We’re sure you have heard the old adage, “You’ve got to spend money to make money!” Well, while that may be true in the business world, we’re happy to say it is not the case when it comes to saving on your home heating and cooling costs.
Here at Fred F. Collis & Sons, we keep a close eye on any and all incentive/rebate programs available so that we can help reduce the cost of our customers’ home improvement solutions. There is one program in particular that has been helping homeowners throughout Utica, Rome, Herkimer, New Hartford, and the rest of the Mohawk Valley – NYSERDA’s EmPower New York program. With EmPower New York, those that qualify can increase their home’s energy efficiency without any out of pocket expenses!
Here’s a brief look at how it works and who qualifies to benefit from this great program.
What Can You Get From the EmPower New York Program?
Reducing home energy use is a win-win-win for New York. It reduces the demand on the electrical grid, reduces monthly out of pocket expenses for homeowners, and reduces New York’s carbon footprint. This is why NYSERDA is providing these complimentary resources to income qualified homeowners! So, what can you get from this lucrative program?
The EmPower program offers the following
(at absolutely no cost to the homeowner!)
- Home energy assessments to identify areas of possible energy improvements
- Installation of high-efficiency lighting
- Free attic and wall insulation
- Free air sealing service
- Replacement of inefficient refrigerators and freezers
- Water-saving showerheads
- A monthly electric bill credit of between $5-$15 from community solar
- Additional tips on how to save energy
The first step is giving our team at Fred F. Collis & Sons a call to schedule your free home energy assessment and we’ll get started on finding the areas in your home that are most in need of efficiency improvements.
Home Energy Assessments
Through your free energy assessment, we begin with a visual inspection of the home to locate areas of concern. Then the diagnostics begin, using the latest building science tools to uncover and pinpoint areas where your home is losing energy. We do this by performing a blower door test to find out the total amount of air leakage in your home, then use thermal imaging technology to locate any air holes or gaps, as well as areas where insulation is lacking or deteriorated.
From there, we can seal up any leaks via thorough air sealing, and upgrade your insulation, all at no cost to you.
Who Qualifies for the EmPower NYSERDA Program?
This all sounds great, right? So you might be wondering how you can qualify for these NY state home improvement rebates. This program is available for both homeowners and renters, and is based on household income in relation to the state median income, as well as a few other factors.
To qualify you must:
- Live in a home or building with 100 units or fewer
- Be responsible for paying utility bills
- Have household income below 60 percent of the state median income (same eligibility as regular HEAP benefits; see this chart to see if your income fits EmPower New York Guidelines)
Ready to Start Saving? Call Fred F. Collis & Sons
The free insulation and air sealing that comes with the EmPower program alone can save you an estimated 15% on your heating and cooling costs, according to ENERGY STAR. Plus, factoring in the water savings of an efficient showerhead, an energy bill credit, a more efficient freezer or refrigerator, and any additional energy-saving tips that emerge from your energy assessment, you could stand to significantly reduce your monthly energy bill.
We are offering free energy assessments throughout the Mohawk Valley, including Herkimer, New Hartford, Clinton, Frankfort, Oriskany, Sauquoit, Waterville, Whitesboro, Oneida, Camden, and Cooperstown.
