At Long Island's first Global Warming Summit on Sept. 29, local families will have the opportunity to learn what they can do to help stop global warming.

Presented by The Center for Science Teaching and Learning, the summit will take place at Farmingdale State College. Organized by CSTL, the Global Warming Summit is the Island's first and only event of its kind geared specifically towards families. It will feature alternative energy demonstrations, hands-on workshops, green vendors, well-known speakers and more. The event will focus on what families can do at home, work and school to help reverse climate change.

Lena Tumasyan, public relations assistant for CSTL, said they are a local organization that wants to bring that knowledge and awareness to the problem. This was a group effort on behalf of CSTL, however it was mostly the brainchild of Eric Patysiak and Ray Ann Havasy.

"We have been working on the summit for the past six months and expect over 4,000 people to attend," Tumasyan said.

Tumasyan said it is important for families to attend for several reasons.

"Global warming is everybody's issue," she said. "It's not just a political issue, it's not just an economic issue. We're trying to help create solutions and give them something they can do."

According to Tumasyan, a wide variety of organizations from economic investors to nonprofit grass roots organizations to solar builders will be on hand at the summit.

Exhibitors will conduct demonstrations, including solar demos, wind power demos, and biodiesel demos. Vendors will be on the Great Lawn at Farmingdale State College to sell and showcase "green" products. Two screenings of Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth will take place in Roosevelt Hall, first 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a second showing from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Workshops offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Gleeson Hall include What's Your Carbon Footprint, What Your Family Can Do to Reduce Global Warming, Environmental Investing and Your Portfolio, Bring Energy Savings Home and Solar Energy Solutions for Your Home.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Congressman Steve Israel, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi are all scheduled to appear at a panel discussion.

"Nassau County, with its many coastal communities, is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The Long Island Global Warming Summit is a great opportunity for families to learn about how they can help to reduce their carbon footprint. Even something as simple as using compact fluorescent light bulbs at home can make a big difference," said County Executive Suozzi. "Each of us has a responsibility to safeguard the environment, both for our well-being and for the well-being of the future generations of our planet."

Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. Several climatologists and other scientists have reported that an increase in global temperatures is expected to cause other changes, including sea level rise, increased intensity of extreme weather events and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. Other effects of global warming are said to include changes in agricultural yields, glacier retreat, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.

According to the An Inconvenient Truth website and the Environmental Protection Agency, most emissions from homes are from the fossil fuels burned to generate electricity and heat. By using energy more efficiently at home, you can reduce your emissions and lower your energy bills by more than 30 percent.

• Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb.

• Move your thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer.

• Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner.

• Install a programmable thermostat.

• Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases.

• Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket.

• Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible.

• Unplug electronics from the wall when you're not using them.

• Be sure you're recycling at home.

• Buy locally grown and produced foods.

• Buy organic foods as much as possible.

• Avoid heavily packaged products.

Sponsors for this event include Anton Community Newspapers, Farmingdale State College, Keyspan, Young Explorers Science Club, Tragar Oil, Canvas Magazine and the Amazing Animals Exhibit at the Sands Point Preserve. For more information, contact Ray Ann Havasy at 764-0045 or go to www.CSTL.org or visit www.liglobalwarming.org. Tickets are $5 per person. The summit will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.