‘Cash for Caulkers’
The Obama Administration has taken some measures and announced plans to provide incentives to homeowners that retrofit their houses and decrease their energy use. While measures are being taken to help decrease home energy use, not all of them have been successful or are actually viable. The article below from the Wall Street Journal provides great information about the challenges that Obama’s green agenda faces, due especially to the fact that many of his plans require stimulus money (the use of which has garnered much controversy). Congress has so far been unready to approve such spending, as more and more Americans are concerned about governmental spending during the economic downturn.
One measure from the article that sounds viable in terms of accomplishing two objectives: increasing employment, and making homes more energy efficient, is detailed below:
“The Homestar plan the president fleshed out Tuesday would provide up to $3,000 for homeowners who insulate, replace windows, or install energy-saving heating, air-conditioning or ventilation systems. The rebates would be provided at the point of sale, by product retailers or contractors. The proposal is part of a plan by the administration to boost employment among U.S. makers of insulation and other materials covered by the rebates, and spur installation-related hiring in the construction sector, where unemployment hovers near 25%.
Widely hailed by environmentalists and “green” building contractor groups, the program could reduce energy bills by as much as half for homes built in the latter half of the last century.”
Wall Street Journal: Cash for Caulkers
Here is a great video that discusses the benefits and practicality of Obama’s proposed retrofitting program:
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Green Affordable Housing:
Case Studies Showing How Green Housing Can Be Energy and Cost-Efficient
Particularly in a city like New York, it is important to keep affordable housing in mind. Investing in energy efficient housing in a rich neighborhood is a different matter from trying to encourage people with little money to invest what they have into measures that will supposedly benefit them in the long run. With these ideas in mind, New Ecology and the Green CDCS intiative teamed up to publish a report on case studies conducted concerning affordable housing in cities and towns across the United States. The results of the study are incredibly important for the conception of green buildings, because the public perception tends to be that green costs are higher and are therefore not a viable option for affordable housing. As shown in the study, an initial investment will almost inevitably yield benefits if developers and owners decide to build and maintain green buildings.
One case study was Melrose Commons II (or Sunflower Way) in Bronx, New York. Melrose Commons II is a $12 million, 90-unit multi-family project. It was completed in 2002 and is now part of the green building program of New York City’s Housing Partnership. All of the homes in Melrose Commons are Energy Star homes. The methods used to make Melrose Commons sustainable largely conform with the components of green building found on the Green Building page of our site. The costs and benefits of the endeavor to make Melrose Commons a green project are shown in the tables below. As shown in Table 4, the energy costs in Melrose Commons are less than half of traditional energy costs, and the overall benefits of the green project equalled more than $3 million for homeowners. The up-front investment was $272,430, while the savings expected to be gathered over the building’s life span equals more than $3,261,441. Click on the charts below to make the data larger and more comprehensible!
Table 3 is demonstrative of the overall results from the case studies. What CDC Initiatives found was that in all but one case study, the benefits of green housing actually surpassed the intial investments, thereby disproving the theory that green costs are too high for afforadable housing. (1)
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EPA Construction Initiative
The EPA has set up an incentive-based approach to greener contruction. Sustainable building refers to the creation of buildings using healthier resource-efficient modes of building, maintenance and operation. There are green building certification programs that offer points to companies who design sustainable buildings. THe U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), for example, has a green building rating system, as detailed below:
(1)
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In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama indicated that he would like to “give rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy efficient, which supports clean energy jobs.” Below please find some of those incentives offered on national and/or local levels.
Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (http://www.dsireusa.org/) was created in 1995 by the U.S. Department of Energy and identifies itself as “a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.” The database lists national and local initiatves that include all of the following: Bond Programs, Corporate Tax Incentives, Grant Programs, Green Building Incentives, Industry Recruitment/Support, Leasing Programs, Loan Programs, PACE Financing, Personal Tax Incentives, Production Incentives, Property Tax Incentives, Rebate Programs, Sales Tax Incentives, and Utility Rate Discounts. (2)
- Green Building Tax Credit Program: In 2001, New York enacted a Green Building Tax Credit, which applies to homeowners and building tenants that live in buildings meeting certain green standards. A similar tax credit was established for business and personal income taxpayers in 2000. The maximum incentive is $2 million and the money is distributed over a five year period. There are six different components under which projects can qualify for credit: Whole Building Credit (owner or tenant), Base Building Credit (owner), Tenant Space Credit, Fuel Cell Credit, Photovoltaic Module Credit, and Green Refrigerant Credit.
