 By Gerri Wiley, Energy Navigator, HeatSmart Volunteer
This Fall, Cornell Cooperative Extension, HeatSmart Tompkins, HeatSmart Southern Tier, Delaware River Solar (DRS) and ETM Solar have co-sponsored a very informative event, called “Be Empowered”, held in three counties thus far: Broome, Tioga, and Chemung, with a fourth coming up in Chenango County on November 13th at Guernsey Memorial Library in Norwich from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. If you live nearby, come on out! The central message is that we can:
Want to start the process with a Home Performance Assessment? For most residents, this is free and so informative in finding areas of your home that are tossing your hard-earned dollars into your attic and the outdoors! Just let me know and one of the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Energy Navigators will assist you in signing up. To learn about Heat Pump Systems, if you live in: - Tompkins or Chemung Counties, visit www.heatsmarttompkins.org and call 607-351-1752. - Tioga, Broome, Chenango, or Delaware Counties, visit www.heatsmartsoutherntier.org and/or call 607- 873-9220. To power your home with renewable energy, see the most recent Subscription Community Solar update and 100% Renewable Electricity update.
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 Here's our October 100% Renewable Electricity ESCO and subscription Community Solar updates from HeatSmart Tompkins volunteer and Energy Navigator Gerri Wiley.
Take a look at the opportunities to select a 100% renewable electricity supplier at great rates. Note, not all ESCOs are 100% renewable, but these selections are. As a reminder, New Yorkers have had the opportunity to shop for their electricity supplier since the late 1990s. The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) started by ‘unbundling’ your energy bill, separating charges for delivering energy to your home from charges for the energy itself. What’s up this month? See updates: COMMUNITY SOLAR INFORMATION & LATEST CHART RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY ESCO INFORMATION & LATEST CHART In the ESCO world The only change this month are the prices. The two strongest and lowest cost 100% Renewable Electricity Suppliers continue to be Energy Coop of America (ECA) and Clearview. Be sure to check the attached update for details so that you can acquire the correct plan at the lowest cost. Reminder: ECA continues to offer a fixed low rate to organizations and commercial NYSEG customers, so let me know if you would like ECA to quote you a price for your organization or business. In the Community Solar world No changes at all this month. Delaware River Solar and Nexamp continue to lead the pack in terms of continued development and consumer discounts.  A recent HeatSmart home tour featured this renovated cottage that has an air source heat pump with ductless mini-splits. The whole-home heating and cooling system requires no ducts or radiators. By Dan Veaner for the Lansing Star
The focus is on Lansing as HeatSmart continues to hold events to talk about heat pump technology and special incentives available in Lansing because of the NYSEG moratorium on new natural gas capacity. HeatSmart Lansing Coordinator Lisa Marshall and HeatSmart Tompkins Program Director Jonathan Comstock were in the Village of Lansing Monday to tell the Village Trustees about the program and enlist their help in getting the word out to their constituents. "There are two areas in New York where there are declared gas moratoriums, and there may be other areas, soon," Marshall said. "To address the gas moratorium New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) put together a clean energy action plan to provide relief to businesses and residents affected by the NYSEG gas moratorium. Part of that action plan is extra money for HeatSmart." Continue reading  What’s new for the month?
