Happy New Year Fellow Green Comrades! Now that we're back in the office, let's start this year with an energy efficient bang. We have plenty to look forward to this year, with more workshops, events, and funding streams for energy efficiency. Keep posted for information on NYSERDA programs and incentives, energy efficiency projects, contractor and building owner trainings, and partner news and events.
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A Look at NYSERDA's Incentives
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 NYSERDA programs are available for home owners, multifamily buildings, commercial and industrial facilities, small business owners, schools, and more. To see what programs are available for you, go to www.nyserda.org.
The incentive we're highlighting this month are the Photovoltaic Incentives. NYSERDA's Solar Electric Programs are designed to help develop and implement a sustainable market for grid-connected solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) energy for all applications. Whether you are interested in a solar electric system for your home or business, NYSERDA has information and tools to help you make an informed decision about investing in a solar electric system. For example, the Clean Power Estimator is a great tool for evaluating the costs and benefits of a PV system. Note,
the tool has not yet been updated to incorporate recently passed legislation eliminating
the $2,000 cap on federal tax incentives.
Once you are ready to purchase a system, NYSERDA has financial incentives available to qualified New York residents to help reduce installed system costs by nearly 50% if you work with an eligible installer. Add in the federal, state, and city tax credits and property abatements, and you approximately have a $65,000 system cost reduced to $9,000.
To learn more about this incentive, join the E$C Coordinator as I give a presentation on the Photovoltaic Incentive and Tax Credits for NYC at the Alternative Energy Meetup.
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM
Place: The Reuters
Building, 3 Times Square (42nd St & 7th Ave);
Room: Millenium Conference
Room, 22nd Floor
RSVP required: howellshadow@yahoo.com
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Spotlight on one of our Partners: UHAB
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Our Partner of the Month is UHAB | Urban Homesteading Assistance Board has a rich
history in affordable housing and community renewal since 1973 by organizing,
developing, preserving, and supporting low-income, resident-controlled housing
cooperatives. UHAB has assisted over 1,700 buildings, creating
cooperative homeownership opportunities for about 30,000 households.
UHAB's activities include: advocacy, organizing, classroom and on-site
training, direct technical assistance, development consulting, development and
sponsorship of new co-ops, and services to member co-ops that include
bookkeeping, insurance, seminars, and newsletters.
Some of
the services UHAB offers: Fuel buying program, group fire insurance, co-op
conversion assistance, online bookkeeping, financial assistance, relocation services,
loan packaging, tenant organizing and outreach, building rehabilitation,
computer center, co-op buyer classes, ongoing classes for existing co-ops.Energy $mart Communities and UHAB are joining forces to create a Sustainable Living and Energy Block Party in Harlem for August/September. We need you to help us plan this extraordinary event. All participants will receive a table to promote their organization. To get more information, please send an email. The Energy $mart
Communities Program creates networks of organizations and agencies that
contribute to energy-focused neighborhood projects. The program shares
economic, environmental and social benefits through energy efficiency
and the diversifying of energy resources. |
Project of the Month: Greenhouse 26
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Project Name: Greenhouse 26
Client: Flatiron Real Estate
Architect: Arpad Baksa Architects
Green Building Consultant: CEC
Size: 18,000 sf
LEED Level: Gold (target)
Greenhouse 26 is a project of the Community Environmental Center (CEC), one of NYSERDA's Partner Contractors. Through participation in
NYSERDA's New Construction Program, the project is expected to receive
approximately $20,000 from NYSERDA to cost-share the energy services provided by CEC.
Flatiron Real Estate had a vision for a boutique hotel that was truly green, and they turned to Community Environmental Center for help in realizing that vision. Based on building energy simulations, CEC's energy team recommended a variety of measures that would ensure that the hotel would live up to its green promise and save on energy costs: the project incorporates a ground source heat pump system, balcony thermal breaks, occupancy-based controls for HVAC and lighting, and a high-efficiency gearless elevator. CEC's green building experts advised the project team on a variety of measures that would ensure that the project meets the goal of LEED Gold certification, including several innovative measures that are unique to a hotel and are not addressed in LEED. As the LEED Team Administrator, CEC is managing the LEED Online certification process, tracking documentation progress, and is completing LEED Letter Templates and other documentation for a number of credits.
 (photo courtesy of Arpad Baksa Architects) * To have your firm/project highlighted, send an email to E$CC.
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Energy News: Federal Solar Tax Credits Extended for 8 Years, US Poised to Become Largest Solar Market in the World
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When Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, designed to address the U.S. financial crisis, it also enacted the most significant federal policy ever for the solar industry. "This long-term extension of the solar tax credits will create a domestic solar industry with hundreds of thousands of jobs while providing clean, affordable, carbon-free energy to millions of American families, businesses, and communities," said Solar Energy Industries Association president Rhone Resch. "By 2016, we expect solar energy to be the least expensive source of electricity for consumers."
The solar investment tax credit (ITC) provisions will:
· Extend for 8 years the 30-percent tax credit for both residential and commercial solar installations;
· Eliminate the $2,000 monetary cap for residential solar electric installations, creating a true 30-percent tax credit (effective for property placed in service after December 31, 2008);
· Eliminate the prohibition on utilities from benefiting from the credit;
· Allow Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) filers, both businesses and individuals, to take the credit;
· Authorize $800 million for clean energy bonds for renewable energy generating facilities, including solar.
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Contact your Downstate South (Manhattan and Staten Island) E$C
Coordinator, Diana Pangestu, by phone at 212-785-0734 or email at
diana@solar1.org if you are interested in:- Co-programming an event
- Receiving informational sessions on NYSERDA programs
- Creating an energy efficiency project for your building
- Becoming a contractor partner with NYSERDA's Home Performance Program
- Any other questions or comments
www.getenergysmart.org
www.nyserda.org
www.powernaturally.org
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Energy Tip!
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ENERGY STAR Compact Florescent Lightbulbs (CFL's)
Every ENERGY STAR CFL you install could save you $72 - $123 in electricity and bulb replacement costs over the life of the bulb. When your CFL burns out, take them to a recycling center. If it breaks, sweep up the glass with a wet rag or paper towel, ventilate the space, and recycle the broken pieces.
CFL Recycling Centers
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| Upcoming Trainings |
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Get certified by BPI to do energy efficiency work! NYSERDA offers reimbursements for most trainings.
Building Analyst Trainings Jan. 14 at the Association for Energy Affordability
Feb. 10 at Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeThis six day training program prepares students
wishing to pursue Building Analyst certification through the Building
Performance Institute. Building Analyst certification is required of
participating Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors. Multifamily Analyst Training
Jan. 8 at the Association for Energy AffordabilityThis six day training program prepares students
wishing to pursue Multifamily Analyst certification through the Building
Performance Institute. Multifamily Analyst certification is required of
participating Multifamily Performance Partner contractors.
TREAT Multifamily Building Modeling Software Training
Jan. 12 at the Association for Energy AffordabilityLearn to model multifamily buildings efficiently with this energy assessment tool.*Inquire about Solar Thermal, PV, and other trainings.
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