Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Best Apps to Show you How to find EV Charging Station Locations In the United States

The Plug-In Hybrid and EV Infrastructure is Really Charging Up. And It's Not Just the Lucky Tesla Drivers
who have a Private Charging Network who will be able to Easily Juice Up Their Vehicles When On the Road

The U.S. DOE Alternative Fuel Data Center has a  Mobile Alternative Fueling Station Locator which tells the closest biodiesel, electric, E85, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane fueling sites. Credit: Dennis Schroeder 

As part of my participation in the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge I am compiling useful research data about all things EV and about the infrastructure for EV's in the U.S.   Below I have listed five apps that allow an EV driver to find EV charger locations across the U.S


U.S. DOE's  is a good place to start when looking for an App that will help you locate an EV charger.   You can find electric vehicle charging stations near an address or ZIP code or along a route in the United States. For more alternative fueling stations, use the Alternative Fueling Station Locator.

 


CarStations is a resource dedicated to the expansion and adoption of cleaner vehicles. By providing Google Maps and vehicle charging station details, users can quickly locate and engage with stations and drivers near them.

CarStations is completely free and provides details on all types of information regarding electric vehicles. This website is designed to encourage participation and welcomes user interaction in the form of comments, updates and user generated content.  



RECARGO has two EV apps.  One is called PlugShare which is a free application for iOS, Android, and web that allows users to find charging stations and connect with other plug-in vehicle owners. PlugShare now includes over 20,000 charging stations in the United States and Canada. Visit PlugShare at www.plugshare.com to download the iPhone/iPad or Android app. 

The Recargo Station Finder allows EV drivers to find electric vehicle charging stations, search for food and activities on a trip with Yelp, and stay connected with the Recargo community and news from PluginCars.com. 


If you are a member of the Blink Network you can charge up at Blink locations. Memberships are free with no annual fee or prepayment required.  Blink EV charging station locations can be found on the Blink Map.
  
 

Coulomb's ChargePoint app locates EV charging stations across the U.S. but only for Coulomb-branded charge stations. The app is free and can be used for android and iphones.


NOTE: This post was written during my participation in The 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge.
       
From July 12th to Aug 12th, I will be driving a Prius Plug-In Hybrid as part of the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge.  Toyota has partnered with seven prolific environmental influencers (myself included) from the tri-state area for Wave Two of the 2013 Prius Plug-In MPG Challenge – a fun competition to help educate local communities on the benefits of electric vehicles. The winner of the challenge will receive a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice.    

(Check out #Pluginforcharity on Facebook and Twitter.)

The charity I am competing for is New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patrol and protect over 100,000 miles of rivers, streams and coastlines in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa.

 
I would like to thank Earth Day NY for facilitating my participation in the Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge in NYC. Check out Earth Day NY on Facebook.

And, a big shout out to  Element, Times Square West for providing hotel accommodations while I am in NYC for the challenge.


 Copyright 2013 Paul E McGinniss

Thursday, July 25, 2013

The eGallon: How Much Cheaper Is It To Drive On Electricity?

The New eGallon tool at US Department of Energy helps consumers know how much it costs to drive an EV the same distance one can travel on a gallon of gasoline
 
                                  eGallon from US Department of Energy

Philip Proefrock at EcoGeek tipped me off today that The United States Department of Energy (USDOE) has introduced a new web tool to help consumers compare the cost to drive an electric vehicle (or hybrid in electric mode) versus a conventional gasoline vehicle.

This is great news. Because, for most of us, purchasing an EV is not just about saving the environment by having cleaner transportation options, but also about saving money on the cost of transportation.  And, it was not that easy to compare the cost of electricity to charge EVs to the fuel costs at the pump and understand which was the better deal.

According to the USDOE egallon methodology, if one took the average price paid for electricity in the USA and applied the eGallon approach, it costs about $1.22 to drive an EV the same distance that a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE) can travel on a gallon of gasoline. 