- Energy Conservation Improvements Property Tax Exemption: Certain energy-conservation improvements in single-family to four-family houses are exempt from real property taxation to the extent that the additions would increase the home’s value. Some examples of energy-conservation initiatives that are eligible for the tax exemption include energy efficient central air conditioners, electric heat pump water heaters, natural gas, propane, or oil water heaters, advanced main air circulating fans, certain biomass-fueled stoves, and solar and wind energy systems.
- Residential Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program: This program is a New York State-based incentives program, which offers a rebate for people purchasing energy efficient refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, and dishwashers that replace existing appliances in single-family and multi-family residential dwellings. Appliances must be purchased on or after February 12, 2010 to qualify, and the maximum incentive is $555. The program budget is $16.8 million.
- Energy $mart Commercial Lighting Program Incentives: Between March 17, 2010 and May 31, 2010, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is providing $340,000 on a first-come, first-serve basis for business partners who design projects that improve energy-efficient lighting in commercial facilities. Incentive amounts vary by project size and type. Examples of eligible partners include contractors, distributors, designers, architects, engineers, energy services companies, interior designers, and manufacturing representatives.
- Energy $mart Multifamily Performance Program: NYSERDA’s Energy $mart Multifamily Performance Program provides incentives to improve energy savings for new and existing multifamily homes. Under the program, existing buildings are compared against similar building, and the owner and partner develop plans for how efficient the project will be in comparison. Eligible buildings must have five or more units, and the building owner must demonstrate that the property is publicly-subsidized or that at least 25% of residents receive public assistance or earn below 80% of the State Median Income. Eligible technologies for the program incentives include clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerator, dehumidifiers, lighting, furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, central air conditioners, building insulation, windows, doors, comprehensive measures/whole building. The program dates from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2011. The budget for Regular Multifamily homes is $26.1 million and that for Low-income Multifamily homes is $114.6 million.
- Energy $mart New Construction Program: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority uses the Energy $mart New Construction Program to encourage the incorporation of sustainable and energy efficient principles into the design, construction and operation of agricultural, commercial, industrial/manufacturing, institutional and multi-family buildings. The program budget is $53 million, and the maximum incentive is up to $850,000 for upstate residents and $1.65 million for Con Edison customers. Funding is available for technical assistance; commissioning services; pre-qualified measures; energy storage/electric to non-electric cooling; custom electric efficiency measures, super-efficient chillers; whole-building design, demand response, LEED projects, and industrial and process efficiency. The eligible period is from January 4, 2010 through December 31, 2010 and funds are distributed on a first-come first-serve basis.
- Existing Facilities Program: The NYSERDA Existing Facilities program is a combination of the former Peak Load Reduction and Enhanced Commercial and Industrial Performance programs. It offers a variety of incentives to New York State customers who pay a Systems Benefit Charge. erformance incentives are available for electric efficiency, energy storage, demand response, combined heat and power, and industrial process efficiency. Performance incentives are awarded as one-time payments based on the expected first-year savings offered by a given improvement. The incentives are available until June 30, 2010. These are the possible incentives: Electric Efficiency: $0.12 per kWh (upstate), $0.16 per kWh (ConEd)
Energy Storage: $300 per kW (upstate), $600 per kW (ConEd)
Demand Response: $100 per kW (upstate), $200 per kW (ConEd)
CHP: $0.10 per kWh + $600 per kW ($750 per kW for ConEd)
Industrial Process: $0.12 per kWh (upstate), $0.16 per kWh (ConEd) - Home Performance with Energy Star Homeowner Financing Incentive: The New York State Research and Development Authority provides this incentive for homeowners with 1-4 homes participating in the Home Performance with Energy Star program. Participants are entitled to a rebate of 10% of the cost of qualified Home Performance improvements (a maximum of $3,000).
