FOR RELEASE: Immediately
CONTACT: Peter Sigurdson (716) 842-1522 ext. 3006
Column written by Peter R. Smith, Acting President
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
New Yorkers Can Lower Energy Bills with Home Performance
Energy Audits
If you are like me, opening your monthly heating bill during the
winter heating season can be one of the most dreaded rituals that
we, as homeowners, face. One way to avoid the price shock from high
energy bills is to practice common-sense conservation measures and
to make sure that your house is as energy-efficient as possible.
If you are looking to avoid sky-rocketing heating bills and enjoy
a more comfortable home, you can do what thousands of your fellows
New Yorkers have done and that is take advantage of Home Performance
with ENERGY STAR®, a state-sponsored program that offers certified
home performance assessments and low-cost financing for recommended
energy efficiency upgrades.
You might have seen, heard, or read about this program through an
ad featuring Steve Thomas, television's home renovation and design
expert. When Mr. Thomas agreed to be the program's spokesperson, he
had his home assessed to the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®
program standards. He was surprised to learn that his home was not
as energy-efficient as he thought. After implementing the recommended
home performance improvements, he is now saving up to 40 percent on
his energy bills.
Like Steve Thomas and so many others, you can choose from a wide
selection of certified Home Performance contractors in your area that
can identify areas in your home where you are losing heat or wasting
energy. The contractors will also recommend corrective measures and
provide low-cost financing.
Besides helping identify energy efficiency improvements, the home
performance assessment can also find health and safety problems such
as carbon monoxide, mold, and indoor air quality problems. When a
home isn't properly ventilated, many problems can occur including
the overworking of heating and cooling equipment or moisture problems
leading to peeling paint, mold, mildew or structural damage in walls
and attic.
And winter weather may bring ice damming, which occurs due to insufficient
attic insulation and air leakage into the roof space. The loss of
heat into the attic causes snow on the roof to melt and then refreeze
when the melted water reaches a colder part of the roof. This can
lead to roof leaks and structural problems on eaves, gutters, and
interior walls.
To help take the guesswork out of selecting a contractor, all testing
and corrective work is done by Building Performance Institute-certified
(BPI) Home Performance Contractors. These contractors are highly trained
and the certified by the BPI, a national resource for building science
technology that sets the standards for assessing and improving the
energy efficiency of homes. This certification process helps guarantee
the highest quality of workmanship and state-of-the-art technology
to help you save money.
One of the first questions homeowners ask is, "How much would
a home performance assessment cost?" Many times the answer is
"nothing." A home assessment conducted under the Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR® program can cost up to $250.
Should a homeowner choose to do the recommended upgrades, the testing
fee is fully deducted from the cost of the work.
To make this program affordable to all New Yorkers, several finance
options are available to help make the upgrades are available. They
include several low-interest loan options or a 10 percent cash back
option should a homeowner choose to pay for the upgrades.
For low-income homeowners, an Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY
STAR® subsidy is available. Qualifying homeowners can be eligible
to benefit from a $5,000 maximum subsidy for one-family homes and
$10,000 maximum subsidy for two to four family homes. The subsidy
is paid directly to the contractor.
If you are looking to trim those winter heating bills and make your
home more efficient, safe and comfortable, take a look at the Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR® program. All you've got to lose
is your high heating bills.
For more information, please call 1-877-NY-SMART or visit the web
at www.GetEnergySmart.org.
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