Greetings and Farewell from your E$C Coordinator, Diana Pangestu:
To everyone and anyone who has been touched by the Energy $mart Communities Program, I wanted to inform you know that I will be leaving Solar One July 1. I have been offered a new position at SAIC, also a NYSERDA contractor, to market NYSERDA's New Construction Program for ground-up and renovation projects in New York City, and thus will be leaving my post as Energy $mart Communities Coordinator to become an Energy Outreach Program Consultant.
It has been my good fortune to serve as your Energy $mart Communities Coordinator for Manhattan and Staten Island. You have all taught me so much about energy and about the needs of New Yorkers. I am also thankful to have worked alongside such great colleagues at a terrific organization like Solar One. This organization is truly passionate about inspiring people like you to live more sustainably and with more regard to the environment. And also a big thanks to NYSERDA for being the model agency that it is, and providing a platform for New Yorkers to connect locally to energy efficiency resources.
For all work-related and Energy $mart Communities inquiries, please contact Solar One's Energy $mart Communities Program Manager:
Max Joel, 646-576-5673, max@solar1.org
If you'd like to keep in touch with me professionally, you can find me on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dianapangestu. If you are working on new construction or renovation projects and would like information on NYSERDA's New Construction Program, my future address I believe will be Diana.F.Pangestu@saic.com.
Thank you all, and I hope you continue to engage in sustainability, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.
The
Energy $mart Communities eNewsletter disseminates information on NYSERDA
programs and incentives, energy efficiency projects, contractor and
building owner trainings, and partner news and events. |
Solar One is Hiring a New E$C Coordinator!
| Solar One is looking for a qualified, motivated individual to fill
the E$C Coordinator position for Manhattan and Staten Island. Please
see the Solar One jobs page for a complete description. Applications
are due by July 14, 2010.
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Changes to Reimbursement Policy for BPI Certification and Related Courses
| Don't say we didn't warn you! Effective August 1, NYSERDA will provide
reimbursement for 50% of the cost of tuition for qualifying BPI
Certification courses (previous reimbursement level was 100% in New
York City and Westchester County). The complete policy is summarized
below.
Tuition Reimbursement
- CEEBS -50% - one-time reimbursement per designation
- Additional 25% ONLY for staff of participating Home Performance Contractors, one-time reimbursement per designation CEEBS centers will process tuition reimbursement and provide to NYSERDA for processing.
BPI Certification
- 50% for new and renewal Certifications
- Additional 25% for new Certifications ONLY for staff of participating Home Performance Contractors Candidates will need to submit BPI Certification Reimbursement Form to BPI for verification. BPI will forward form to NYSERDA for processing.
BPI Certification & Allowable Prep-Class*
- 50% upon achievement of certification related to prep-class. Candidates will need to submit BPI Certification Reimbursement Form to BPI for verification. BPI will verify certification and return to Candidate.
- Candidate will then need to submit the verified BPI Certification Reimbursement Form and prep-class invoice to NYSERDA for processing.
Company BPI Accreditation
- 50% for New and Renewal Accreditation BPI will provide list of contractor Accreditations directly to NYSERDA for processing.
Equipment for Contractors
- 20%, up to $4,000 Contractors will work with their CSG Account Manager.
*Prep-classes
are considered as a fresher class (1 to 1 ½ days). Example: Candidate
previously attended the 36 hour Building Analyst Training and needed to
attend a one-day refresher on Combustion Appliance Zones.
Any
candidate that has registered and paid for training as of June 15, 2010
will be reimbursed at the current rate of 75% or 100%.
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A Review of Our Past Event: NYC the Future Metropolis
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Our June 10, Solar One held our big cleantech event "NYC The Future Metropolis" at our Education Center on East River. The event was a huge success,
drawing a standing room only crowd.
Attendees were treated to fast-paced presentations of cutting edge
ideas and technologies, including those supported by NYSERDA's Research
& Development program. Please visit www.solar1.org/futuremetropolis for the complete set of speakers and presentations and more pictures.
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Staten Island Launches First Energy Target Zone on June 12.