- Industrial and Process Efficiency Performance Incentives: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority provides funding for capital improvement projects that save energy and improve productivity. Existing facilities and new constructions are both eligible, and projects can fall into the following categories: projects that reduce overall electric consumptions, projects that reduce energy use per production unit, and data center projects that reduce energy per unit of data processed. Funding is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis through December 31, 2011. The minimum incentive is $10,000, while the maximum incentive is 50% of the project cost (up to $5 million per site).
- Residential (Electric) Energy Efficiency Rebate Program: The Home Energy SavingsCentral Program offers rebates of between $25 and $1000 on energy efficient equipment and measures. Eligible technologies include water heaters, heat pumps, central air conditioners, programmable thermostats, duct/air sealing, motors, motor-ASDs/VSDs, natural gas furnaces, natural gas boilers, boiler reset controls, steam boilers, indirect water heaters, programmable thermostats, and duct and air sealing. In order to be eligible, participants must be residential electric customers who upgrade their heating, cooling or ventilation systems with specific types of energy efficient equipment. The following are the available incentives: Central Air Conditioning: $400-$600, depending on efficiency
Air-source Heat Pumps: $400-$600, depending on efficiency
Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM) Furnace Fans: $200
Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters: $400
Programmable Thermostats: $25
Duct Sealing: $100 per hour
Air Sealing: $75 per hour - Residential (Gas) Energy Efficiency Rebate Program: and measures for residential electric customers who upgrade their heating, cooling or ventilation systems with specific types of energy efficient equipment. Eligible technologies include water heaters, furnaces, boilers, programmable thermostats, energy management systems/building controls. Incentives amounts vary but are approximately: Natural Gas Furnace: $200-$600 depending on efficiency
Natural Gas Water Boiler: $500-$1000 depending on efficiency
Steam Boiler: $500
Boiler Reset Control: $100
Indirect Water Heater: $300 - Small Business Energy Efficiency Program: The Business Energy SavingsCentral program is for non-residential customers of Central Hudson with electric demand of less than 100 kilowatts average per month. This includes businesses, local governments, not-for-profits, private institutions, public and private schools, colleges and healthcare facilities. The program offers a free energy audit by one of Central Hudson’s participating Trade Allies or a representative of Central Hudson, which provides a report detailing where efficiency measures can produce the most savings, the cost of installing each measure, the expected payback period for each installation, and rebates up to 70 percent of the equipment cost of a qualified efficiency upgrade. Eligible technologies include refrigerators, water heaters, lighting, lighting controls/sensors, heat pumps, central air conditioners, motors, motor-ASDs/VSDs, daylight-dimming controls.
- Residential Energy Efficiency Incentives Program: The Residential HVAC Electric Rebate Program is being offered by ConEdison until January 15, 2011. The program offers energy efficient heating and cooling equipment for residences in the eligible service area at addresses with one to four residential dwelling units. Incentives amount to the following: Central AC:$400 – $600
Central Air Source Heat Pump: $400 – $600
ECM Furnace Fan: $200
Electric Heat Pump Water Heater: $400
Duct/Air Sealing: $600
Energy Star Thermostats: $0 -$25 The Central Air Conditioning Program provides a free programmable thermostat, capable of managing energy use over the internet or manually. The thermostat will be connected to the customer’s central air conditioning system. The Targeted Demand Side Management program pays contractors to go out into areas where demand is determined to be high, changing incandescent light bulbs to CFLs for free. ConEd offers basically the same program for natural gas, with comparable financial incentives, entitled the Residential HVAC Gas Rebate Program. - Business Energy Efficiency Incentives Program: ConEd has a number of programs set up to help businesses use more sustainable energy to their financial advantage. The Small Business Direct Install Program offers a free energy survey to applicants seeking to upgrade to efficient equipment. A comprehensive report documenting where savings may be achieved is made available to the eligible business. The Central Air Conditioning Program provides free programmable thermostats to eligible business customers, which makes it much easier to control customer energy management needs. The Targeted Demand Side Management Program which allows customers to partner with select energy service contractors in selecting efficiency measures to pursue. The Distribution Load Relief Program pays customers to curtail energy usage during energy intensive events that strain the power grid.
- Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program: The Long Island Power Authority offers incentives to non-residential customers to increase the energy efficiency of their facilities through its Commercial Construction Program. LIPA will provide up to $10,000 in technical assistance services, including consultants to help businesses choose and implement energy-efficient measures and equipment for customers exploring the custom approach or the whole building design approach. More complicated projects warrant 50 percent of any additional planning costs, up to $50,000. Eligible technologies include lighting, chillers, heat pumps, central air conditioners, compressed air, energy management systems/building controls, motors, motor-ASDs/VSDs, comprehensive measures/whole building, custom/others pending approval, vending machine controls, and commercial cooking equipment.
- Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program: The Long Island Power Authority also offers incentives for rsidential customers to encourage them to increase energy efficiency in their homes. There are a number of programs supported by the LIPA, including the Cool Homes Program, which provides rebates for energy-efficient central air conditioning systems and air-source heat pumps, and the Geothermal Energy Wise Program, which provides rebates for new and replacement geothermal heat pumps. The rebates are available until December 31, 2010. Amounts vary but are approximately: Split Central Air Conditioner: $250-$700, depending on efficiency rating
Ductless Mini Split Systems: $250-$700, depending on efficiency rating
Air Source Heat Pump: $250-$700, depending on efficiency rating
Geothermal Heat Pump: $200 – $1,000/unit, varies by efficiency rating and whether the unit is a replacement or a new installation
Variable-Speed and Two-Speed Pool Pumps: $75 – $200
Furnace Fan Motor: $200
Clothes Washer: $50
Refrigerator: $75
Dehumidifier: $10
Cold Cathode Lights: $2.00 per pack
Specialty CFLs: $2.00 per pack
High Heat Reflector Lamp: $2.50 per pack - Residential Conservation Program: Residential Western New York National Fuel Customers can apply for energy efficiency rebates through the Conservation Incentive Program. Rebates amount to the following: Hot Air Furnace: $300
Hot Air Furnace with Electronically Commutated Motor: $400
Hot Water Boiler: $400
Steam Boiler: $200
Programmable Thermostat: $25
Indirect Water Heater: $300 - Small Commercial Conservation Program: In conjunction with NYSERSA’s Existing Facilities Program, National Fuel provides an energy effiicient equipment application for custom and standard rebates. Eligible technologies include water heaters, furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, heat recovery, programmable thermostats, and commercial cooking equipment. Incentives amount to: Customized Rebates: 50% of incremental equipment and installation costs
Unit Heater: $1000
Hot Air Furnace: $500
Low Intensity Infrared Heating: $500
Programmable Thermostat: $25
Hot Water Boiler: $600-$3500
Steam Boiler: $600-$2/kBtuh
Tankless Water Heaters: $350
Storage Tank Water Heater: $150
Fryer: $750
Convection Oven: $500
Combination Oven: $750
Broiler: $500
Steamer: $750
Griddle: $500 - Commercial (Electric) Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs (Upstate New York): National Grid offers electric energy efficiency programs for its’ large commercial and industrial customers in upstate New York. There are programs available for new constructions and existing facilities. For new constructions, financial incentives pay up to 75% of the incremental costs for the high efficiency materials and systems. For existing facilities, incentives are designed to pay, on average, approximately 40%-50% of the total project cost. Incentives for custom projects provide up to 45% of the total project costs.
- Commercial (Gas) Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs: National Grid’s Commercial Energy Efficiency Program provides support services and incentives to commercial customers who install energy efficient natural gas related measures. Custom incentives are available for projects in New York City that demonstrate the use of natural gas more efficiently than industry practices and/or more efficiently than the minimum building code requirements. Incentives are available covering up to a maximum of 50% of project costs, capped at $100,000 per site and/or per project. Custom incentives are classified as either Level One or Level Two depending on size and complexity of the project. The Commercial High Efficiency Heating Program offers rebates ranging from $200 to $6,000 for various types of energy efficient space and water heating equipment. Rebates depend on equipment type and efficiency. The Gas-Fired Commercial Kitchen Equipment Program offers $1,000 rebates for commercial steamers, fryers, and convection ovens. In NYC, National Grid will also finance 50% (up to $10,000) of the cost incurred as part of an approved energy efficiency engineering study.
- Residential (Electric) Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs (Upstate New York): ational Grid residential electric customers in Upstate New York are eligible for a variety of electric equipment rebates to help them save energy in their homes. Rebates are available for Energy Star programmable thermostats, central air conditioning systems, air-source heat pumps, ECM furnace fans, electric heat pump water heaters, and duct and air sealing. Rebates range from $25-$600, depending on the equipment.
