CHRIS GIBSON

A comprehensive report on energy in New York: http://chrisgibson.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Power_Trends_2011.pdf.

As gathered by my staff and Energy Advisory Council, please visit the following websites for more information on energy efficiency and tax credits for energy projects:

• The Federal government offers great tax incentives for geothermal heating systems, which harness the earth’s natural heat instead of the outside air to function like a traditional heat pump. The tax credit covers 30% of the cost, up to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity. For this and other programs visit Energy Star’s website, http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index.
• To promote green energy options, the Federal government introduced important tax incentives for solar energy projects. Solar Estimate.org is a good source of information: http://www.solar-estimate.org/index.php?verifycookie=1&page=taxcredit&subpage=&external_estimator.
• For a comprehensive list of incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, bookmark the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE): http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?re=1&ee=1&spv=0&st=0&srp=1&state=NY.
  • Here are some of the highlights:
    • Numerous tax exemptions are available for homeowners who install energy efficient appliances. Check out New York’s Energy Conservation Improvements Property Tax Exemption: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=NY27F&re=1&ee=1. This exemption covers insulation, water heaters, furnaces, central air conditioners, programmable thermostats, windows and doors, and other upgrades.
    • Grants are available through the New York Assisted Home Performance Program: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=NY17F&re=1&ee=1. This program provides grants to low-income home owners in 1-4 family buildings for up to 50% of costs for energy efficient improvements.
    • Small business owners should get more information about the NYSEG Lighting Incentive Program: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=NY80F&re=1&ee=1. This program serves small business customers with a demand of 100 kilowatts or less. Customers may schedule a free energy assessment and then receive a 70% discount on the installed cost of recommended lighting measures.
    • To learn about the incentives for installing solar energy equipment, visit the NYSERDA Solar Thermal Incentive Program: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=NY87F&re=1&ee=1. Incentives are based on the amount of electricity displaced by the solar water heating system. The incentive is set at $1.50 per annual kilowatt-hour (kWh) displaced, up to $4,000 for residential systems and $25,000 for non-residential systems.
    • The Green Jobs-Green New York Financing Program, http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=NY88F&re=1&ee=1, offers loans of up to $13,000 for the installation of eligible appliances and HVAC systems in owner-occupied 1-4 family homes.
• Be sure to visit the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy: http://www.energysavers.gov/. This site is a clearinghouse for information on appliances, landscaping, heating and cooling systems, lighting, windows, water heating, insulation, and building design. The office of Energy Efficiency also answers questions for consumers at 1-877-EERE-INFO.
  • Here are some of the highlights:
    • For guidance on reducing costs associated with your water heater, visit http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12760.
    • Installing proper landscaping around your home can provide big energy savings. Click here for more information: http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/landscaping/index.cfm/mytopic=11910.
    • For more information on weather stripping and caulking, two simple features of your home that help heating and cooling systems run most efficiently, visit http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11230.
    • The Energy Savers Blog, http://www.eereblogs.energy.gov/energysavers/, discusses everything from smart building design to careers in the energy field.
    • Get a better understanding of your energy costs by using the mathematic formulas discussed here: http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/appliances/index.cfm/mytopic=10040.
      • These are a few examples:

Window fan:
(200 Watts × 4 hours/day × 120 days/year)  ÷  1000
= 96 kWh × 8.5 cents/kWh
= $8.16/year

Personal Computer and Monitor:
(120 + 150 Watts × 4 hours/day × 365 days/year)  ÷  1000
= 394 kWh × 8.5 cents/kWh
= $33.51/year

• The Cooperative Extension System, http://www.extension.org/wood%20energy, is a great resource for families in search of energy savings. This site’s “Ask the Expert” feature has descriptions of USDA funding programs for biomass energy.
• The New York State Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), http://www.dhcr.state.ny.us/programs/weatherizationassistance/, assists income-eligible customers by reducing their heating/cooling costs and improving the safety of their homes.
• WAP projects include air sealing, wall and ceiling insulation, heating system improvements or replacement, efficiency improvements in lighting, hot water tank and pipe insulation, and refrigerator replacements.
• Many New York families are heating their home with pellet stoves, these days, so I urge you to check out the Pellet Fuels Institute: http://www.pelletheat.org .The Institute educates consumers about the convenience and practicality of using wood pellet fuel in both residential and commercial applications.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Partnership is worth investigating: http://www.epa.gov/chp. The Partnership works with energy users, the CHP industry, state and local governments, and others to facilitate the development of new projects and to promote their environmental and economic benefits.
• The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), http://www.nyserda.org/default.asp, “strives to facilitate change through the widespread development and use of innovative technologies to improve the State’s energy, economic, and environmental wellbeing.” Its programs provide incentives for a variety of energy projects. The agency also administers the Energy Smart Loan Fund and the Technical Assistance FlexTech Program.
• The New York Power Authority (NYPA), http://www.nypa.gov/solar/100mw/default.htm, is exploring a public-private partnership for the installation of up to 100 megawatts of solar photovoltaic systems, including roof-mounted and ground-mounted arrays, at municipal facilities, public and private schools and government buildings throughout the state.