Record Numbers of New Yorkers Retrofit Homes for Energy Efficiency Using Green Jobs/Green NY Free or Reduced-Cost Energy Audit/Low-Cost Financing Prog

Record Numbers of New Yorkers Retrofit Homes for Energy Efficiency Using Green Jobs/Green NY Free or Reduced-Cost Energy Audit/Low-Cost Financing Program The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced today that the numbers of New York State homeowners who completed energy efficiency retrofits reached all-time monthly records in both January and February 2011, through Green Jobs/Green NY.
Created by the New York State Legislature and launched Nov. 15, 2010, Green Jobs/Green NY is expected to generate jobs in the state by stimulating investment in energy efficiency improvements for residential homes and businesses. It currently provides homeowners with free or reduced-cost comprehensive home assessments, also referred to as energy audits, and low-interest loans to finance these improvements. The program will be available to small commercial, not-for-profit and multifamily buildings in the coming months.
For homeowners, energy efficiency audits and improvements take place through NYSERDA's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR(r) program. In January alone, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR completed more than 800 retrofits, an all-time record for the program. February followed with more than 600 retrofits, an all-time record for that month.
"These numbers are very encouraging," said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA. "By supporting the development of a vibrant energy efficiency industry, GJGNY is already helping homeowners and businesses reduce their energy costs while also supporting Governor Cuomo's plan to create jobs right here in New York.We look forward to even greater success once the full Outreach and Marking effort is implemented."

Other Green Jobs/Green NY highlights:

* Since free and reduced-cost energy audits were offered in November, NYSERDA has received 4,141 applications. Of these, 3,294 residential customers were approved for free audits and 297 for reduced-cost audits.

* As of end of February, 420 applications have been approved for Green Jobs/ Green NY low-cost financing with 96 loans closed, 87 loans approved and awaiting closing, and an additional 237 loans in process, for a total of approximately $3.3 million in capital.

* Contract negotiations are underway for training new entrants to the workforce and displaced workers for jobs in New York State's clean-energy industry. Ultimately, Green Jobs/Green NY will fund training for 6,000 workers.

Free energy audits are being provided to individuals with incomes up to 200 percent of the Area Median Income, and reduced priced energy audits are available to households with incomes up to 400 percent of the Area Median Income. A listing of income levels by county can be found at: http://www.getenergysmart.org/Files/HomePerformance/gjgny_area_median_income.pdf.pdf.

Certain outreach, training and enrollment efforts are subject to a competitive procurement process available to community based-organizations.

Through Green Jobs/Green NY, the state has established a revolving loan fund for building owners who will be able to pay back loans from the savings on their energy bills. NYSERDA launched the loan program for residential homeowners, and will soon follow with a loan program for small businesses, not-for-profits, and multifamily buildings. The unsecured residential loans are capped at $13,000 for a term of 5, 10 or 15 years and are offered at an initial interest rate of 3.99 percent - or 3.49 percent if the borrower signs up for automated monthly payments.

The Green Jobs-Green New York energy audit, loan and jobs training initiatives are funded with $112 million acquired by auctioning carbon emission credits through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The seed money from the RGGI fund, and from an $18.6 million grant award from the U.S. Department of Energy, will be used to leverage private investment.

NYSERDA offers innovative programs, technical expertise and funding to help consumers increase energy efficiency and save money while helping businesses create clean energy solutions. NYSERDA's professionals help New Yorkers reduce energy consumption, increase the use of renewable energy, protect our environment and create clean energy jobs. A public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in NY since 1975.

Hi Folks,

Just a heads up to let you know that Green jobs is going to be the focus of our next Energy Town meeting event via the poly-com. In fact if NYSERDA agrees I will call it a Green Jobs Forum rather than a Green Jobs Energy Town meeting. It is scheduled for 10 am till noon on Thursday, June 25 and the following county associations have confirmed they will host the event:

CCE-Albany County
Chautauqua county
Clinton County (tentative)
Green county
Hamilton county
Herkimer County
Jefferson County
Lewis County
Monroe County
Niagara County (tentative)
Steuben County
Tompkins County
Westchester County
Warren County.



Cornell Cooperative Extension of the above counties is working with Cornell University and the Workforce Development Institute of New York to host this Green Jobs forum on Thursday, June 25, 10:00am to Noon. The forum will be broadcast to Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations located in 14 counties across New York State via Cornell's distance learning network. The forum is free and open to the public. Information on the following topics and issues will be addressed:

* what is meant by the term "green jobs"
* where and in what sectors of the economy do they exist
* information on available training programs
* what does the future look like for the "green jobs sector"

General information about the workforce development institute and
information about what services are available to the public will also be discussed.

The Green Jobs Forum will also provide information on starting a home performance business. New York State currently has training programs in place and some financial incentives available to entrepreneurs and home improvement contracting firms that want to expand into the home performance field.

We can add two more poly-com sites if any of you with the poly-com equipment are interested in hosting this forum at your county.

Also, if you want a press release/flyer to promote this event for an adjoining county where the event is being hosted let me know and I will send.



Mark Pierce
Extension Associate
E-202 MVR Hall
Cornell University
607-255-0431
mrp6@cornell.edu