- Residential (Gas) Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs: National Grid’s High Efficiency Heating Rebates are offered to any residential heating customer in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Metro New York. Eligible technologies include furnaces, boilers, and boiler reset controls. Rebates of up to $1,000 are available, depending on equipment type. National Grid also offers $25 rebates for the purchase and installation of Energy Star programmable thermostats, and $300 rebates for the installation of an indirect water heater attached to a natural gas Energy Star forced hot water boiler.
- Small/Mid-Sized Business Energy Efficiency Program (Upstate New York): National Grid’s Small/Mid-Sized Business Program is for business customers in upstate New York with an average demand of 100 kilowatts or less per month. The program aids qualifying business customers in installing energy efficient equipment. National Grid provides a free energy audit and report of recommended energy efficiency improvements. If the business customer chooses to make the recommended improvements using National Grid’s vendor and equipment, National Grid will pay up to 70% of the cost of the installation of energy efficient equipment. The remaining share can be paid through the customer’s electric bill, at 0% interest over a maximum period of 24 months. Customers paying their share in a single lump sum are provided a 15% discount. Eligible energy efficient equipment includes: lighting upgrades, energy efficient time clocks, occupancy sensors, programmable thermostats, walk-in and reach-in cooler measures, and other site-specific custom projects. Customers can register online at the website listed above for a free energy audit.
- Rebates for High Efficiency Natural Gas Equipment: New York State Electric and Gas offers rebates to residential natural gas customers who install energy efficient natural gas equipment and related control equipment for equipment installed after June 30, 2009. Eligible technologies include water heaters, furnaces, boilers, programmable thermostats, and duct/air sealing. Rebates range from $25-$1000 depending on the equipment.
- Residential Gas Efficiency Program: Orange and Rockland provides rebates for residential customers purchasing energy efficient natural gas equipment. Eligible technologies include water heaters, furnaces, boilers, steam-system upgrades, programmable thermostats, energy management systems/building controls, and duct/air sealing. Rebates range from $25-$1000.
- Rebates for High Efficiency Natural Gas Equipment: Rochester Gas and Electric offers rebates for natural gas customers who install energy efficient natural gas equipment and related control equipment. Eligible technologies include water heaters, furnaces, boilers, programmable thermostats, and duct/air sealing. Incentives vary from $200-$1000 depending on the equipment.
- Assisted Home Performance Grants: The maximum grants are, for the general public: $5,000 for single-homes, $10,000 per building for 2-4 family units, and for National Grid gas customers: $6,000 for single homes, $12,000 for 2-4 family units. The Assisted Home Performance Program offers grants to low-income homeowners for up to 50% of costs for home improvements related to energy-conservation. Homeowners who wish to participate in the program have to contact a BPI contractor or a community organization who performs a a Comprehensive Home Assessment in order to determine what improvements need to be made. The energy efficient improvements work scope must have a savings to investment ratio of at least 1.1 for the recommended package of improvements in the Comprehensive Home Assessment. Eligible customers are electricity distribution customers of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation who pay the System Benefits Charge (SBC). National Grid gas customers quality for higher incentives.
- EmPower New York: EmPower New York is a partnership between the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Honeywell International. The program focuses on replacing refrigerators and lighting (along with other similar fixtures) in order to effectively reduce electricity costs. Eligible measures include building insulation, heating system upgrades, draft reduction, and fuel conversion for certain appliances. In order to be eligible customers have to reside in a building with 100 or fewer units, and either participate in a utility assistance program or have a income at 60% or less of the median income. Income-qualified natural gas customers of Con Edison and National Grid residing in 1-4 family homes are eligible for additional gas efficiency incentives. Services are targeted to customers on the basis of energy usage and the potential for energy-saving measures.
