LIPA and NYSERDA Launches Home Performance with ENERGY STAR(r) on Long Island Long Island Homes can be improved to save up to 40 percent on monthly energy bills. Oceanside, NY-November 2, 2005-The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced today the launch of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR(r) on Long Island. Developed under Governor George E. Pataki's New York Energy $martSM program, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR uses a whole-house approach to improve homes of any style or size and reduce energy use by up to 40 percent to combat rising energy costs. With the U.S. Department of Energy and other industry experts predicting a significant increase in home heating costs this winter, Long Islanders may face sharply higher heating bills. Recent projections indicate increases of up to 50% to heat homes this winter heating season. "The Home performance Program is a perfect fit for Long Island households that will need a helping hand this winter to cut energy bills," said LIPA Chairman Richard M. Kessel. "Long Islanders who take advantage of this program in conjunction with LIPA's various Clean Energy Initiative (CEI) programs can realize significant energy savings as soon as this winter." Mr. Kessel and Steve Thomas, television's home improvement expert and program spokesperson, conducted a tour of a home in Oceanside to demonstrate how trained and certified Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Contractors conduct home energy and health and safety assessments, and make improvements to heating and cooling systems, insulation, ducts, and ventilation to make homes more energy efficient and safe. "Home Performance with ENERGY STAR is a great service and value for homeowners," said Vincent A. Deloria Chairman of NYSERDA. "BPI-certified Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Contractors take a unique, comprehensive approach to home energy usage that looks at the whole house, not just one room or single problem area." "Homeowners are increasingly savvy about energy efficiency. With an ENERGY STAR whole-house retrofit consumers can reduce their total energy costs by 30 percent or more," said Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Regional Administrator. "Finding and sealing air leaks, evaluating the heating and cooling system and upgrading to ENERGY STAR lighting are just a few areas where these qualified contractors add value." Under the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program, a participating
Building Performance Institute (BPI)-certified contractor will conduct a
Comprehensive Home Assessment to test a home's energy performance.
During the assessment, the contractor will test the home for air leakage
using a blower door and look for opportunities to improve the home's In addition to high energy bills, people living in homes that have inefficient heating and cooling systems, insufficient or improperly installed insulation, and air leaks may not be getting the comfort they are paying for. Many homes have rooms that are too hot or cold or have drafts, poor indoor air quality, and ice build-up on the roof that can cause structural damage. These are common signs that the house is not sealed, insulated or heated properly. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors are not only trained to identify these issues, they have the expertise to correct them as well. A moderate fee, depending on the comprehensiveness of the audit, will be charged to eligible homeowners for the comprehensive performance audit. If the home owner decides to make the recommended improvements LIPA will rebate the audit fee. Low interest financing for loans up to $20,000 will be available for qualified applicants to help pay for the energy efficient improvements. Homeowners who decide not to take a loan may be eligible for a LIPA rebate of up to 10% or a maximum of $3,000 for the completed work done through Home Performance. LIPA's Clean Energy Initiative (CEI) fostered by Governor Pataki, is one
of the most ambitious and comprehensive programs of its kind in the
Nation. The CEI is a 10-year, $355-million dollar commitment to promote
clean, renewable electric generation technologies and energy
conservation and efficiency. It encompasses nearly a dozen programs New York State leads the nation in providing residential energy efficiency programs and solutions. Since the inception of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR in April 2001, more than 8,700 homes across the state have been improved to use less energy. With each family saving approximately $600 per year, that is a cumulative savings of over $5 million per year. On average, more than 200 New York State homeowners sign on to have the efficiency of their homes improved every month. For more information and a list of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Contractors, visit www.GetEnergySmart.org or call toll-free 1-877-NY-SMART. ENERGY STAR is a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce air
pollution through increased energy efficiency. The program is run
nationally by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S.
Department of Energy. More than 7,000 organizations have become ENERGY
STAR partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency of The Building Performance Institute (BPI) is an organization dedicated to promoting excellence in the building trades. BPI sets the standards and administers certifications for technicians and accreditations for companies. Remodelers, builders, insulation contractors, and heating and cooling contractors are only a few of the trades that can benefit from building performance certification. For more information on LIPA's Clean Energy Initiative and LIPA's
electric conservation and efficiency programs, visit LIPA, a non-profit electric utility, owns the retail electric system on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA does not own any electric generation assets on Long Island. ### Contact Information: Press Release 11/03/05 4:28 AM Eastern |
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