Call it the great big energy-saving machine. That’s the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), created in 1975 to facilitate relationships between contractors and New York multifamily property-owners and managers, smoothening the road toward easy, cost-effective adoption of energy-efficiency services. And they give financial incentives as well.

Part of NYSERDA's funding went into the creation of New York Energy Smart, which helps to maintain momentum for the state’s efforts to develop competitive markets for energy efficiency; demand management; outreach and education services; research development and demonstration; low-income services; and to provide direct economic and environmental benefits to New Yorkers. The program runs through June 30, 2011.

Incentives are the state’s main carrot in its plan to make 25 percent of all power used in New York come from renewable resources, which the state is mandated to do by 2013. NYSERDA will arrange to do “energy audits” to see how your building uses electricity and gas, and what you can do to be more efficient – such as installing insulation or double-pane windows to trap heat or solar panels to generate building energy. The authority then works with lenders who offer low-interest New York Energy Smart Loans.

The main websites – nyserda.org and powernaturally.org – seem to require a law degree with a minor in finance in order to be understood. Go instead to getenergysmart.org, hit the button that reads “Multifamily (5+ Units)” and from there click “Multifamily Performance Program – Existing Buildings” within the text. That’ll take you to an easy-to-understand page with all the basics, plus contact information.

Adapted from Habitat November 2007. For the complete article and more, join our Archive >>