Cornell Cooperative Extension

Tompkins County
peeling paint on the side of a house
Image by Sandy Repp

Lead based paint is found in many older homes. Learn about the risks here.

Freshwater flooding from Hurricane Irene (2011) in Highland, Ulster County, New York. The former Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge (now Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park) is seen in the background, obscured by fog and overcast skies immediately following the storm.
Image by Julian Colton

Our 'Emergency Preparedness' provide information on a range of topics.

gloved hand with sponge cleaning wall

You can make non-toxic home cleaning products with lemons, baking soda & vinegar.

After flood waters recede, dangerous mold spores can begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours on a variety of household surfaces.
Image by Martin Grube/FEMA

Visit our pages on healthy homes to learn about mold, lead, radon and asbestos.

water drops
Image by Luis Nunes Alberto

Do you have a well? Visit our fact sheets on wells for how to keep your water safe and good-tasting!

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Your Home & Money

This section of our website includes information and resources on topics related to the physical aspects of housing, including energy conservation, indoor air quality, water purity, safety in the home, emergency preparedness, and home maintenance and repairs.  We also provide information, resources and classes in the areas of personal financial management and consumer issues.

a hand with pencil writing on a wordle graphic of many words associated with Health

Advancing Health Equity in CCE

"Building Capacity to Advance Health Equity" compiles focus group and other research on ways to the CCE system's capacity to address health equity issues.

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single-burner countertop induction cooktop

Induction Cooking

This energy efficient method of cooking uses magnetic energy to heat your pans and food. Get started with it at home with an inexpensive induction cook top.

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snow

Winter Weather Safety

Find tips on winter driving, personal and pet safety, how to prepare for winter storms, links to Cornell's EDEN website, and more, here on our Emergency Preparedness page

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gloved hand with sponge cleaning wall

Homemade Cleansers

Learn how to make your own cleaning products to not only save money but to also help the environment and your home.

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2014 National Radon Poster Contest, 3rd Place winner in New Jersey

Radon, Lead, Asbestos, Mold

These indoor pollutants could be an issue in your home. Learn about testing and mitigation, here on our Indoor Air Quality pages!

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Flag of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Native American nations; purple background with white symbols

Land Acknowledgment

We join Cornell University in acknowledging that our Ithaca site is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫ' also known as the Cayuga Nation.

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Last updated December 20, 2023

Your Home & Money

Starting Early!

Money as you grow book club

We know you are eager to build a good financial literacy foundation for your kids, but you might not feel that you have enough time, tools, and confidence. Fortunately, many of the building blocks for financial well-being – like patience, planning, and problem-solving – don't require a lot of financial know-how.

The Money as You Grow book club is a family financial education program that uses children’s books to help families learn key money concepts through reading, play, and quiet one-on-one talks.

For more information contact: Kenneth McLaurin, at kem228@cornell.edu or 607.272.2292.

Events

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