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On June 12, NYSERDA Project Manger Sharon Griffith and E$C Coordinator
Max Joel joined Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City CEO
Bernell Grier, Neighborhood Housing Services of Staten Island Executive
Director Alfred Gill, and members of the West Brighton community in
celebrating the designation of the "Markham Area Energy Target Zone",
the first NYSERDA Energy Target Zone on Staten Island. Developed in
partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services of Staten Island, the
Markham Area Energy Target Zone will be a focal point for the Energy
$mart Community's programs efforts to connect Staten Island residents
and business with NYSERDA's energy efficiency and renewable energy
Programs.
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Take a Green Vacation Close to Home at Clay Pit Ponds State Park, and Learn How to Green Your Home!
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Visit beautiful Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve for a special
edition of Green From the Inside Out! Make your home more comfortable,
lower utility bills and reduce waste. Learn what incentives are
available for home improvements and meet green product and service
vendors. Have some fun, learn energy saving tips, hike around the
park! Activities throughout the day for kids to enjoy. More
information at: http://www.grownyc.org/greenvacation
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Month 4: Interview with the 14th Street Y's Energy Auditor, Goldman Copeland Associates
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In last month's article, we featured the YMHA's sustainability curriculum for pre-schoolers, which they created while waiting for NYSERDA to approve the Task Work Order for their Flextech energy audit. The Task Work Order outlines the scope of work that would be performed by the Y's Flextech energy services provider, Goldman Copeland Associates (GCA). This month, E$C Coordinator Diana Pangestu sat down with Judith O'Driscoll and Charles Healy of GCA to discuss the 14th Street Y project, and asked them questions about the project in order to understand the approach from an energy auditor's perspective.
Goldman Copeland Associates, a full service MEP consulting engineering firm, has been a NYSERDA Flextech provider since 2006. The firm has been providing engineering and design services to private sector clients and government agencies since 1968, and has included energy efficiency work since the 1970's. GCA's services range from feasibility studies and condition surveys to detailed design, technical assistance during construction, start-up assistance, and commissioning.
GCA was introduced to the 14th Street Y in 2008 when the Y was renovating its lobby. GCA performed the engineering work for the lobby renovation, and did such a great job that the 14th Street Y called on them again to perform their energy analysis.
Q. What were the initial thoughts of the Goldman Copeland Associates team on the 14th Street Y sustainability project?
A. We were initially attracted to the 14th Street Y project because of the Y's desire to limit their carbon footprint by looking at the broad range of possibilities. They were clearly motivated and interested in long term improvements, which is not always the case with commercial projects. Many commercial projects have strict economic criteria, such as needing paybacks of 2 years or less.
Q.What does GCA look at in energy efficiency projects?
A.There needs to be a real opportunity to reduce energy use. We'll look at the equipment that is using energy and the condition of the facility and equipment for any opportunities to reduce energy use with no negative effect on environment and occupant comfort. We'll also look at the actual energy costs of the facility to make sure the cost savings will be there. Some clients want to do energy efficiency work, but there might not be much opportunity to reduce energy use without significant capital cost. We also want to understand the outlook of the owners and their goals and expectations, to make sure that everyone is on same page regarding the possible results.
Q. When performing an energy audit, do you use the same process for every project, or is each project unique?
A.When performing an energy audit, we have a standardized process to guide us and generally follow the ASHRAE guidelines for Commercial Building Energy Audits, but every building is unique and the scope of work is dependent on the walk through, field assessment, and customer's needs. In terms of the process, we'll look at energy bills to understand order of magnitude of the project. We use templates to characterize equipment and energy using systems. The 14th Street Y is a unique project due to its multi-use functions. The facility has classrooms, a gym, a swimming pool, a community center room, and a theater. Many buildings have more limited programs, as in a commercial office building, or only one end-use, as in a retail facility. The fact that the original Y building has had additions over the years also makes it more complex.
Q. I understand you used a team on the energy project that was different from the team that worked on the lobby renovation a couple of years ago.
A. Goldman Copeland Associates is a full service design and engineering firm and includes an energy services group. The group specializing in energy efficiency is working on the 14th Street Y's current project. The lobby was a design project and was handled by our design group. However, these groups interact, and all of our projects are designed with the highest standards of efficiency in mind.
Q. For customers considering energy efficiency work, are there any suggestions you can provide to help with their planning?