The eGallon web site states:
  
"The price of an eGallon tells consumers how much it costs to drive an EV the same distance you could go on a gallon of unleaded gasoline in a similar car. It’s that simple. We take the average distance that a gasoline-powered vehicle can drive on a gallon of gas (28.2 miles for comparable 2012 model year cars), and then calculate how much it would cost to drive the average EV that same distance. Because electricity prices are a little different state to state, our eGallon tool shows how much an eGallon costs in your state, and compares it to the cost of gasoline. As you can see, on average, fueling your car with gasoline costs roughly 3 times more than fueling with electricity."

EVs sound sweet indeed!  
 
Pic of solar PV car port is via Phatenenergy.com

Now, what we really need to do is focus on creating cleaner sources of electricity. For instance, solar PV and wind power to "fuel" all those electric vehicles will not only emit less pollution than combustion engines, but the way the electricity is generated will also be super clean and green.  (As opposed to nasty coal-fired power plants, for certain.)

Here's to putting the power generation into the hands of the people.  The more solar PV and wind turbines we install to charge our EVs at home, the better.

Check out eGallon at the USDOE Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy News

NOTE: This post was written during my participation in The 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge.
     
From July 12th to Aug 12th, I will be driving a Prius Plug-In Hybrid as part of the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge.  Toyota has partnered with seven prolific environmental influencers (myself included) from the tri-state area for Wave Two of the 2013 Prius Plug-In MPG Challenge – a fun competition to help educate local communities on the benefits of electric vehicles. The winner of the challenge will receive a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice. 
 
(Check out #Pluginforcharity on Facebook and Twitter.)


The charity I am competing for is New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patrol and protect over 100,000 miles of rivers, streams and coastlines in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa.

 
I would like to thank Earth Day NY for facilitating my participation in the Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge in NYC. Check out Earth Day NY on Facebook.

And, a big shout out to  Element, Times Square West for providing hotel accommodations while I am in NYC for the challenge.


 
Copyright 2013 Paul E McGinniss 

Monday, July 22, 2013

Meira Blaustein, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Woodstock Film Festival, Strikes a Pose with My Prius Plug-In Hybrid

Woodstock, NY,  My Latest Stop during the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-In MPG Challenge.

  Meira Blaustein, Co-Founder and Executive   Director of the Woodstock Film Festival

I love the tranquil beauty and stunning scenery of the Hudson Valley of New York, Ulster County, in particular where I happen to reside.  And, one of the things I love the most about this spectacularly inspiring area is the wonderful Woodstock Film Festival which takes place in and around the eclectic (and electric), historic little Village of Woodstock every fall.  (They don't call Woodstock the "Colony of the Arts" for nothing as it has been attracting creative artists and performers since the late 19th Century.)

I have been lucky to regularly attend the Woodstock Film Festival as a writer/journalist in the past years, allowing me to see important films before they are released to the public.  Last year, for instance, I saw the stunning film "Chasing Ice" and I was so blown away by this film about our melting ice caps that I wrote this article about it for EcoWatch: Chasing Ice: Ground Zero of Climate Change.

 Meira Blausten, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Woodstock Film Festival outside the festival's headquarters in Woodstock.


At the 2011Woodstock Film Festival I saw the thought-provoking film, "Cape Spin", and wrote a well-received post on this blog after interviewing the filmmakers at the Colony Cafe in Woodstock. The Colony has been a vital presence in Woodstock since 1929 and serves as a hip hub for the festival participants when they are in town.

You can check out my post: Woodstock Film Festival Premier of "Cape Spin: An American Power Struggle" - Epic Battle Over"Clean Energy Becomes Entertaining Film Platform Exploring Ups and Downs of America's Energy Future.  
 
 Meira Blaustein and I talking about the upcoming 2013 Woodstock Film Festival which
will take place in October.

