From our Friends at NWEAC
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is an innovative, market-based solution to some of the most pressing energy and environmental challenges facing the United States and New York State. In a CCA system, municipalities collectively purchase energy directly from electricity providers on the open market on behalf of local residents and businesses. Working either as singular localities or a unified combination of municipalities, municipalities operating under CCA replace Investor Owned Utilities (IOU) as the provider of energy by purchasing the electricity to be used in their communities directly from the market in the form of Megawatt Hours (MWh). IOUs remain responsible for the generation of power from the CCA-purchased energy as well as the transmission and distribution of power to customers. With this division of labor, communities utilizing CCA are able to utilize local control of purchasing energy in order to reduce electricity costs, increase use of renewable energy sources, and create economic opportunity by ensuring the use of locally-sourced power. By leaving the tasks of generating, transmitting, and distributing power to IOU, who are also responsible for maintaining their own infrastructure and customer service operations, the benefits to local governments are not off-set by the costs and burden associated with Municipally Owned Utilities.
Community Choice Aggregation holds the promise to lower the price paid for electricity while allowing for local populations to select their own environmentally sustainable renewable energy sources at the same time. Unfortunately, the program is only authorized in six states and operationalized in just five.
NWEAC is helping to lead the fight to bring CCA Electricity purchasing to New York. Not only has NWEAC played an integral role in drafting legislation designated for the New York State Legislature with the purpose of authorizing CCA programs in New York, NWEAC has also designed a pilot program for New York CCA to take place right here in the NWEAC region of Westchester County. This is truly an exciting opportunity for NWEAC to help Westchester lead New York State and the nation into a cleaner, greener, more sustainable future. We hope you will join us in showing support for bringing CCA to New York by keeping up with all the latest updates from NWEAC and by voicing your support to your local and State elected representatives and officials.
 NYSERDA is offering great funding opportunities. You can get money for energy efficiency for homes, businesses and non-profits.
Especially attractive right now is On Bill Recovery! Including free energy audits for most homes, non-profits and small businesses.
Perusre PON, RFP, RFQ solicitations for everythng from developing alternative fuels to helping create jobs. There are tools, ideas and links! Their opportunities change weekly! So if you find soething that looks like a good fit move swiftly. (some especially attractive incentives were fulfilled in as little as 48 hours!)
It pays to keep on top of NYSERDA's funding page.
 From Greenpeace volunteer in 1978, to Sustainability Coordinator for the County of Westchester, and to her current position as Managing Director of Green Guru Network Lea has been an avid proponent of sustainable issues for over 30 years. She pioneered green local social media, developed municipal and state climate action and sustainability plans, spearheaded large scale municipal biofuel and environmentally preferred procurement programs, consults for large scale recycling and waste reduction projects, energy efficiency policy and local agriculture systems and sustanable tourisim for governments, non-profits and private entities. She was recently honored by 914Inc magazine as one of Westchester County's Most Influential Women.
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...good news for the economy, for homeowners and businesses and for the environment. The New York Legislative body passed landmark bills this past session. One piece of legislation, Power New York of 2011, will be a tremendous boon for local energy businesses that specialize in retrofits.
Going forward, homeowners will be able to finance energy efficient measures through their utility bill. Energy efficiency measures like air sealing, solar hot water and insulation will make your home more comfortable and less dependent on fossil fuels. You will save a good deal of money on your utility bill (both heating and electric) by taking these measures.
We do not have a ton of information on the new legislation or its implementation, but you can find info on existing financing programs here:
http://www.getenergysmart.org/SingleFamilyHomes/ExistingBuilding/HomeOwner.aspx
The plan is to for you take a loan for energy retrofits made to your home. You can then pay off your loan via your utility bill. The payoff amount will be less than the savings incurred as a result of the retrofit, putting you in a cash positive position from day one. Once the loan is paid off, you reap the full rewards of the utility cost savings.
The legislation runs in tandem with the Green Jobs-Green New York Act, which has a goal of 1,000,000 million homes made energy efficient across the state. Some estimates have job creation around 14,000 permanent jobs as a result.
All this and you help save the environment because less energy will be consumed from burning fossil fuels.
