Last November, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi recently announced GreenLevittown, a public-private partnership to make Levittown, America's first suburb, America's first green suburb.

Suozzi outlined a comprehensive program, which would be funded entirely through partnerships from participating companies.

On Jan. 28, the Levittown Community Council hosted the county executive at Levittown Memorial Education Center to offer residents an opportunity to learn more about this program.

In what Suozzi called "easy environmentalism," he described a partnership with national and local companies to make it easy and affordable to implement environmentally responsible actions in the household.

Suozzi suggested installing an energy-saving device, replacing old boilers, upgrading insulation and windows, switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, and trying new technologies like solar heaters and biofuels. The company, Satco is donating 20,000 new Energy Star qualified light bulbs to Levittown. Intellidyne, LLC is offering its microprocessor-based Hot Water Heating System Fuel Economizer to 50 Levittown households at no cost. According to the company, the control has an outstanding record of energy saving, with reductions of 10 percent or more in energy use after installation. They are offering it to all Levittowners at a reduced rate of $399 installed.

"This is important in a town where many of the boilers are the ones originally installed when the homes were built in 1947," an Intellidyne press release stated. "The new computer-based controls will provide energy savings while ensuring the continued comfort of Levittown residents."

Suozzi pointed out that 20 of the hottest 21 days recorded in history were in the past 25 years.

"People are starting to accept the fact that global warming is a reality," he added. "We're starting to wonder if it is as serious as people are saying and I don't think we should take a chance. If you really want to change things dramatically, you have to make it easier for them to become environmentally responsible."

The door-to-door campaign, which is coordinated by Citizens Campaign for the Environment, the long-established environmental advocacy group, encourages Levittown's 17,000 homeowners to make households more environmentally friendly.

"We've knocked on 508 doors so far," Suozzi explained. "Of those 508, 309 were home and 121 of those people were interested in more information."

"Our goal is to create a model for the rest of the country on how to be environmentally responsible so that it would actually have an impact on global warming," Suozzi added. "The purpose of GreenLevittown is to figure out how we can do this the most affordable way. We want to reduce the carbon footprint of Levittown by 10 percent in 2008."

"A 10 percent decrease in the carbon footprint by year end is doable, I think, even if people just make minimal changes," Levittown Community Council board member Louise Cassano said.

In an effort to mark the results of this initiative, GreenLevittown will keep track of the homes signing up in interest of the program.

"This is just the beginning of the program and we're trying to get as much information to residents as possible," Suozzi said. "We're also looking into getting more people involved as block captains and an advisory committee."

About half of the over 200 people in attendance seemed the embrace the idea. Levittown Community Council President Gary Fisch said, "The concept is like the no smoking indoors concept. It will take a full generation to take hold."

Suozzi's GreenLevittown campaign also includes visiting several local schools, giving students a lesson on global warming and explaining how they can help the environment. The Levittown and Island Trees School Districts have also been proactive about teaching students how they can go green.

After doing research about global warming, Mr. Flynn's fourth grade class realized that they could make a difference on a daily basis. They have decided to lead M.F. Stokes Elementary School in a recycling campaign by joining the Go Green Initiative. This organization has provided ideas and resources for millions of teachers and students nationwide.

"I think that the Go Green Initiative helps children understand the importance of taking care of our environment," Stokes Principal Lisa Newman said. "Students learn environmentally responsible behaviors that can protect the environment for years to come. It teaches conservation and social responsibility that will affect the lives of future generations."

Students at East Broadway are recycling paper and water bottles on a daily basis.

The Division Avenue High School Science National Honor Society is recycling cell phones and ink cartridges.

"Additionally, we are educating our next generation of voters by providing a half-year elective in Environmental Science as well as a full-year AP Environmental Science course," Science Department Chairperson Alison Offerman-Celentano said. "It is especially important for schools to get involved to show students that grassroots movements can make a difference. It teaches children how to research a topic and advocate for change within their building or community."

Salk Middle School's Robotics Club did research on energy awareness for the FIRST Lego League Competition held on Jan. 13.

"This year's Power Puzzle competition had a theme of energy awareness - how we produce and use energy in our everyday lives," Club Advisor Joe Castelli said. "For the project part of our competition, we were required to conduct an energy audit or inspection of a building, and share our findings with members of our community."

They also came up with suggestions on how Salk can become more energy efficient.

The Island Trees Memorial Middle School recently created a Friends of the Environment Club and are hoping to soon begin a recycling program in the school as well.

GreenLevittown will also co-host a party with the Levittown Community Council on March 8 from 2 to 5 p.m. with environmental groups and vendors. They will also host an extreme makeover event on Earth Day in April.

"We're going to try to change thousands of light bulbs, hundreds of appliances and are even trying to get a car dealership to offer a deal on hybrid cars."

GreenLevittown is being funded by 10 corporate sponsors who are stepping up to offer giveaways, discounts, utility rebates, and low-interest financing. GreenLevittown partners include Alure Home Improvements, Bethpage Federal Credit Unions, EarthKind Energy, Intellidyne LLC, KeySpan, Lazard Ltd., Long Island Power Authority, P.C. Richard & Son, Satco Products and Tragar Oil Company. For more information visit www.greenlevittown.com or www.citizenscampaign.org.