Coincidentally, Toyota is also a sponsor of the Woodstock Film Festival. Meira told me when I spoke to her: "As Toyota's Prius was a sponsor of the 2012 Woodstock Film Festival, it was the vehicle of choice during the run of the festival for some of our VIPs and staff, myself included. We all love the Prius and look forward to a continued relationship with it this year and in the years to come. "

Meira Blaustein and her fellow co-founder of the Woodstock Film Festival, Laurent Rejto, have been major forces behind the Hudson Valley becoming a hot spot for filmmaking. They played an integral role in the establishment of the Hudson Valley Film Commission, (HVFC), which is affiliated with the Woodstock Film festival.

For the past 14 years, HVFC has positioned the Hudson Valley as a prominent venue for film, television and associated hi-tech activity within New York State by attracting working producers, directors, industry personnel and new businesses that in turn use the local communities for production purposes.

The HVFC reported this summer that it has been working with a record number of film productions in 2013. As of June, 85 projects have been in contact with the film office for support including 11 Feature Films, TV Shows, Shorts, Music Videos, Industrials, Documentaries, and Photo Shoots. Celebrities enjoying Hudson Valley productions include Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2), Nick Damici (Stake Land), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker), Mariss Tomei (The Wrestler), Max Minghella (The Social Network), Tina Louise (Gilligan's Island), Tom Noonan (Damages), Jason Ritter (Parenthood) and Rhinebeck native Emma Roberts.

Some of the Many Films Shot in the Hudson Valley of NY

Click here to see list
of films shot in the
Hudson Valley-Catskills



Background Info On The 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge.
   
From July 12th to Aug 12th, I will be driving a Prius Plug-In Hybrid as part of the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge.  Toyota has partnered with seven prolific environmental influencers (myself included) from the tri-state area for Wave Two of the 2013 Prius Plug-In MPG Challenge – a fun competition to help educate local communities on the benefits of electric vehicles. The winner of the challenge will receive a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice. 

(Check out #Pluginforcharity on Facebook and Twitter.)

The charity I am competing for is New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patrol and protect over 100,000 miles of rivers, streams and coastlines in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa.

 
I would like to thank Earth Day NY for facilitating my participation in the Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge in NYC. Check out Earth Day NY on Facebook.

And, a big shout out to  Element, Times Square West for providing hotel accommodations while I am in NYC for the challenge.


Copyright 2013 Paul E McGinniss
lick to download hi res photo

Friday, July 19, 2013

Video Interview With Russell Porter, Director of Sales for Element New York Times Square West

By Paul E McGinniss

Hi Everyone! I am headed into NYC again as part of my travels for the Prius Plug-In-MPG Challenge for Charity.   I will be staying again at Element New York Times Square West.

On Tuesday night, July 23rd, I will, once again, be hosting the  Green Drinks NYC SPARK Speaker Series which features this month Dr. Michael Finkelstein, author of "77 Questions for Skillful Living."

The SPARK series is produced in partnership with The Moderns.

Please check out the video interview below with Russell Porter, Director of Sales for Element New York Times Square West.






 Background Info On the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge.
   
From July 12th to Aug 12th, I will be driving a Prius Plug-In Hybrid as part of the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge.  Toyota has partnered with seven prolific environmental influencers (myself included) from the tri-state area for Wave Two of the 2013 Prius Plug-In-MPG Challenge – a fun competition to help educate local communities on the benefits of electric vehicles. The winner of the challenge will receive a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice. 

(Check out #Pluginforcharity on Facebook and Twitter.)

The charity I am competing for is New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patrol and protect over 100,000 miles of rivers, streams and coastlines in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa.


 
I would like to thank Earth Day NY for facilitating my participation in the Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge in NYC. Check out Earth Day NY on Facebook.

