Kingston New York 12401 Climate Smart Kingston Advocate Training. The Climate Action Plan is Kingston's best tool to guide our government in planning effectively for climate change. The Greenhouse Gas Inventory of 2010 establishes a baseline for reduction efforts and enables us to anticipate future energy needs. As a Climate Smart Community, Kingston has access to a statewide network of resources and The history of Kingston's climate action movement began in October 2009, with the adoption of the Climate Smart Community Pledge to undertake the following: Set Goals, Inventory Emissions, Move to Action Decrease Energy Demand for Local Government Operations Encourage Renewable Energy for Local Government Operations Realize Benefits of Recycling and Climate Smart Solid Waste Management Practices Promote Climate Protection Through Community Land Use Tools Plan for Adaptation to Unavoidable Climate Change Support a Green Innovation Economy Inform and Inspire the Public Commit to an Evolving Process

1. Presented by Michael D’Arcy
RUPCO Outreach Coordinator
Delaware & Sullivan Counties
BPI Certified Regional Energy Coach
Climate Smart Kingston
Energy Advocate Training
NYSERDA Green Jobs – Green New York
Program Outline

2. In The News

3. Climate Smart and Green
Jobs Community Pledge of
2009

4. RUPCO GJGNY Team

5. RUPCO
Our mission is to create
homes, support people, and
improve communities.
Building Back Better

6. About RUPCO
• RUPCO is a not-for-profit agency
• CBO Constituency Based Organization
• Established in 1981
• Independent Contractor to the New York State
Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA)
RUPCO will actively conduct outreach for the Green Jobs/Green NY
Program. This will cover the 10 counties in the Mid-Hudson Region of
NYS including Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam,
Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester Counties, some 2,451,153
residents (12.7% of NYS Population) in 673 Zip Codes.

7. The Challenge!
The 10% Challenge is a call to make 40 homes
more energy Efficient!
Step 1: Out of the 2,946 households in the town, we need 295
of these to receive a FREE or reduced cost whole house
energy assessment!
Step 2: Out of those 295 assessments, lets make 30 of them
into safer, more comfortable, and more energy efficient
homes!
That’s our goal here folk, 295 audits, and 30 retrofits !
Step 3: Educate the home owner on the little things that can
be done to a home to cut back on the day to day energy usage.

8. What is an Energy Advocate?
Definition: An Energy advocate is any person
designed to persuade a third party to make a
decision or a change that ………….

9. What is an Energy Advocate?
And Energy Advocate is someone who’s a neighbor, a friend, and
community leader, or a trusted source for quality information
and guidance or energy related information.
You are the feet on the ground campaign to educate the public on the programs that they might not know
anything about!

10. About NYSERDA
• New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority
• Established by the New York State
Legislature in 1975
• NYSERDA is tasked to address the State’s
energy and environmental challenges
Mission:
Advance innovative energy solutions in ways that
improve New York’s economy and environment.

11. About Green Jobs – Green New York
Green Jobs/Green NY is a statewide initiative established by the NYS
Legislature in 2009 to:
• Promote energy efficiency, energy conservation and clean technologies
• Reduce energy consumption and costs
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Support sustainable community development
• Create green job opportunities, including for
emerging, unemployed and displaced workforce

12. Opportunity’s knocking!
• Green Jobs – Green NY (GJGNY) provides funding for
energy assessments, low-cost financing for energy
upgrades, and technical and financial support
• GJGNY is working through Constituency-Based
Organizations (CBOs aka RUPCO) to bring the benefits of
energy efficiency to entire neighborhoods, including
residents, small businesses, and not-for-profits
• GJGNY enables New Yorkers to make a significant
difference in homes, businesses and neighborhoods,
making them more comfortable, more sustainable, and
more economically sound

13. Types of Residential Programs
 Free or Reduced Cost Home Energy Audit
 Cash Incentives & Low Interest – Low Cost Financing
 Income Eligible Assistance

