|
|
Manhattan and Staten Island
Energy $mart Communities eNewsletter |
|
| New and Improved | December 2011 |
|
|
|
|
Greetings from your E$C Coordinators, Max Joel & Sara Jayanthi:
Our newsletter has a new look to help us focus on the programs and policies that affect you the most. We have also consolidated our low/no cost events list into a calendar. You can access this from the "Quick Links" list to the left, along with the information previously contained in our long side bar. We hope this makes it easier for you to digest the energy-related information most relevant to you. Please let us know what you think!
|
Tip of the Month: Keep Out the Drafts
By reducing the drafts around windows and doors, you can save big on your heating bills this winter while increasing your comfort. Make sure windows and storms are tightly closed and secured to reduce drafts. Consider installing window film to the interior of the windows. Install or upgrade exterior door weather-stripping. Use sand-filled door draft stoppers or "snakes" at the bottom of exterior doors to keep out drafts.
|
|
NYSERDA News Brief
From now on, in this section of the newsletter, we will summarize the latest news coming out of NYSERDA and explain what it means to you. Here is what happened in October and early November:STORM RELIEF If you lost an appliance, such as a clothes washer or refrigerator, in Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee, rebates are still available from NYSERDA to help pay for an energy-efficient replacement. The rebates are given on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying applicants until the funds run out, so make sure you submit your application soon. Visit the New York Storm Relief Rebate Program website to see if you qualify and apply. NEW FUNDING FOR SOLID STATE LIGHTING On Nov. 1, NYSERDA announced $1,200,000 in funding available to promote the development and market penetration of energy-efficient solid state lighting (SSL) technologies in New York State, to help reduce the economic and environmental costs of lighting to New York residents, and to help retain and create jobs in New York State. STORM RELIEF FOR FARMERS Among the hardest hit by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee were New York State's farmers. On October 17, NYSERDA and the New York State Public Service Commission launched an Agriculture Disaster Program providing $5 million in funding for energy-efficient repair and replacement of damaged farm systems. If a farmer you know was affected, direct him or her to the online application to see if he or she qualifies.
CFA WORKSHOPS Throughout early October, NYSERDA held workshops to provide information about the new NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). The CFA was created by Governor Cuomo to provide businesses with a one-stop shop to apply for all state economic development funding, which was previously only available through multiple agencies. If you missed the October workshops or want more information, you can find out more about it at the CFA Website.
CUSTOMER-SITED WIND TURBINE INCENTIVES NYSERDA has announced a new PON with approximately $3.2 million available in incentives to encourage the installation of end-use wind energy systems for residential, commercial, institutional or government use.
NEW NYS INNOVATION METRICS On Nov. 1, NYSERDA launched a new program to develop and publish a suite of indicators that can track the progress and health of the Clean Energy Innovation Economy in New York State. The program will help the Innovation and Business Development group to gauge program effectiveness, and it will provide information to cleantech companies considering locating their business in New York State.
DEEP-ENERGY RETROFITTING Since last year, NYSERDA has been developing the concept of deep-energy retrofitting. On October 6, NYSERDA awarded $1.8 million to six contractors to continue improving deep-energy retrofitting. The techniques the program develops may go on to help many other older homes in New York State become more energy-efficient at a reasonable cost.
|
Recap: Clean Energy Connections' "EVs in NYC"
 On November 30, Clean Energy Connections hosted its final event for 2011, "EVs in NYC: What Roll-out Strategies Work Best for the Big Apple?"A terrific panel explored issues related to electric vehicles in New York City, including how close we are to introducing electric vehicles throughout our fleet, what this roll out means for grid-scale power storage, and how it will impact New York City's highly reliable infrastructure. If you missed the event, Greentech Media has posted the full-length video stream on its YouTube Channel. We have also posted highlight clips on the Clean Energy Connections Vimeo Channel.We will be back for another Clean Energy Connections season in 2012 with all-new cleantech discussion topics. We will be announcing the date of our January event soon, so be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get all the latest news. To learn more about future events and purchase tickets, please visit Clean Energy Connections at www.cleanecnyc.org. |
Coming in 2012: On-Bill Financing
 | | © All rights reserved by Governor Andrew Cuomo |
Paying for energy efficiency improvements is about to get a whole lot easier with the introduction of on-bill financing in New York State. If you are a home or business owner, paying the upfront cost of efficiency measures can be a major barrier, no matter how attractive the return-on-investment from energy savings is. With on-bill financing, which was passed into law by the Power NY Act of 2011, you will be able to pay for upgrades directly through a surcharge on your monthly utility bill. Better yet, the surcharge has to be lower than your energy savings, so your bills go down from the start. And if you move, the surcharges stay with the property's utility bill, not with you.NYSERDA is currently developing the on-bill financing program, which will available to the public in 2012. In the meantime, you can access the NYSERDA Green Jobs Green NY programs for audits and financing.Want to know more? Check out the detailed look at on-bill financing on the Solar One website.
|
|
New Councils to Spur Economic Development and Job Growth
 | | © All rights reserved by Governor Andrew Cuomo |
In July, Governor Cuomo launched a set of ten Regional Economic Development Councils intended to stimulate regional economic development and job growth by redefining the relationship between the state government and businesses. The ten Regional Councils -- which cover the Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Long Island, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, New York City, North Country, Southern Tier, and Western New York -- represent a fundamental change in the state's approach to economic development, shifting from a top-down model to a more collaborative system that calls on local business stakeholders to take charge of economic development in their communities. "Today we are taking a new approach to economic development that will send a clear message that New York is open for business," said Governor Cuomo. "For too long, one-size-fits-all economic development plans have ignored the unique assets and challenges of regions like New York City. With the Regional Councils, we will empower individual areas to chart their own course for job creation and growth."Each Regional Council has recently developed a plan for the development of its region. The New York City Economic Development Council Strategic Plan is available here. The state will work with the Regional Councils to align state resources and policies, eliminate unnecessary barriers to growth and prosperity, and streamline the delivery of government services and programs to help the Regional Councils carry out their plans for development.
On Thursday, December 8th, Governor Cuomo will be announcing the strategic plan and CFA awards at a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at the Hart Theater, Empire State Plaza, Albany. The New York City Regional Council is led by Matthew Goldstein, Chancellor of the City University of New York, and Kenneth Chenault, Chairman and CEO of American Express, both of whom will serve as Regional Co-Chairs. The Regional Council will coordinate the economic development of Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens and Richmond counties. For more information about the economic development councils, check out nyworks.ny.gov.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact your Downstate South (Manhattan and Staten Island) E$C Coordinators:
Office: 212-785-0734 www.solar1.org/nyserdaAll 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.nyserda.ny.gov
|
|
|
