November 10, 2015. NY. A not-for-profit, public-private partnership launched today at a house in Huntington Station, where a Long Island Green Homes Initiative participating home energy performance contractor demonstrated the process of conducting a home energy assessment, the first step homeowners can use to tap into of a range of free and discounted services and resources that reduce costs and make residences more energy-efficient.
The LI Green Homes Initiative is designed to help Long Island homeowners take advantage of incentives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) that save energy, boost the local economy and stimulate jobs and sustain and protect the environment by curbing greenhouse gases.
LI Green Homes headquartered at Sustainability Institute at Molloy College is a partnership of three non-profits: Community Development Corporation of LI, LI Green, United Way of Long Island) and five Long Island townships: Huntington, Babylon, East Hampton, North Hempstead and Smithtown.
Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said, “I am proud this newest LI Green Homes Initiative is kicking off in Huntington Station, this is a prime example where much of the housing stock dates before the first energy conservation codes were adopted in the 1970s and can benefit dramatically by upgrading insulation and heating systems that are at or near their useful life expectancy.”
“Every homeowner, regardless of income, can benefit from the program,” said Huntington Councilman Mark Cuthbertson. “Many money-saving improvements require little or no out-of-pocket expenses. A number of improvements that do require homeowner investment are eligible for cost reductions of up to 50% depending upon household income.”
The energy efficiency improvements promoted by the Long Island Green Homes Initiative have been proven to be cost effective. In an earlier version of the program in Babylon, the energy savings of the typical participating homeowner equaled roughly $1,000 a year.
LI Green Homes makes the process simple by guiding homeowners through each step. The initiative has launched a new, user-friendly website (longislandgreenhomes.org) and specially trained “Energy Navigators” are available to advise homeowners by phone and assist in identifying the full scope of rebates, discounts and low-cost financing available. Homeowners can also call to receive a free Energy Audit at (800) 567-2850.
Energy Navigators will schedule a Free Home Energy Assessment that provides a comprehensive analysis of a home’s energy efficiency, based on which a detailed plan for home energy savings and money savings upgrades will be provide. This assessment also includes carbon monoxide safety testing.
The Initiative is funded for three years by a Cleaner Greener Communities competitive grant award from NYSERDA of $2.3 million, and a supplemental grant from the Rauch Foundation located in Garden City.
“Long Islanders have an extraordinary opportunity to reduce their household spending while making their communities more sustainable,” said Neal Lewis of the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College. “This is a classic example of satisfying sustainability’s ‘triple bottom line’ of people, planet and profits.”
“The Long Island Green Homes Initiative will help to create affordable energy bills to relieve the burden on working families,” said Theresa Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island, who noted that working Long Island families face some of the highest energy costs in the country.