More NYC Households to Qualify for Energy Efficiency Upgrades Under Tweaked State Program

"New York State has implemented several policies and programs to help residents who are spending a large chunk of their income on electricity and gas to heat, cool and power their homes. The most prominent is EmPower+, run by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which provides single- to four-family households that qualify with energy-efficient upgrades, like adding insulation and air sealing and installing clean heat pumps."

"These upgrades are provided at either little or no cost to residents. They lower people's utility bills by reducing the amount of energy they use. They also provide a climate benefit, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases properties emit by enabling residents to switch to electric energy. The city's residential buildings produce almost 20 million tons of carbon dioxide, most of which comes from natural gas."

New York State operates Empower+, a program administered by NYSERDA that provides energy-efficient building upgrades to qualifying single- to four-family households at little or no cost. These upgrades include insulation, air sealing, and heat pump installation, reducing utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions. City residential buildings produce nearly 20 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, primarily from natural gas. The state previously struggled to serve urban residents due to restrictive income eligibility criteria. Mona Abu Rayyan exemplifies program beneficiaries, experiencing high heating costs and inadequate warmth in her 1940s Kingston home. After contractor recommendation, she completed an online application and received an energy audit from a local evaluation company.

Read at City Limits