to help reduce the number of employees who drive off-site for lunch. UL also has begun offering incentives for employees to carpool, take the bus or bike to work, including gas cards, bus coupons, monthly raffle prizes and appreciation breakfasts.

UL is committed to improving air quality on Long Island and a section of its company's intranet site is dedicated to Clean Air NY resources. Colleen Dunn, Human Resources Generalist, said, "UL is pleased to introduce initiatives aimed at supporting Clean Air NY's critically important endeavor to improve air quality in the Metro NY region. The Clean Air NY program is a wonderful way for UL to demonstrate its commitment to being a good corporate citizen, which includes acting as an environmental steward."

Helios Energy Systems

Helios Energy Systems (Queens) is a leading solar system integrator in the tri-state area. Working closely with 511NY Rideshare, Helios has implemented a carpool program at its Queens headquarters. More than 20 percent of its employees have agreed to carpool at least twice a week. Clean Air NY has participated in Helios's environmentally focused community events where Helios stresses the economic benefits of sustainable choices.

The Hagedorn Little Village School

The Hagedorn Little Village School (Seaford) is a publicly funded, not-for-profit school that provides educational and therapeutic services for children with developmental disabilities. To encourage employees to choose alternate forms of transportation, such as carpooling, the school began providing e-mail addresses to employees to register for an incentive-based ridematching network. In addition, Hagedorn Little Village School ensured that all employees were educated on air-quality friendly travel choices at the Clean Air NY "Breakfast 'n Learn" staff meeting.

Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Center

Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Center (Brooklyn) established 30 years ago as an agency assisting the elderly, has grown into one of the largest social service and community development organizations in New York State. Each month, RBSCC provides a wide array of housing and social services to thousands of New Yorkers.

Becoming a Clean Air NY Champion was a natural step for RBSCC, which incorporates green building design in all of its new multifamily affordable housing developments. To encourage employees to bike to work instead of driving vehicles, RBSCC is installing a shower in its main housing office and covered bike racks. In addition, RBSCC is planning to build the first "passive house" in New York City, designed to use the natural heat from the sun, appliances and people, and almost completely eliminating boiler emissions.

The New York Power Authority

The New York Power Authority (White Plains) is the nation's largest state public power organization, with 80 percent of the electricity it produces coming from clean, renewable hydropower. NYPA's lower-cost power and electricity purchases support hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout New York State. It is also a national leader in promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable-fuel and clean-energy technologies.

NYPA has been recognized for its sustainable workplace practices, including a flex-time schedule for a compressed work week that is available to all non-union employees. Adhering to green building standards, NYPA also offers preferred parking to electric-vehicle and vanpool drivers. NYPA's Sustainability Action Plan has led to employee green teams that host special events throughout the year.

IBM

IBM (Poughkeepsie) actively promotes alternate commuting options for all site employees. These options include IBMRide, an internal car/vanpool matching service in conjunction with NuRide, a public incentive-based rideshare network, and work-at-home and mobile employee programs, where an employee's "work" office is his or her home for all or part of the week. As part of the carpool program, employees are offered preferred parking and emergency ride home services.

Mike Domitrovits, Poughkeepsie site Environmental Services Manager, stated, "IBM Poughkeepsie is pleased to work with Clean Air NY to promote environmental conservation for the benefit of site employees and the community."