Sustainable Financing for Sustainable Choices

Have you been thinking about upgrading your furnace, weatherizing your home, or insulating the attic? All of these projects can significantly reduce your monthly energy bills, particularly in the winter months, but they come with a hefty sticker price. You could save up for some fancy new insulation or request weatherstripping in your stockings, but there is a better way. New York now has on-bill-financing of these kinds of upgrades which we know will save money. You can get a guaranteed loan tied to your utility, which pays for the upgrades upfront, and pays for itself out of your savings right on your utility bill. If you move, the upgrades and bills stay behind, saving money for the next owner. 

This is merely one of the innovated financing models available to bridge the gaps between making the right longterm decisions and affording it on the short term.

Check out the simple step-by-step guide to on-bill financing at UnwasteNY: http://www.unwasteny.org/financing

Or Jump right to NYSERDA's program page to learn more: 

http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/on-bill

Button Up That Overcoat

As we head into winter, many of us are budgeting for the increased utility costs that come with the cold weather, but National Grid has some good news for you: the price of natural gas is estimated to go down by 9% this year due to lower negotiated delivery costs, "barring an unseasonably cold winter season," according to a recent article in the Times Union.

While 9% is nothing to shrug at, and could lower a typical family's costs by $50 to $100 over the course of the winter, National Grid continues to emphasize the importance of efficiency, which can save much more. According to the Department of Energy, their weatherization program is saving the average participating household $400 a year on their utility bills.

National Grid recently increased their rebate programs to offer $1,120 to households for upgrading to high efficiency boilers. The rebate on a seven-day programmable thermostat is being increased from $18 to $36. The deal is being offered through Dec. 31. The New York State Public Service Commission has put together a unified resource at http://unwasteny.org to find other programs available to help you increase the efficiency of your home and reduce energy costs.

NYSERDA Energy Audits and Weatherization

As you have undoubtedly noticed, it’s getting cold again. While this year has brought a strangely temperate winter, we can’t forget about the importance of monitoring our energy use and weatherization.

Weatherization is a broad term describing ways of protecting your home from the winter elements. Steps to keep the heat inside and thus lower your bill include: sealing any air leaks in your doors and windows, checking your roof for leaks, and being sure to keep snow and ice from building up on your home. Additionally, with less heat getting out, less oil or natural gas will need to be burned to keep your family warm. Some tips to keep in mind this winter and all year round can be found here: http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsroom/2011-Announcements/2011-12-15-Make-Energy-Efficiency-a-Priority-This-New-Year-with-Simple-Energy-Resolutions-for-2012.aspx.

To find out just how much energy you and your family really use and how to improve, we recommend looking into the free and reduced-cost energy audits provided by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) at http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Page-Sections/Residential/Programs/Existing-Home-Renovations/Comprehensive-Home-Assessments.aspx.

Another positive program coming out of NYSERDA is EmPower New York and, announced on January 5th, the 2012 funding for the program has increased by $18 million, making for a total of $46 million in funds to aid in the improvement of energy usage in low-income households. To read the full announcement visit: http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsroom/2012-Announcements/2012-01-05-Program-to-Help-Low-Income-New-Yorkers-Reduce-Energy-Bills-Gets-Increased-Funding.aspx.

Keeping Cold Air Out = More $ in Pocket

Winter is coming! Make sure that your house is ready for the freezing temperatures. By being prepared, you can save money on your heating bills and save headaches from burst pipes and damaged roofs, gutters, and walls. One of the easiest ways to reduce your heating bill is by preventing the warm air inside from leaking outside. Start by making sure that all of your doors and windows are in good condition, then caulk and weatherstrip around them. Ensure that your walls and ceilings are sufficiently insulated. Rugs on floors and heavy drapes at the windows can also protect against cold drafts.

Keep your heating system operating efficiently for both safety reasons and energy savings. Get your furnace serviced regularly.

A real winter nightmare – and a costly one – is frozen pipes that then break and flood your house with water, causing extensive damage to your house and belongings. Prevent pipes from freezing by identifying those located in unheated areas, then insulate them and wrap them in heat tape. Also, periodically run a small trickle of water from your hot and cold faucets and open the doors of cabinets with water pipes running through them. This is particularly important if the house will be unheated for extended periods of time, such as when you and/or your tenants are out of town.

An often ignored winter problem is the potential for ice dams to form, which can damage the roof, gutters, walls, interior ceiling and even items inside the home. Ice dams occur during melting/freezing cycles, when melted water and ice can work up under the shingles, eventually seeping into the building. To prevent ice damming, make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear of leaves and sticks in the fall, then clear snow and icicles from them all winter long. Make sure to keep the buildup of snow on your roof to a minimum, using a long-handled roof rake if needed to pull the snow off the roof. All winter long, keep gutters and down spouts clear of snow and icicles.

For additional simple tips to save energy, check out suggestion on Rensselaer County’s website at http://www.rensco.com/save_energy_main.asp

Assistance in Paying Heating Bills
As of yesterday, November 2nd, applications for assistance in paying home heating bills through HEAP (the Home Energy Assistance Program) are being accepted. The income limits for eligible households have been raised since last year; a family of four with an annual income of up to $46,837 is now eligible. Households that are eligible can receive one regular payment and may be eligible for a second emergency payment in certain cases. HEAP is available both to renters and to homeowners. More information about the benefits and terms can be found at http://www.myBenefits.ny.gov or at http://www.rensco.com/social_heap.asp or by calling (518) 270-3935.

Safety Tip: When you changed your clock this weekend, did you remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide monitor?