And, a big shout out to  Element, Times Square West for providing hotel accommodations while I am in NYC for the challenge.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Green Drinks NYC SPARK Speaker Series with Dr. Michael Finkelstein July 23rd in NYC

As part of my journey with my Toyota Prius for the 2013 Prius Plug-In-MPG Challenge, I will be traveling to The Moderns in NYC to once again host the SPARK series, a collaboration between Green Drinks NYC and The Moderns.

Margaret Lydecker, founder Green Drinks NYC, with Dr Michael Finkelstein
 Join Green Drinks NYC in partnership with The Moderns for our 
SPARK Speaker Series

  


   
Featuring
Dr. Michael Finkelstein, Author of
77 Questions for Skillful Living



Integrative medicine pioneer, Michael Finkelstein, M.D., will lead an interactive, introspective discussion, exploring the questions that guide us to achieving extraordinary health. If you have your own questions that you'd like answered at the event, you can tweet them in advance to @SkillfulDoctor.


Hosted by Paul E McGinniss




Tuesday July 23, 2013
6:30pm to 8:30pm
900 Broadway, Suite 202, NYC
 
Complimentary wine and healthy snacks!


ABOUT: Dr. Finkelstein is the former Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief of the Departments of Medicine and Integrative Medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York. He then went on to pursue a more intuitive and holistic approach, as the founder and director of wellness center SunRaven. A nationally recognized author, radio show host, inspirational speaker and blogger, his concept of "Skillful Living" advises that the business of living must be developed, like a skill, with mindful, dedicated attention. You can learn more about his work at drmichaelfinkelstein.com.


As his University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine classmate, Dr. Mehmet Oz, says, "Michael Finkelstein is an astute physician and clinician who treats the illness AND the patient," and "Dr. Finkelstein masterfully guides us through the 77 questions that connect the dots of our lives." 

 Background Info On the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge.
   
From July 12th to Aug 12th, I will be driving a Prius Plug-In Hybrid as part of the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge.  Toyota has partnered with seven prolific environmental influencers (myself included) from the tri-state area for Wave Two of the 2013 Prius Plug-In-MPG Challenge – a fun competition to help educate local communities on the benefits of electric vehicles. The winner of the challenge will receive a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice. 

(Check out #Pluginforcharity on Facebook and Twitter.)

The charity I am competing for is New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patrol and protect over 100,000 miles of rivers, streams and coastlines in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa.


 
I would like to thank Earth Day NY for facilitating my participation in the Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge in NYC. Check out Earth Day NY on Facebook.

And, a big shout out to  Element, Times Square West for providing hotel accommodations while I am in NYC for the challenge.



Copyright 2013 Paul E McGinniss 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

On The Road: The New York Green Advocate Visits an Old Dairy Farm Creamery Turned Art Studio with Dwell-Like Chicken Coop in Accord, Ulster County, NY

The "chic" chicken coop is just to the right and behind the Prius

Ahh, free range chickens never had it so good.  A recent trip in the Prius Plug-In to an old dairy farm creamery turned Warhol-like art factory that we are selling for a client gave us a laugh when the spoiled, well-fed chickens who live in a hand-built, Dwell-magazine-like chicken coop followed us around outside.  (I have always wanted an entourage and I suppose chickens are a good start!)

Hey what is going on in there?
These artsy birds even peered into the cavernous kitchen area of this wonderful property, afraid they were missing out on the action inside.  (Actually, they were hungrily eyeing the bananas on the table. I had no idea chickens liked bananas!!!)

Huge Kitchen and Dining Area in The Old Creamery

Whattya mean I can't get in because I'm not on the guest list?
If you haven't been to the ever so beautiful and bountiful Accord, NY in Ulster County, I suggest you take a road trip to visit this little Hudson Valley hamlet.  (It is actually cool because it is not...err.... too cool, yet, and still kinda shabby country chic around the edges, just like us "transplanted" locals like it.) 