A. They should definitely look at their energy bills to have some understanding of how much they use, what it costs, and whether usage has gone up or down over the years. They should have some sense of their goals. Is their goal purely to reduce energy bills? Are they trying to solve comfort and maintenance problems? What are their expectations and the results they'd like to see? Also, they should identify the resources that are available to them. GCA works with NYSERDA to obtain incentives for eligible clients. In New York State we are fortunate to have an agency like NYSERDA with resources to help pay for energy studies and, in some cases, to assist with costs of energy efficiency improvements.
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Upcoming Low Cost No Cost Green Events
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CLICK ON LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION.
ALSO TO SEE SOLAR ONE'S LIST OF SUMMER EVENTS, INCLUDING CONCERTS, FAMILY DAYS, AND DANCE SERIES, CLICK HERE.
Monday, July 12, 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Sustainability Begins At Home: Residential Energy Strategies & Incentives. Sierra Club Office, 1350 Broadway, Suite 201. Join Solar One's Energy $mart Communities Coordinator, Max Joel, and find out how homeowners, coop and condo owners, building managers, landlords, and tenants can reduce building energy use, save money, and protect the environment though building retrofits and other energy efficiency measures.
Monday, July 12, 6:00 - 8:00 PM. High Performance Strategies for Affordable Housing. The Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Pl. The AIA Committee on the Environment presents a dialogue about the challenges and resolutions of creating effective sustainable housing in both retrofit and new work. $10.
Tuesday, July 13 6:00 - 7:30pm. Digital Cocktails: GreenTECH NYEisner LLP 750 Third Ave, New York City
This
program will launch Gotham Media's GreenTECH series with a panel
discussion on how companies and individuals can do well by doing good.
Our panel will discuss business, savings and investment opportunities
in the New York, area what New York based companies are doing on the
national level and how New York's unique characteristics pose
challenges as well as opportunities in Green and Clean Tech. Registration is complimentary but a limited number of seats are available
Wednesday, July 14, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Spark to Market. Pratt Manhattan, 144 West 14th Street. "Spark to Market" is an event designed to connect enertech and cleantech entrepreneurs with resources to help them bring their products and ideas to market. Sponsored by Pratt Center for Community Development/NYSERDA Energy Smart Communities.
CEUs provided to architects. Light refreshments provided. Please RSVP at www.greenhomenyc.org. This event is free and open to the public
Thursday, July 15, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, NYC Green Codes Task Force Education Series. Con Edison, 4 Irving Place, 19th Floor Auditorium. Several of the NYC Green Codes Task Force proposals address improvements to envelope performance. This session will examine the technical challenges to realizing four of these proposals and include case studies of projects that have successfully implemented similar systems to those that would be required. $25
Tuesday, July 20, 4:00 - 6:00 PM, Tour: Green Roof at Grand Street by Goode Green. 176 Grand Street. Join Goode Green of a tour on a six story commercial building in the heart of Little Italy of an optimum installation for comprehensive rooftop garden design. $10
Thursday, July 22, 6:00pm - 8:00 pm. Why Solar Works. PWC Offices, 300 Maidson Ave (42nd and Madison)
The purpose
of the event is to define and discuss how solar works from a financial,
technological and political perspective. Some of the discussion will
focus around New Jersey and why their program has been so successful.
As with past events, all CleanLinks social networking events are free
with drinks available at participant's expense.
Saturday, July 24, 10:00am - 4:00pm. 3rd Annual City of Water Day Festival
In July of each year thousands from the metropolitan region make
their way to Governors Island, Liberty State Park, Brooklyn Bridge
Park, and Atlantic Basin for the 3rd Annual City of Water Day Festival.
From the upper Hudson to Raritan Bay, we are a City of Water-yet too
many of us are cut off from this tremendous resource. Help revitalize
the waterfront with a festival for the entire family. Free.
Tuesday, July 27, 8:00 - 11:00 AM, Urban Agriculture: Practical Applications for NYC. Sukyo Mahikari 124 East 31st Street. The next Green D+C Event will take place at Sukyo Mahikari (a LEED-Silver building) and will feature presentations from some of NYC's most cutting edge and knowledgeable pioneers relating to Urban Agriculture. Organized by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Green Design & Construction Subcommittee. $15 for members, $25 for non-members.
