NYSERDA Press Releases

Pilot Program Can Save Consumers up to 60% on their Water-Heating Bills

Albany, NY - - The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in cooperation with ECR International and Hudson Mohawk Chapter Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (HMRSES) announced today the start of a new program initiative designed to promote installation of an award winning and energy efficient technology called a Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH).

The program, which was developed under NYSERDA's New York Energy $mart^SM program, is a pilot program. The objective of this pilot program is to have customers install heat pump water heaters when replacing their old, inefficient electric water heaters. The heat pump water heaters have a superior efficiency rating compared to even new electric units. A second objective of the pilot program is to develop an infrastructure of contractors trained to properly install and service the heat pump water heaters. This program is being piloted in the Capital Region and will expand statewide once the pilot is complete.

A training workshop will be held on September 17th for contractors to learn how to potentially save consumers up to 60% on their monthly water-heating bill. The attendees will learn about the program requirements, including how to participate; how to better position their business through the sale of energy-efficient products, such as a HPWH; and all the installation, operation, and maintenance requirements of the HPWH. Only contractors attending the workshops will be able to participate in the program and benefit from the incentives.

The incentive structure associated with the HPWH product will be explained in detail at the workshop, including how consumers can receive $300 and contractors $100 for each qualified HPWH installed. Contractors will be required to attend a training workshop to qualify for these incentives and consumers will be required to select a participating HPWH contractor.

For information on attending the workshops contact Dorothy Bennett at (716) 366-5500 or email hpwh@ecrinternational.com. Registration ends September 13, 2002, and there is no cost to attend. The training workshop will be held Tuesday September 17th, 2002 from 6:00-9:00 pm at the VFW Post 8692 on Rifle Range Rd. in Albany, N.Y.

NYSERDA administers New York Energy $mart^SM programs which are designed to lower electricity costs by encouraging energy efficiency as the State's electric utilities move to competition. The programs are available to all electric distribution customers (residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial) of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., and Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation.

For information on NEW YORK ENERGY $MART^SM programs visit www.GetEnergySmart.org

For information on the product visit www.ecrinternational.com/prod_wattersaver.asp

For information on Hudson Mohawk Chapter RSES visit www.timesunion.com/communities/rses

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