The entire area in and around Accord and Ulster County, New York is full of hidden wonders, creative people of all stripes, incredible nature and recreational opportunities.  For instance, nearby Accord you will find both the Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park, a combined 20,000 plus acres of preserved land with hiking and biking trails, waterfalls and glacial lakes for swimming.  You might just fall in love with the place and find yourself raising poultry and sharing the plentiful bounty of eggs with your neighbors. It's been known to happen!!!

5,000 sf of space inside this building makes a great studio

Background Info On the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge.
   
From July 12th to Aug 12th, I will be driving a Prius Plug-In Hybrid as part of the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge.  Toyota has partnered with seven prolific environmental influencers (myself included) from the tri-state area for Wave Two of the 2013 Prius Plug-In-MPG Challenge – a fun competition to help educate local communities on the benefits of electric vehicles. The winner of the challenge will receive a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice. 
(Check out #Pluginforcharity on Facebook and Twitter.)

The charity I am competing for is New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patrol and protect over 100,000 miles of rivers, streams and coastlines in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa.


 
I would like to thank Earth Day NY for facilitating my participation in the Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge in NYC. Check out Earth Day NY on Facebook.

And, a big shout out to  Element, Times Square West for providing hotel accommodations while I am in NYC for the challenge.

Copyright 2013 Paul E McGinniss

Monday, July 15, 2013

On The Road with the Prius Plug-in Hybrid: Spotlight on Urban Agriculture in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY

by Paul E McGinniss

After picking up our Prius for the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge, Pamela Lippe, Executive Director and President of Earth Day, NY, and I decided to cruise over to Red Hook, Brooklyn to check out two of New York City's coolest urban ag projects.  I drove while Pam served as my trusty wingperson, navigating utilizing the Prius GPS system, and being fun and radiant company to boot.   We were both like kids in a candy shop, not just because we were so excited to be part of this challenge for charities of our choice (see details below this post), but also because we knew we would be able to get to Red Hook from the East River in Lower Manhattan entirely by using only the Prius' battery power!

The Red Hook Community farm with an IKEA store to the right in the background

But, before I take you all to Brooklyn, I wanted to sneak in a few pics from Solar One, where Pamela and I both picked up our individual Prius for the Challenge.


Green Force of Nature, Margaret Lydecker,  founder of Green Drinks, NYC, at Solar One


Ippolita di Paola, from Waterkeeper Alliance, Pamela Lippe and John Oppermann from Earth Day NY (Left to Right)

After we parked the Prius Plug-In in Brooklyn, Pamela and I entered through the gates of the 2.75 acre Red Hook Community Farm.  What once had been a decaying, trash-strewn, concrete ball field was now an active farm with a group of diverse Brooklynites working together. Established in 2003, the farm is now a source of hyper local food and immense community pride.  The farm was late in planting this season because it was still recovering from last year's Super Storm Sandy, which literally submerged the whole neighborhood and destroyed much of the farm.

.


But indeed, despite the flood from Super Storm Sandy, the acres of land we saw were well under way to being back on its feet as a working farm.  This was due in no small part to the huge efforts of many people in the community who rallied together to overcome the devastation.

The juxtaposition of seeing this farm in the midst of such uber urban territory was somewhat surreal.  Especially strange, the farm was just across the street from a huge blue box IKEA store.  It was hard to tell which belonged there more, the immense retail outlet and the surrounding factories, or the farm.  Hopefully, this co-mingling of agriculture and city industry and commerce will be the norm throughout the five boroughs of NYC in the very near future.  For certain, the sometimes gritty, cold asphalt streets and the stone and metal buildings are softened by the earth and vegetation of a farm, making the city less harsh and more welcoming on many levels.

Importantly, urban farming and green roofs can help greatly in minimizing storm water run off, diminishing pollution from entering the waterways of New York. The farm and its porous surfaces absorb water, filter it and return rainwater to the aquifer unlike urban concrete, hard, non-porous surfaces.

The large raised field at Red Hook Community Farm filled with compost and fertile soil and being seeded.