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NYSERDA's Energy $mart
Communities program provides information and support to
individuals and businesses interested in energy efficiency and
alternative energy. Energy
$mart Communities encourages decision-makers and community members to adopt
energy efficiency as a means of economic and community growth.
Contact your Downstate South (Manhattan and Staten Island) E$C
Coordinator:
Max Joel: 646-576-5673 or email max@solar1.org.
www.solar1.org/nyserda
All New York Energy $martSM Programs are funded by a System Benefits
Charge (SBC) paid by electric distribution customers of Central Hudson
Gas & Electric, Con Edison, NYSEG, National Grid, Orange &
Rockland, and Rochester Gas & Electric. NYSERDA, a public benefit
corporation established by law in 1975, administers SBC funds and
programs under an agreement with the Public Service Commission.
www.getenergysmart.org
www.nyserda.org
www.powernaturally.org
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Summer Energy Tips!
| Follow these simple, cost-effective tips to stay cool and reduce summer energy bills: Turn In. Turn On
ENERGY STAR®
qualified room air conditioners use up to 25 percent less energy than a
standard new model and up to 40 percent less energy than a model that
is more than 10 years old. Look for a high Energy Efficiency Ratio
(EER). Units with high EERs cost less to operate. Turn in your old,
room air conditioner to your local waste management facility and turn
on a new ENERGY STAR air conditioner.
A properly sized air conditioner will operate more efficiently and
dehumidify more effectively. An oversized unit will cycle on and off
more frequently. Short cycling reduces an air conditioning system's
life, and a short cycling system will not reduce humidity effectively.
Undersized equipment can reduce the efficiency of air distribution and
accelerate wear on system components, leading to premature failure.
No Dirty Business
A
dirty filter will increase energy use and can damage the air
conditioner leading to early failures, so check the filter every month
and replace as needed. Work in the Morning or Evening
Use ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early
morning or late at night when it's generally cooler outside. Use a
microwave oven to cook, or barbecue outside, if possible. Chill Out in the Shade
A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10 percent less electricity than the same one operating in the sun. Don't Forget the Adoring Fans
ENERGY STAR qualified ceiling fans can help cool a home without greatly
increasing electricity use. They improve airflow and create pleasant
breezes. Just Chill When You're Home
For
central air conditioning, a programmable thermostat allows homeowners
to automatically adjust to a more comfortable temperature when they are
scheduled to be home. Homeowners can set the temperature to use less
cooling when they are normally away. Residents save three percent on
energy costs for each degree they turn up the thermostat from 72
degrees. ENERGY STAR window and through-the-wall room air conditioners
also typically include programmable thermostats or timers. A Home Needs Shades TooBlock out heat by keeping blinds or curtains closed during the day, especially on south facing windows. Take the Whole-House Approach
Houses work as a system. Insulation, heating and air-conditioning, air
sealing, water heating, ductwork, windows and doors all work together
to determine efficiency. A Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor
can perform a home energy assessment to help residents map a plan to
improve a home's energy efficiency. Turn It Off
Save electricity and reduce waste heat by shutting off lights. Seldom
used home electronics should actually be unplugged from the wall. Items
like DVD players, VCRs and cordless phones use 40 percent of their
energy while in the off position to power functions like clocks and
remote controls.
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| Upcoming Trainings |  |
Get certified by BPI to do energy efficiency work! NYSERDA offers reimbursements for most trainings.To see upcoming trainings including Solar PV, Geothermal, and Energy Modeling Training, click here.
Building AnalystStarting July 7 at the Association for Energy AffordabilityThis low-cost training program can bring you new business for years to
come. While you're using building science technology to help customers
solve heating, cooling and air leakage problems that are driving high
energy costs, you'll also provide them with a more comfortable, safe
and durable home. You'll be a part of an exclusive group of contractors
with access to benefits to help your business grow. Envelope ProfessionalStarting July 22 at the Association for Energy AffordabilityThis training, which includes both classroom sessions and field
experience, will help you prepare for the Building Performance
Institutes Envelope Professional written and field exams. Training will
include review of some Building Analyst topics, but is not a BA
preparatory course. BA Certification or BA training is a prerequisite
for Envelope Professional Training. Qualifying candidates may make
special arrangements with BPI to take both tests simultaneously.
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Some of NYSERDA's Programs
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