 Thinking of buying a home in this very buyer friendly market? Check out New York's new buyer protection law. Buyer are now entitled to know more about their prospective home's energy use. Two years prior home energy bills are required disclosure for prospective property buyers. We take for granted similar energy use disclosures on appliances and cars. Russell Unger blogs about this concept in Urban Green Council. Want to get specific? Check out New York's Truth in Heating Law. Want to know how we stack up against other states? Review this handy Comparison of U. S. Residential Energy Disclosure Policies Chart from buildingratings.org
 From NYSERDA's Press:
Last Call for New York's ‘Great Appliance Swap Out’
$1 Million in Rebates Still Available for Energy Efficient Appliances
Nearly $1 million in rebates is still available for New Yorkers who purchase energy efficient appliances through "New York's Great Appliance Swap Out," a program that has provided $15,790,080 million in rebates to more than 157,000 New Yorkers, according to officials from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
The $1 million has been made available because approximately 10,000 people who reserved a rebate did not submit an application or documentation required to verify their eligibility following their purchase. The available funding, which will provide rebates of as much as $555 for purchasing three appliances, will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reserving a rebate online or by phone does NOT complete the application process. Once a qualifying purchase has been made and an applicant has reserved a rebate, the applicantmust submit a signed copy of the application and the required receipts within 14 days in order to complete the application process.
The rebates are available to New York State residents replacing old appliances with ENERGY STAR® appliances that will be installed at a New York State residential address. Supported by federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the program helps consumers save money on energy costs by reducing their energy usage, and has provided a needed boost to retailers across New York.
Rebates for high-efficiency refrigerators, clothes washers, and freezers range from $50-$105 for a single unit and up to $555 for the purchase of a three-appliance package of high-efficiency refrigerators, clothes washers, and dishwashers, provided on a first-come, first served basis. The program requires consumers to replace old appliances and encourages recycling by offering a larger rebate to consumers who recycle their discarded appliances.
Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA, said, “This program has helped encourage tens of thousands of New Yorkers to purchase energy-efficient appliances that will save them money and cut their energy use. We are grateful to our federal delegation for securing these stimulus funds, which have benefited retailers across New York State, and we look forward to distributing all of New York’s allocation to help continue boosting the economy.”
For consumer guidelines on this program, go to www.NYApplianceSwapOut.com or call 877-NY-SMART. Total available rebates will be updated daily, so visit the site each day for the latest figures.
Program Specifics
How Much You Can Receive:
Customers purchasing appliances may receive the following individual rebates:
· Refrigerators: $75 ($105 with documented recycling)
· Clothes washers: $75 ($100 with documented recycling)
· Freezers: $50 ($75 with documented recycling)
· Dishwashers: Rebates are only available for dishwashers when purchased as part of a three appliance package of CEE-rated appliances. This bundled purchase will qualify for a $500 rebate ($555 with documented recycling).
What Are the Energy Efficiency Requirements?
· Individual purchases: Appliances must have the ENERGY STAR label, meaning that they are up to 30 percent more efficient than standard models on the market.
· Bundled purchases: A larger rebate will be paid to consumers purchasing three appliances that meet CEE standards. This can include a dishwasher, clothes washer, and refrigerator.
Where do you find these appliances?
Appliances may be purchased at any location. NYSERDA works with more than 1,000 of retail partners to help promote the sale of ENERGY STAR Products.
Through Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®, NYSERDA also offers homeowners free or reduced-cost comprehensive home assessments, also referred to as energy audits, and low-interest loans made available as part of the Green Jobs-Green NY Act of 2009 for energy efficiency improvements. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® has helped more than 36,000 New Yorkers significantly cut their energy usage. More information about these and other energy-savings programs can be found on NYSERDA's web site at www.GetEnergySmart.org or from NYSERDA's consumer hotline at: 877-NY-SMART.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect our environment and create clean-energy jobs. A public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York since 1975.
Climate Change & Environmental Services, LLC
www.CCESworld.com
 Despite a new House of Representatives which appears to be dead set against any new legislation on climate change, initiatives are being started at the federal level to address the issue. On February 3rd, 2011, President Obama launched the “Better Buildings Initiative”, which hopes to channel private sector investment through incentives to upgrade offices, stores, schools and other municipal buildings, universities, hospitals, and other commercial buildings. The goal of the initiative is to make commercial buildings 20% more energy efficient over the next decade. At the same time, the initiative is expected to reduce energy bills for businesses by about $40 billion annually.