The Red Hook Community Farm in Brooklyn was established by the non-profit organization Added Value with the cooperation of Partnership for Parks, The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Added Value promotes the sustainable development of Red Hook by nurturing a new generation of young leaders, hosting a variety of youth-focused, green-jobs groups such as Green City Force. The main initiatives of Added Value include farm-based learning, growing a just food system, and empowering youth. 

Added Value is a great title for the organization because clearly the group adds tremendous value to the community and is helping revitalize local parks, transforming vacant lands into vibrant Urban Farms, improving access to healthy, safe and affordable food, and growing a local economy that supports the needs of Brooklyn communities.
 
Ian Marvy, a co-founder, Executive Director of Added Value and a resident of Red Hook, was honored  for his work by Earth Day NY.  John Oppermann, Deputy Director of Earth Day NY, told me Earth Day New York has taken groups of volunteers to help out both on the farm in Red Hook and a flower farm that Added Value operated on Governors Island. 


Red Hook Community Farm is a real working farm, lots of work for sure, but the pay off is more than worth it.

After we left the Red Hook Community farm, Pam and I walked over to the Red Hook Houses, NYC's largest public housing development.  Here, more acres of underutilized land were being transformed into another urban farm that will also educate and employ Brooklyn youth and provide fresh, local food for this urban enclave.           

A View of the raised beds at Red Hook Houses
The sprawling Red Hook Houses complex is spread out over 39 acres and has almost 3,000 apartments.  Hopefully soon, the entire complex will be full of plantings for flowers and food to feed the residents and brighten the sometimes barren landscape of public housing into a beautiful landscape that will encourage the residents to participate in the farm initiative outside, even if just by eating healthy produce grown at their own doorsteps.

Pamela Lippe taking photos of the veggies growing at the new farm at Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn’s largest public housing development

The farm at the Red Hook Houses was funded by the Center for Economic Opportunity, a NYC agency, and launched in partnership with the non-profit Green City Workforce and Added Value.

Inspiring Posters at Red Hook Houses in front of the composting area

Seeing the colorful, hand-painted signs surrounding the composting area at the Red Hook Houses farm and the ever-expanding beds of plantings really lifted my spirits as Pamela and I explored the grounds.

Red Hook Houses produce

The more areas of New York City that can adapt the lessons learned in Red Hook and execute a community ag plan of their own, the better.

Please check out the pictures below. And, do not miss the uplifting video at the end of this post about the Red Hook Community Farm.  If you watch the video, you just might want to go out and get your hands in the dirt to plant a garden of your own.  Or, better yet, invite a few neighbors who you might have passed on the street, but never had a chance to talk to when you were on the way home to eat take out food alone, to join you in planting a garden.


More Inspiration at the Red Hook Houses urban farm

A view of the raised beds at Red Hook Houses

Words to Live by at Red Hook Houses agricultural oasis in Brooklyn, NY
Check out This Amazing Video About The Red Hook Community Farm
(Double Click to Watch Full Screen)



Background Info On the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge.

 For the next 30 days (from July 12th to Aug 12th), I will be driving a Prius Plug-In Hybrid as part of the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge.  Toyota has partnered with seven prolific environmental influencers (myself included) from the tri-state area for Wave Two of the 2013 Prius Plug-In-MPG Challenge – a fun competition to help educate local communities on the benefits of electric vehicles. The winner of the challenge will receive a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice.  (Check out #Pluginforcharity on Facebook and Twitter.)

The charity I am competing for is New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patrol and protect over 100,000 miles of rivers, streams and coastlines in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa.


 
I would like to thank Earth Day NY for facilitating my participation in the Prius Plug-in-MPG Challenge in NYC. Check out Earth Day NY on Facebook.

And, a big shout out to  Element, Times Square West for providing hotel accommodations while I was in NYC for the challenge.

Copyright 2013 Paul E McGinniss