scholarly journals From Audits to Projects: Evaluating New York State Policy to Encourage Home Retrofit Projects

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 631
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L. Hewitt ◽  
Jean Léon Boucher
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Census Data ◽  
New York State ◽  
Energy Audit ◽  
York State ◽  
Information Transfers ◽  
Home Values ◽  
Audit Program

This research explores socio-spatial characteristics of home retrofit projects in New York State and their association with the state’s free home energy audit program. Prior work by the authors found that zip codes with more elder individuals and higher levels of education are more likely to undertake an energy audit; it was also found that higher incomes may be negatively correlated with audit decisions. Less understood is the follow-up decision after an audit to undertake a retrofit. From a policy and climate perspective, the actionable retrofit decision is far more impactful than the informational audit, making it an important area of further research. This work examines this understudied area using a combination of datasets, including census data, American Community Survey (ACS) data, and retrofits data provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Findings indicate that many of the same socioeconomic characteristics that predict audits are influential in retrofit projects as well (age, education, higher home values). A strong statistical relationship was found between audits per capita and subsequent retrofit projects, which is to be expected, as NYSERDA requires audits of residents desiring efficiency retrofits. However, this also indicates that the role of the audit in information transfers may be highly influential in encouraging home energy efficiency projects. This finding underscores the policy importance of offering low- or no-cost energy audit incentives to encourage greater participation in home retrofit programs.

PUBLIC HEALTH, NURSING, MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1956 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 506-508
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
New York State ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Retrolental Fibroplasia ◽  
State Laws ◽  
York State ◽  
Special Programs ◽  
Health Nursing

APPEARANCE of "new diseases" is a phenomenon well known to observing pediatricians. When a new disease is first reported, there is often some doubt as to whether it is a separate entity, then a certain amount of hesitation while the definition and characteristics of the disease are being investigated, and finally a rush of increased diagnoses as the disease becomes more "popular" or is better understood. Very often therapy awaits elucidation of etiology, and, of course, therapy is not always successful. The problem of retrolental fibroplasia has constituted an interesting case in point which, while it has not followed all of the characteristics noted above, has certainly approached them. A recently published analysis of "The Rise and Fall of Retrolental Fibroplasia in New York State—A Preliminary Report" by Yankauer, Jacobziner, and Schneider (New York State J. Med., 56:1474, May 1, 1956), reviews in striking fashion the progress of the disease. In contrast to many reports of disease incidence, the paper from New York State is a model of care and precision. The authors point out that diagnosis and follow-up of this condition in New York State are encouraged by state laws regarding the care of the blind, as well as by the special programs for premature infants, which have been promoted by both the city and the state health departments. Furthermore, the reports on the disease have been carefully investigated and the fact of "popularity" mitigated by studying both the time at which the disease is reported in relation to the age of the child, and the evidence for confirmation of the diagnosis.

scholarly journals The Potential Impact of the New York State Smokers’ Quitline on Population-Level Smoking Rates in New York

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (22) ◽  
pp. 4477
Author(s):  
Nathan Mann ◽  
James Nonnemaker ◽  
Kevin Davis ◽  
LeTonya Chapman ◽  
Jesse Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Smoking Prevalence ◽  
New York State ◽  
State Level ◽  
Population Level ◽  
York State ◽  
Point Reduction ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Current Impact

Receiving smoking cessation services from telephone quitlines significantly increases quit success compared with no intervention or other quitting methods. To affect population-level smoking, quitlines must provide a sufficient proportion of smokers with effective interventions. Nationally, quitlines reach around 1% of adult smokers annually. From 2011 through 2016, the average annual reach of the New York State Smokers’ Quitline (NYSSQL) was 2.9%. We used data on the reach and cessation outcomes of NYSSQL to estimate its current impact on population-level smoking prevalence and to estimate how much reach would have to increase to achieve population-level smoking prevalence reductions. We estimate NYSSQL is associated with a 0.02 to 0.04 percentage point reduction in smoking prevalence in New York annually. If NYSSQL achieved the recommended annual reach of 8% (CDC Best Practices) and 16% (NAQC), state-level prevalence would decrease by an estimated 0.07–0.12 and 0.13–0.24 percentage points per year, respectively. To achieve those recommended levels of reach, NYSSQL would need to provide services to approximately 3.5 to 6.9 times more smokers annually. Given their reach, quitlines are limited in their ability to affect population-level smoking. Increasing quitline reach may not be feasible and would likely be cost-prohibitive. It may be necessary to re-think the role of quitlines in tobacco control efforts. In New York, the quitline is being integrated into larger efforts to promote cessation through health systems change.