- Grants for Public and Non-Profit Energy Conservation Projects: The New York State Research and Development Authority began this grant program in 2009 for projects related to energy efficiency improvements, on-site renewable energy projects, and clean vehicle fleet projects and undertaken by municipal governments; public schools, public colleges and universities, public and private hospitals, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, and non-profits. The State Energy Program provides grant funding for project implementation fuunder the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. There are three different components to the program: Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Clean Vehicle Fleets. Projects falling under the Energy Efficiency category can have 100% of project costs funded with a maximum of $1 million. Requirements state that costs must be less than $900 per 10 million BTUs of energy saved annually and relate to lighting, heating and cooling, building envelope improvements, combined heat and power (CHP), motors, building or facility optimization, geothermal technologies and other energy efficiency equipment. Funding for Renewable Energy projects is also available for 100% of costs (up to $1 million), and total costs must be costs must be less than $8,000 per 10 million BTUs of energy generated or saved annually. Requirements state that projects must take place on the customer’s premises, be used primarily to serve on-site energy needs, and be designed such that energy generation does not exceed annual on-site energy consumption. Eligible projects include those related to solar electric, wind energy systems, solar domestic hot water and space heating, high efficiency, indoor, wood-fueled boilers, and fuel cell systems. For Clean Vehicle Fleets projects, funding is available for up to 75% (and as much as $500,000) of costs. Total project costs must be less than $5,000 per 10 million BTUs of energy saved annually. Eligible measures include a variety of light, medium, and heavy duty alternative fuel vehicles; fueling, refueling, and recharging equipment for alternative-fuel vehicles; and anti-idling equipment. There was originally a total of $74 million allocated to this program, $50 million of which still remained in October 2009. rants are scheduled to be awarded competitively in up to four rounds of solicitations for as long as funding lasts.
- Municipal Sustainable Energy Programs: Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing allows property owners to borrow money to pay for energy improvements. The amount borrowed is typically repaid through a special assessment on the property over a period of years. This program was made possible by two bill enacted in New York in 2009 (in August and November that authorized local governments to offer such programs using a variety of mechanisms.
- Energy Star Financing Program: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Energy Finance Solutions have worked together to create the Energy Star Financing Program, which offers loans for the installation of qualified energy efficient and renewable energy measures in owner-occupied 1-2 family homes. A certified Building Performance Institute contractor must perform a Comprehensive Home Assessment, and the borrower and contracter work out the needed improvements, after which the contractor is paid and the borrower replays the loan to the EFS. The loan covers up to 100% of costs and can range anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000.
- Residential Loan Fund: The New York Residential Loan Fund is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and provides reduced-interest rate loans through participating lenders to finance renovation or construction projects that improve a home’s energy efficiency. The level of interest rate reduction may be up to 4%. The maximum incentive is generally $20,000 but can be up to $30,000 for ConEd customers (both of which are for 10-year loan terms. In order to be eligible, participants must be esidents in 1-4 family homes that are customers of one of the state’s six investor-owned electric or natural gas utilities — Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., National Grid, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., or Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation — and that pay the System Benefits Charge or the Renewable Portfolio Standard charge.
- Long Island Green Homes Program: The Town of Babylon’s Solid Waste Fund funds a program that supports the upgrading of energy effiency in the town, which is located in Long Island. The program helps homeowners by allowing them to pay the cost of such upgrads over time through the money saved from reduced energy bills. The payments are attached to the property rather than the homeowner. Potential participants must fill out a Self-Check Home Inventory Form and then undergo a Home Performance Evaulation. A liscenced energy auditor conducts the Evaulation and the contract enters into a contract and completes the improvements, which may include efficient lighting, weatherstripping, caulking, air and duct sealing, insulation, upgrading of heating units.The contractor is paid by the program, and the homeowner repays the costs in monthly installments that are intended, ultimately, to be less than the annual energy cost savings. The maximum incentive is $12 million.
- Energy Conservation Device Permitting Fees: Riverhead, a town on Long Island, has created a building permit fee structure that provides a discount to people who install energy conservation devices on both residential and commercial buildings. Solar panels are mentioned in the town code as particularly eligible. Installation fees for such devices usually reach close to $1000, but the discount redeuces the price to as low as $150. (3)
Sources:
(1) New Ecology & The Green CDCs Initiative, The Costs and Benefits of Green Affordable Housing (Accessed on 4.29.10).
(2) http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/rrr/imr/iniatitve.htm (Accessed on 3.8.10)
(3) http://www.dsireusa.org/ (Accessed 4.3.10)
(4) http://www.dsireusa.org/summarytables/finee.cfm (Accessed on 4.11.10)