14. Property Eligibility
• 1-4 unit residential properties; primary
residence and/or rental property
• All heating fuel types (Electric, gas, oil,
propane, etc)
• Structure must be in New York State

15. Free or Reduced Cost Guide
GJGNY Area Median Family Income (AMI):
ULSTER COUNTY
(Other counties see income chart on HPwES application)
100% 200% 250% 300% 350% 400%
AMI
$73.900 ≤ $147,800 ≤ $184,750 ≤ $221,700 ≤ $258,650 ≤ $ 295,600
Single Unit
Audit;
≤ 3,500 SF
Free Audit $50 $100 $150 $200
2 - 4 Units
Audit;
Single Unit
≥ 3,500 SF
Free Audit $80 $160 $240 $320

16. 92% on All New Yorkers Qualify for
a FREE Energy Audit
Comprehensive Home energy Assessments or Energy Audit
If you make less then $147,800 in Ulster County then
your Audit is FREE

17. Accredited BPI Contractors Listed by NYSERDA
Utilize a Whole-House Systems Approach

18. What is Home Performance?
• A “whole house” approach to home
energy improvement
– Requires understanding of the dynamic
interaction among home systems
• Heating and cooling systems
• Water heaters and other
combustion appliances
• Ventilation
• Shell features

19. • Focus is on much more than energy
efficiency!
– Health and safety
– Comfort
– Durability and long-term value of housing
– Environmental benefits
• Many customers perceive value
immediately – then enjoy lower energy
bills!
What is Home Performance? (cont.)

20. Combustion Health and Safety Testing

21. Finding Leaks with a Blower Door

22. Checking Insulation

23. Appliances and Lighting

24. Ventilation

25. Program Incentives
• 10% Cash Back for eligible high energy
efficiency measures
• ≤ 80% AMI Households: NYSERDA pays
50% of the cost of eligible measures up
to $5,000 for single-family homes or
$10,000 for 2-4 family homes
• ≤ 60% SMI Households: EmPower New
YorkSM delivers energy savings at no cost
Incentives based on Area Median Income (AMI)
 Cost effective electric reduction measures such as high efficiency lighting
and refrigerator replacements, insulation and air sealing, and education
Example:
<80% AMI Family of 4
$65,507
<60% SMI Family of 4
$50,184

26. Low-Interest Financing
 On-Bill Recovery Loan Program
 GJGNY Smart Energy Loan
Property owner determines optimal financing
strategy based on projected energy savings!

27. On-Bill Recovery Loan
• Up to $25,000; fixed interest 3.49%; 5 – 15 year terms,
$150 loan processing fee
• Debt remains on home’s utility bill if property
changes hands
• The total loan payments must be less than the
estimated energy savings over the anticipated life
of the improvements
• The monthly loan installment payment may not exceed
1/12th of the estimated average annual energy
savings2 from the improvements over the loan term.
Pay back loan as part of monthly utility bill!

28. GJGNY Smart Energy Loan
• Finance up to $13,000 per household, up to $25,000
if payback is 15 years or less
• Low Interest Rates: 3.99%; rate discounted to 3.49%
for electronic payments;
• Select loan terms of 5, 10, or 15 years
(term cannot exceed life of measures)
• $150 loan processing fee
• Can combine with High Efficiency
Measure Incentives (HEMI) or Assisted Subsidy

29. Step by Step Guide

30. Question Time
1: What is the Kingston Climate Smart Committee?
2: What is an Energy Advocate?
3: Who is RUPCO?
4: Who is NYSERDA?
5: What does HPwES stand for?
6: Is it FREE?
7: How can I pay for this?

31. Michael D'Arcy
Outreach Coordinator GJ/GNY
Mid-Hudson Valley Regional Energy Coach
Rural Ulster Preservation Company
289 Fair St. Kingston NY 12401
Main (845)331-2140 ext:261 CELL (845)705-7883