scholarly journals Infertility treatment and autism risk using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 684-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Robinson ◽  
T Parikh ◽  
T Lin ◽  
E M Bell ◽  
E Heisler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
New York State ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Infertility Treatment ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Fertility Treatment ◽  
York State

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Are toddlers conceived by fertility treatment at higher risk of failing a screening tool for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) than toddlers not conceived by treatment? SUMMARY ANSWER Compared with children not conceived by infertility treatment, children conceived by any infertility treatment, ovulation induction with or without intrauterine insemination (OI/IUI), or assisted reproductive technologies (ART) appeared to have had higher odds of failing an ASD screening; however, results were inconclusive and need replication. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Although most of the studies which have examined risk of ASD after ART show no association, the results are mixed. Thus, further studies are needed to clarify this association. STUDY DESIGN SIZE, DURATION The Upstate KIDS Study is a population-based, prospective cohort study of children born in New York State between 2008 and 2010. Children were screened for ASD using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) at ages 18 and 24 months. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, AND METHODS The New York State live-birth registry was used to identify newborns conceived with and without fertility treatment with a 1:3 ratio, frequency matched on region of birth. At 18 and 24 months, 3183 and 3063 mothers, respectively, completed the M-CHAT questionnaire. The current analysis included 2586 singletons and 1296 twins with M-CHAT information at 18 and/or 24 months. Multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE) was used to estimate odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) after adjustment for covariates such as maternal age, education and plurality. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We found that 200 (5.2%) and 115 (3.0%) children failed the M-CHAT at 18 and 24 months, respectively. The associations between use of infertility treatment and failing the M-CHAT at 18 and/or 24 months were positive but inconclusive as they failed to exclude no association (18 months aOR 1.71, 95% CI: 0.81–3.61; 24 months aOR 1.78, 95% CI: 0.66–4.81; and both 18 and 24 months aOR 1.53, 95% CI: 0.78–2.99). The relationships between OI/IUI and ART with M-CHAT failure at 18 and/or 24 months were similar to those of using any fertility treatment. In vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection was not consistently positively or inversely associated with M-CHAT failure at each time point (18 months aOR 1.20, 95% CI: 0.51–2.83; 24 months aOR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.37–2.31; and both 18 and 24 months aOR 1.09, 95% CI: 0.50–2.60). LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION The M-CHAT is a screening tool used for ASD risk assessment, and therefore, M-CHAT failure does not indicate ASD diagnosis. In addition, we did not have power to detect associations of small magnitude. Finally, non-response to follow-up may bias the results. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Despite lack of precision, the positive associations between ART and M-CHAT failure suggest that larger population-based studies with longer follow-up are needed. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Supported by the Intramural Research Program of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD; contracts HHSN275201200005C, HHSN267200700019C). The sponsor played no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis or interpretation, writing of the manuscript or decision to submit the article for publication. There are no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not applicable.

Strategic technology adoption and entry deterrence in broadband

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 713-729
Author(s):  
Tedi Skiti
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Local Level ◽  
New York State ◽  
Investment Strategy ◽  
Entry Deterrence ◽  
Strategic Investment ◽  
York State ◽  
The Us

Abstract In this article, we examine the role of strategic investment in the US broadband industry. In particular, we provide evidence that cable incumbents adjust their investment strategy in response to fiber entry threat and that these deterrence strategies have been successful particularly in intermediate sized markets. We compile data on broadband deployment and exogenous franchise agreements for potential fiber entrants at the most local level in New York State. The results indicate that strategic cable investment may negatively affect optical fiber diffusion.

Building a Pro-Worker, Pro-Union Climate Movement

2020 ◽  
pp. 131-148
Author(s):  
Lara Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New York ◽  
Labor Unions ◽  
New York State ◽  
Environmental Movement ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Green Jobs ◽  
York State

This chapter outlines tensions among unions in the energy sector and debates about a pro-climate, pro-worker agenda. Proposals for “green jobs” that protect the environment do not ensure good, union jobs. Energy-sector unions have often been wary of such proposals, arguing correctly that green jobs are rarely available in the same quality or quantity as jobs in fossil-fuel industries. Drawing on cases from climate initiatives in New York State, this chapter argues that unions must be at the table when proposals to expand green jobs are designed and implemented. It outlines a practical plan for unions to work with politicians and communities to ensure “just transition.” The chapter explains that while climate change issues have often pitted labor unions against the environmental movement and its progressive allies, there are also examples of successful “blue–green” alliances. These coalitions strengthen the labor movement by forging new ties with important allies and allowing workers to proactively shape the role of unions and workers in the emerging green economy.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document