NEW HAVEN, CT - The City of New Haven hired its first Director for the new Office of Sustainability. Christine Eppstein Tang will assume her position in the City on Tuesday, February 16th. As Director, Tang will be responsible for launching the new department’s efforts aimed at making New Haven a more sustainable City in the interest of benefitting the environment and reducing costs in a number of areas.
“We’re looking forward to having Christine on board as we continue to grow a greener New Haven,” said Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. “The Office of Sustainability will help us further out commitment to preserving our environment and achieving cost savings through the implementation of innovative policies and practices.”
Among the initial areas of focus, Tang will be charged with the
following:
- Energy conservation initiatives
- Overhaul of the City’s recycling program
- Efforts to improve local air quality.
“I am very excited to join the New Haven City’s team in this new position, and look forward to drawing on my experience in the private and non-profit sectors to serve our residents,” said Tang. “To me, a city’s sustainability has three essential, interdependent elements:
environmental, social and economic, which is why coordination with city departments is crucial.”
Tang, who will earn a salary of $77,102, is being paid through grants including the Energy and Efficiency Conservation Block Grant the City received. The Department will operate on grants and donations so as to create an expense to tax payers in the City’s General Fund.
Tang earned her law degree at the Universitatea Ecologica in Bucharest, Romania and a masters in environmental law at the George Washington University.