See September updates: COMMUNITY SOLAR INFORMATION & LATEST CHART RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY ESCO INFORMATION & LATEST CHART In the ESCO world Clean Choice Energy, after several months ‘on probation’, is off the chart. Why? It has priced itself out of the market. After 3 months with a cost (by phone) of 5.1 cent/kWh, it is now 9.2 cents/kWh! Note: Prices listed on the chart are quotes for new customers. If you now contract with Clean Choice Energy at a fixed rate, your rate won’t change. Reminder: ECA continues to offer a fixed low rate to organizations and commercial NYSEG customers. So contact Gerri if you would like ECA to quote you a price for your organization or business. In the Community Solar world Flyers, robocalls, and social media posts, oh my! Some Subscription Community solar companies are bombarding us with ads asking us to choose them as electricity supplier. I’ve been receiving countless requests for my thoughts on these companies. Let me simply say that if a company is not listed on the Subscription Community Solar chart, (just as with the ESCO chart) there is a reason. In the case of Solar Farms NY, it is the amount of discount off your NYSEG bill. The companies on the chart offer 10%. Solar Farms, NY offers 5%. Reminder: Take a look at the bottom of the FAQ sheet. Know that you can save even more money than you can with subscription solar. How? By purchasing solar panels…either on your own property or on a solar company’s property. This month, ETM Solar Works is moving to stage II of its Five Star Storage rooftop community solar project in Johnson City and they are signing up customers now. All in all As always, your feedback is a tremendous help to me. I have several ways to evaluate ESCOs and Community Solar companies and one of them is via your personal experience.  By Dan Veaner for the Lansing Star The bad news is that NYSEG imposed a moratorium on new natural gas customers for the Town and Village of Lansing. The good news is that New York State has special incentives for Lansing residents who choose to convert to heat pumps this year. HeatSmart Board Chair Brian Eden joined HeatSmart Tompkins Program Director Jonathan Comstock and HeatSmart Lansing Coordinator Lisa Marshall to host a launch party for this year's initiative that has a special focus on Lansing. All eyes are on Lansing and Westchester County, which is also subject to a natural gas moratorium, to see how successful the communities will be at embracing the cleaner heat pump technology, and their ability to attract businesses despite natural gas being largely off the table. At the same time the Tompkins County HeatSmart initiative is serving as a model to expand the grass roots approach to promoting clean energy all over New York State. "We saw the example that HeatSmart Tompkins initiated a few years ago," said New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Clean Heating and Cooling Group Program Manager Scott Smith. "It was my idea to replicate it around New York State. As of a week ago we have 15 communities in New York, including Tompkins County, that are doing HeatSmart campaigns. We're very grateful to the HeatSmart team, to Brian and Jonathan for getting it all started. I'm here at the HeatSmart Lansing launch today because as increased funding is part of the clean energy action plan NYSERDA doubled down on its investment in HeatSmart Tompkins specifically to focus on the Lansing area because of the gas moratorium." Continue Reading Photos from the August 4 Lansing Launch Event at Myers Park  August 100% Renewable Electricity ESCO and Subscription Community Solar Updates from HeatSmart Tompkins volunteer Gerri Wiley: Gerri asks that you share details of your experiences with ESCOs and community solar developers. Use our contact form to drop a line.
Note: Low, fixed ESCO rates are available to businesses and non-profits from Energy Cooperative of America, located in Amherst, NY. If you know of a business or non-profit organization wanting a fixed low 100% renewable energy rate, let Gerri know.  By Dan Veaner for the Lansing Star
As it looks more and more that the moratorium on new natural gas will be permanent in the Town and Village of Lansing, government officials and residents have been asking what New York State will do to to provide 'energy equity' for the Lansings. The question was partially answered Monday when HeatSmart representatives explained to the Town Planning Board the benefits of heat pump technology and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) incentives for installing it. Incentives that are specifically targeted at the Lansings because of the moratorium. "NYSERDA came up with this clean action plan in response to these gas moratoria, saying we're going to help these communities to transition off of fossil fuels onto more sustainable types of home heating," said Lansing HeatSmart coordinator Lisa Marshall. "The way they're going to do that is to lower energy costs for consumers, promote economic development, and deliver more resources." Continue reading  HeatSmart Tompkins is excited to celebrate the launch of its Lansing program!
Please join us for a fun and informative afternoon. When: Sunday, August 4th, 2019 | 3:00-6:00 pm Where: Myers Park in Pavilion E, 1 Lansing Park Rd., Lansing, NY 14882 What: Spend an afternoon by the lake getting to know the HeatSmart coordinators and trusted installers, and enjoy the opportunity to familiarize yourself with special NYSERDA incentives currently offered to Lansing residents that make air and ground source heating so attractive and attainable. Bring your friends and your neighbors to explore the possibilities of comfortable, cost-effective, and climate-friendly home heating and cooling. There will be tasty snacks, refreshments, and door prizes. How Much? The Launch Party is FREE and you can enroll for a FREE home assessment too. Let HeatSmart be your guide! HeatSmart Tompkins, a non-profit community organization that advocates for greener and cheaper home heating and cooling systems, offers community education, home tours, access to vetted installers. and home assessments to help homeowners navigate these technologies.  July 100% Renewable Electricity ESCO and Subscription Community Solar Updates from HeatSmart Tompkins volunteer Gerri Wiley: 1) You’ll see that Clean Choice Energy remains on July’s chart, even though it is still on my ‘probation list’. Why consider this company? Because TODAY, they still offer a 12 month fixed low price of 5.1 cents per kWh. Granted, we don’t know how long that price will hold. Also, note that their online price is 8.0 cents per kWh, so you’d want to nab the 5.1 cent price by calling them.
