The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) — a public benefit corporation that provides innovative programs, technical expertise and funding to help New Yorkers increase the use of efficient energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels — announced on February 20 that a total of $1 million will be made available to qualified home energy contractors and home inspectors through a four-phase, multi-year Home Energy Rating Pilot (Pilot). It is being said that the Pilot will help homeowners who are ready to invest in their homes and are looking for independent, trustworthy energy performance information. It will target one to four family homes.
Funding for this program is part of the state’s 10-year, $5.3 billion Clean Energy Fund, a core component of New York State’s Reforming the Energy Vision strategy to achieve a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers. Clean Energy Fund (CEF) is a core component of Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading Green New Deal and Reforming the Energy Vision strategy to achieve a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.
This announcement supports the state’s efforts to meet Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2025 energy efficiency target of 185 trillion BTUs in energy savings and the Governor’s Green New Deal — a nation-leading clean energy and jobs agenda that puts New York on a path to a carbon-free economy.
Alicia Barton, President and CEO of NYSERDA, while corroborating that reducing energy use in home will be an aid in achieving the Governor’s energy efficiency target, said, “It lays the foundation for greater energy savings across the state. By piloting these home energy ratings, New Yorkers will have access to a beneficial tool to identify potential high-performing energy features for their homes and prioritize areas that can be upgraded to make it more energy efficient, comfortable and lower costs.”
The New Efficiency: New York 2025 energy efficiency target is to reduce energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs (British thermal units) below forecasted energy use in 2025, the equivalent to the energy consumed by 1.8 million New York homes. This will accelerate the achievement of energy efficiency in the next seven years by more than 40 percent over the current path.
The new energy efficiency target will set New York State on a path to achieve annual electric efficiency savings of 3 percent of investor-owned utility sales in 2025. The home energy score will be offered in Queens, Broome County and Town of Tonawanda. Two home energy rating systems will be piloted: the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score and the Pearl Home Certification from Pearl — a private residential energy efficiency certification firm. Pearl Home Certification will be offered in Staten Island, Tompkins County and Town of Irondequoit.
The pilot is being offered in four phases over the next two to three years:
Phase 1: Seeks applications from participating contractors in NYSERDA’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program to use home energy ratings as a sales tool by delivering ratings to eligible homeowners.
Phase 2: Seeks applications from licensed home inspectors to deliver ratings to home buyers as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Phase 3: Seeks applications from home energy contractors as a sales tool by delivering ratings to eligible homeowners.
Phase 4: Seeks applications from additional licensed home inspectors to deliver ratings to home buyers as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Contractors and home inspectors, qualified through a competitive selection process, will provide such homeowners energy performance ratings, along with opportunities to improve the energy performance, which in turn will make their homes more durable, comfortable and safe. The main aim of the Pilot is to improve energy performance, which will combat climate change.
