Greetings from your E$C Coordinator, Max Joel:
While summer is winding down, NYSERDA's new grid-tied photovoltaic rebate program (PON 2112, which takes the place of PON 1050) is just getting started! Funded through the end of 2015, the rebate program helps fund the installation of photovoltaic systems for residences and businesses throughout New York State. For more details, see the article below and included links.
Also in this issue, we share back to school energy saving tips, upcoming low-and-no-cost green events in New York City, and more!
The
Energy $mart Communities eNewsletter disseminates information on NYSERDA
programs and incentives, energy efficiency projects, contractor and
building owner trainings, and partner news and events. |
NYSERDA Announces New Rebate Program for Photovoltaic Systems
|
NYSERDA announces cash incentives for the installation of
new grid-connected Solar Electric or Photovoltaic (PV) systems. PON 2112 offers incentives for new PV systems that are 7kW or
less for residential, 25kW or less for not-for-profit and 50 kW or less for
commercial sites. Grid-connected solar electric (PV) systems supply a portion
of the
power that a building needs while using utility generated power at night
or on cloudy days.
Incentives will be granted on a first-come, first-served
basis, and PV incentive applications will be accepted through December 31,
2015, or until funds are fully committed. The goal of the
program is to install 82 MW or 93,806 MWhs of Solar Electric Power systems.
An eligible installer will be able to provide you
with a specific cost estimate based on your needs and requirements. Be
sure to get estimates from at least three installers. The Clean Power Estimator is also a useful tool by which to get additional
information about typical system costs and benefits.
For more information on the PON 2112 please visit:
http://www.nyserda.org/funding/2112pon.asp
For information on all of NYSERDA's renewable energy programs, please visit:
http://www.powernaturally.org
|
|
Solar One E$C Hosts Tour of Energy-Efficient Home in Staten Island
|
On August 17th, home
builders, contractors, real estate industry professionals, and the
general public got the chance to tour 29 Haven Esplanade, the only home
in New York City built to the standards of NYSERDA's High Efficiency
Residential Challenge. If you weren't able to make it, please enjoy the
photos below and visit NYSERDA's Building Research & Development Program website for information about high performance residential construction or www.getenergysmart.org to learn about NYSERDA incentive programs for homes.
For
more information about the home or to view this property, please
contact: Claire Bisignano Chesnoff, N.Y.S. Licensed Real Estate Broker,
Claire
Properties, GREEN REALTOR. Call direct at 917-974-2238 or
email clairechesnoff@gmail.com.
From left: Ely Reiss (Concord Home Builders), Max Joel (Solar
One), Claire & Harold Chesnoff (Claire Properties)
Living room of 29 Haven
Esplanade
Touring
the ground floor apartment
|
New York State Energy Code Changes: sign up for training sessions now!
|
The New York State Builders Association Research and Education Foundation (NYSBA REF), with the support of NYSERDA, will present a concise four-hour program addressing New York State code changes. As codes target increased energy efficiency and indoor health changes, it is imperative the principles behind the code are understood so that there is a safer and more successful implementation of the code.
This course will examine the best construction practices that align with the 2009 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code). It will also look at future construction and best practices to ensure safe, healthy and efficient implementations that go beyond the code. A question and answer session will conclude the presentation.
For detailed information on the NYS Residential Builder Energy Code training and on how to register, please go to the Events calendar located at: www.nysba.com.
|
Neighborhood Turns Out for Chinatown
Summer Street Festival
|
On Sunday August 1, thousands of Chinatown residents and visitors stopped by the 2010 Chinatown Summer Street Festival near Columbus Park to learn more about building a greener community. Hosted by Asian Americans For Equality, the event began at 11am and continued through the afternoon.
In addition to speakers, raffles, and events in the community garden, environmental groups sponsored booths with information about energy efficient suggestions for your home. NYSERDA and Solar One were in attendance distributing information about energy efficient products, energy saving ideas, NYSERDA incentives and solar power.
 (Photo credit: David Yuen) Max Joel, Jaclyn Jablkowski and volunteer Julie were on hand to answer questions and pass out information about NYSERDA and energy efficiency
|
Upcoming Low Cost/No Cost Green Events
|
CLICK ON LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION.
ALSO TO SEE SOLAR ONE'S LIST OF EVENTS, CLICK HERE.
Wednesday, September 8, 10am-7:30pm. Green Roofs and Alternative Energy in NYC. 222 Bowery between Prince and Spring St. The Lower East Side Ecology Center & Green Depot are offering a free workshop that will teach you what a Green Roof is and how your business or home can benefit from it. Experts will show you examples of green roofs and discuss their benefits and installation. The workshop will also explain how green roofs can help reduce energy bills and what tax incentives exist for installing a green roof. Green Depot will offer class participants 10% off of all purchases at Green Depot for the night of the class. Free. Please click here to register.
Saturday, September 11, 12-6pm. HOWL Festival presents The Lower Eastside Girls Club's East Village Earth Circus "Because Mother Earth Could Use a Little Cheering Up!". Tomkins Square Park (Avenue A and 10th Street).
Over 20 local environmental and community
organizations will have booths. The Family Yoga tent will host a series of
workshops led by Bikram and Vira Yoga, free children's art activities provided
by AAI, The Lower Eastside Girls Club and Middle Church will be held all day. Also, a solar powered Merry-go-Round,
the BioBus (filled with microscopes and more) and pony rides provided by The
Federation of Black Cowboys! Need more fun? There will be face painting, a
fortune telling monkey, Double Dutch workshops, and more! Free
Saturday, September 11, 6-10pm. GASLAND film screening. Solar One 2420 FDR Drive, Service Road East. When a natural gas mining company offered Josh Fox and his upstate New York neighbors $100,000 each for the right to drill for gas on their land, Fox thought he'd better examine what was going on before he signed away his property. The result is the powerful and eye-opening documentary GASLAND. $10 for tickets.