The initiative has five components:
- Tax incentives – The Initiative intends to make more effective existing tax incentives for building owners who perform energy efficiency upgrades. The existing tax deduction, known as 179(d), would both be changed to a credit and would be made proportional to the level of performance improvements. The credit would not be based on resources spent, but on actual energy improvements achieved in a specific building.
- Ease financing for energy retrofits - The Initiative would direct the Small Business Administration to encourage energy retrofit projects by increasing lending to small businesses. In addition, the Department of Energy will launch a pilot program to provide loan guarantees for projects to upgrade hospitals, schools, and other commercial buildings.
- “Race to Green” competitive grant program - The Initiative will provide new competitive grants to states and/or local governments that initiate programs to encourage energy upgrades and attract private sector investment.
- Building construction technology training and tools - This Initiative would standardize training for workers to implement the next generation of commercial building energy technologies, such as energy auditing and building operations. The program would also enable normally expensive tools to be more affordable.
- “Better Building Challenge” - This effort will encourage the private sector to upgrade their facilities and make investments to decrease their energy use and create jobs. Partners will commit to a series of actions to make their facilities more efficient, and will in turn become eligible for benefits including public recognition, technical assistance, and best-practices sharing.February 9, 2011
For further assistance, contact Marc Karell at CCES at karell@ccesworld.com or at 914-584-6720.
 If you are planning multiple upgrades such as insulation, heating and cooling systems, and more, it may qualify for a Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund rebate under the Home Performance Program. The Program is available for single family or multi-family site specific projects. The financial incentive is determined based on the cost and energy savings of the home performance project.
Energy you lose through leaky doors, windows and ductwork can be a major cause of high energy bills. Many air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are easy to feel, but holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces are usually bigger problems and not noticeable to the eye. Home energy assessment including a blower-door test which pinpoints critical drafts and air leaks can reduce the amount of air flow, improving your comfort level and reducing your energy bills. Building Performance Analyst are skilled in evaluating current and needed air flow, reducing excessive infiltration and carefully adhering to important indoor air quality standards of a home. Once the leaks are found the technicians starts sealing the areas were the air is infiltrating the home. Using the blower door to re-analyze the air flow as they seal is an important tool to monitoring the proper amount of air changes needed for that home.
Duct testing to assess air leaks within the duct-work system is part of the Home Energy Audit and is a great tool to evaluate to current condition of your HVAC system. If you have older metal ducts and they are not insulated or sealed properly they could be losing up to 30% of your heat. Sealing your existing ducts can reduce the loss of heated air through your ducts and cut your heating costs. If you have central air conditioning, sealing your ducts will also save you money on cooling your home. Sometimes it makes sense for home owners to take advantage of utility rebates and available tax credits to upgrade to a new, energy efficient heating and cooling system. After the Technician has sealed all possible leaks, you will be provided with a Duct Air Flow report. This report will provide you with the necessary information to identify if any additional work is necessary to further improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
Here are a few other important reasons to have the Home Energy Audit performed on your home.
• Hot water-saving measures including low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators will be installed.
• Rebates for qualifying central air conditioning systems and for replacement of certain inefficient appliances with qualifying energy-efficient models.
• Installation of energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Incentives for insulation upgrades.
• A “kitchen table wrap-up” where the building analyst will review the work that was done in your home and tell you about additional resources that can help you save energy and money.
If you do not live in CT call your local power company and they will help you
 Got some unexpected spending loot for the holidays? Insulation, Thermopane windows or a new roof in your future? Act fast to take maximum advantage of federal tax credits. There are 4 days left to enjoy 30% tax credit on qualifying energy efficiency equipment and building materials. This incentive has a $1,500 dollar cap (total for 2009 and 2010) As of January 1st 2011 you can still enjoy the 30% credit and the cap will be reduced to $500. Bundle this incentive with New York incentives and local Power Authority incentives for more bang for your buck.
Whether you have your homework done, including figuring your return on investment, or you are in need of a new door and just can't get away with out it, this might be a great opportunity to save money on your new equipment.
Water Heaters, Furnaces , Boilers, Heat pumps, Central Air conditioners, Building Insulation, Windows, Doors, Roofs, Circulating fans used in a qualifying furnace, Biomass, Stoves that use qualified biomass fuel are all eligible.
Check with the experts, DSIRE for more details.
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