Energy Efficiency

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) have formed a partnership to educate New Yorkers about ways to reduce energy expenses in the home. The New York Energy $mart Program, administered by NYSERDA, provides energy-related technical and financial assistance to promote energy efficiency and economic development throughout New York State. Through the Consumer Education Program for Residential Energy Efficiency, 23 CCE Educators will work to increase consumer awareness of the importance of energy efficiency and programs available through New York Energy $mart to make single family homes and multifamily buildings more energy efficient.

The 23 Cornell Cooperative Extension offices participating in The Consumer Education Project include; Albany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Franklin, Jefferson, Niagara, Oneida, Schuyler, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates and New York City.

Eileen Ciance, Senior Extension Resource Educator, says, “New York Energy $mart has almost a dozen programs that can benefit homeowners, multifamily building managers, contractors, builders, and retailers in Washington County. Making homes more energy efficient not only saves money, it reduces air and environmental pollution”. A number of incentives are available for owners of single and multifamily homes, including:

• Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program – improving the energy efficiency of existing homes.
• New York ENERGY STAR – labeled Homes Program – promoting energy efficiency in new construction.
• Low -interest financing, including the New York Energy $mart Loan Fund and ENERGY STAR financing through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program.
• Incentives to install solar (PV) electric systems and advanced meters on homes.

For information on these and other programs that will help you use less energy and improve the environment, call Cornell Cooperative Extension Washington County at 1-800-548-0881, or call the New York Energy $mart Program at 1-877-NYSMART.

Last updated August 11, 2020