Sunday, September 12, 1-6pm. 8th Annual West Side County Fair. Riverside Park South (68th-72nd and the Hudson River). Enjoy a little country right here in Manhattan and celebrate the change of seasons with carnival rides and games, music, square dancing, sideshow performers, a petting zoo, greenmarket and more! Visit the "Green Acre" environmental corner, with hands-on activities for kids about environmental awareness, green living, and animal care. Free.
Sunday, September 12, 11am. NYC H20 presents: A Hike Through Nature and History. Ashokan Reservoir, Olivebridge NY. Aaron Bennet, a naturalist and native to the Catskill region, will lead a hike through the Acorn Hill forest adjacent to the Ashokan reservoir. He will explain: how the large blocks of forest, geology, combine with land management practices in the Catskill Mountain Region help to keep the water pure; why the original engineers chose this site by pointing out the geography of the adjacent mountains and streams; and how multiple hamlets and villages had to be uprooted and moved to make way for the reservoir. Transportation from NYC will be provided. $20 fee.
Tuesday, September 21, 5:30pm. Association of Energy Engineers NY Chapter Monthly Meeting. 1540 Broadway, 14th floor, entrance on north side of 45th St. Attend AEE's monthly meeting which will cover Advances in Lighting Technology. Light food included. Networking begins at 5:30pm, Meeting at 6pm. $20 for members, $25 for non-members.
Tuesday, September 21, 6-8pm. vision42 Monthly Meeting. Transportation Alternatives, 127 West 26th St., Suite 1002. New York City can finally have a 42nd St that welcomes pedestrians with space, greenery, and amenities, combined with speedy and efficient river-to-river travel, via a modern, at-grade, low-floor light rail line. This can be a reality within four short years with the adoption of vision42-an auto-free, light rail boulevard.
Please RSVP to this meeting at info@vision42.org.
Wednesday, September 22, 12-1:30pm. How To Sell Green: A Building/Real Estate Professional's Guide to Making the Case. Herman Miller Showroom at 1177 Ave of the Americas, 17th floor. This discussion is designed to break down the issues, opportunities and talking points for selling green building attributes to potential clients. Specific topic areas will include: marketable attributes of sustainable buildings, costs and benefits from relevant case studies, taking advantage of financial incentives, the power of community approval, and certifications and labels (like LEED and Energy Star). Instructed by experts from YRG Sustainability who have their fingers on the pulse of current trends and best practices. $10 fee (includes lunch).
Thursday, September 23, 6-8pm. Get Past the Past: Climate Change Adaptation In & Around NYC. The New York Academy of Sciences, 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich St., 40th Floor. Climate change holds great uncertainties, but the fact of climate change is not in doubt. Cities, in which more than half the world's population now live, are ever more at risk. The NY Metro Area is particularly vulnerable. Today, City government, The Port Authority and private insurers are developing risk management tools for identifying, assessing, and managing risks posed by climate change. Join us to learn how experts think through complex climate adaptation issues and how decisions about adaptation are being made. This event is presented as a part of Climate Week NYC. Free for members, $10 non-member students, $20 non-members.
Wednesday, September 29, 10am-6pm. NEW GREEN CITY. Union Square, South Plaza. GrowNYC's present the largest annual green event in Union Square Park. This year's event showcases government agencies, non-profits, entrepreneurs and community & corporate partners at the forefront of environmental stewardship, education and awareness. Features interactive exhibits, DIY tutorials, multi-media art exhibits, Union Square Greenmarket and more. Free
Wednesday, September 29, 6-8pm. Integration Series: 101. Bridging the Roles of Architect & Engineer. AIA NY Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place. ASHRAE NY and AIA COTE have developed the 101 Integration Series to bridge and transform the traditional roles of designers, and to provide a foundational understanding of processes and systems to further the innovative strategies of high performance buildings. This 101 Session will consist of presentations by select Varun Kohli (MERGE), Shanta Tucker (Atelier Ten) and Adrian Tuluca (Viridian), followed by an informal question and discussion period. $15 for members, $25 for non-members.
Saturday, October 9, openhousenewyork Weekend. America's largest architect and design event, opens doors throughout New York City each October. Mark your calendars to discover new neighborhoods, explore with friends and family, and experience NYC's architecture and design in all five boroughs through special talks, tours, performances and family-friendly workshops. Free. Day 2, Sunday October 10.
|
|
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:
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
|
|
|
BACK TO SCHOOL
Energy Saving Tips:
| Share the road!Carpool, use public transportation, bike or walk to school. Pack a low-waste lunch!Reduce packaging waste by packing your own snacks in reusable sandwich bags, totes, lunch boxes and reusable water bottles. Shut the computer off!At night, be sure to power down your computer or laptop to save energy. Also, look for computers with the Energy Star logo. Reuse old school supplies!Be creative and decorate last year's binders and school bag with stickers, pins or patches. And reuse those notebooks with paper still in them! Need new kicks?Look for eco-friendly sneakers. For more energy saving tips, visit the Get Energy $mart website. |
| 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 AnalystAEA's next course begins September 8(6 day course) This 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. Heating Professional
September 13, 10am-5pm at AEA(5 day course)
This training, which includes both classroom sessions and field experience, will help you prepare for the Building Performance Institution's Heating Professional written and field exams.
|
Some of NYSERDA's Programs
|
| |
|
|
|