2) Very exciting news on the Energy Coop of America (ECA) front. Along with offering a variable, but reasonable residential rate, they can offer non-profit organizations a FIXED low rate for the same 100% renewable electricity product. So, listen carefully: If you are a board member of a library, municipality, museum, or church or simply wish to offer their board the opportunity for a fixed low rate on renewable electricity, please let me know! 3) We have a new Subscription Community Solar company offering 10% reduction from NYSEG’s supply and delivery price: Common Energy. Their current solar project is in Catlin, Chemung County and they welcome sign-ups.  A few comments from HeatSmart volunteer Gerri Wiley: ESCO or Subscription Community Solar…Which should you sign up with? You can sign up with both unless you have your own solar panels, in which case you may not subscribe to Community Solar. A 100% Renewable Electricity ESCO can cover those extra kilowatt-hours that your solar panels may not be producing. When your ESCO is removed from the list Some of you were disappointed to see that your current 100% renewable electricity ESCO was no longer on the list. A few wondered if they should shift to another ESCO. My advice in regard to a fixed rate ESCO with a cancellation fee? Wait until the end of your contract. There's no need to make an emergency switch. Mark your calendar Fixed price ESCOs turn into variable rate ESCOs at the end of the contract period. Therefore, note the end date of your contract and renew your contract with the same ESCO or decide on another. To help you decide, call your ESCO and ask their renewal price. Compare it with others on the 100% renewable electricity ESCO chart. For the most up-to-date renewable electricity ESCOs and subscription community solar updates, go to the ESCO page or the Community Solar page and download the latest charts. Power on… (renewably, of course!)  Shut the refrigerator door! There's a refrigeration summit coming to Tompkins County Public Library on May 23.
Hosted by KeepItCoolTompkins.org a student-run organization dedicated to mitigating the effects of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gas in Tompkins County. Find out more about the future of sustainable refrigeration at this summit.  We have a new resource for you! Just like our ESCO resource to help you navigate renewable electricity suppliers, we have an FAQ for community solar subscription projects available to you, a chart detailing what's available, and information about how you can choose both a renewable energy supplier and subscribe to a community solar project.
Visit the Community Solar FAQ page and download the handy chart. Hat tip to HeatSmart volunteer Gerri Wiley for providing this resource!  Here is the monthly update on 100% renewable electricity ESCOs (Energy Supply Companies). Visit our ESCO resource page for the April chart.
Our HeatSmart volunteer Gerri Wiley, who provides this information for your consideration, has removed Clean Choice Energy from the ESCO list. Why? This month Clean Choice Energy advertises four different prices for exactly the same 12 month fixed rate 99% wind/1% solar plan: 5.90 cents/kWh by phone, 6.40 cents/kWh stated on the New York State Power to Choose website, 7.50 cents/kWh on their own website, and 10.8 cents on their mailed flyer. Thus, we are left with two 100% renewable electricity ESCOs: 1) the reasonable, but variable rate Energy Coop of America (who will make this a fixed rate - budget billing - if you ask. You also need to let NYSEG know to coordinate and fix the their delivery price) and 2) Clearview Energy with an online fixed rate of 5.09 cents/kWh that matches Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance's (MEGA) fossil-nuke plan if your municipality is one of those aggregated (and aggravated) by this supposed CCA venture. Yes...that's right...Clearview's 100% hydropower rate is the same as MEGA's 86% fossil-nuke plan. Note...With fixed price ESCOs, mark your calendar. When the 12 month contract period expires, your fixed rate becomes variable. To avoid surprises, re-evaluate your choices at the end of the contract period. View our FAQ page for more information about ESCOs.  Solar Tompkins awards first HeatSmart Earth Stewardship Award to Purity Ice Cream. (left to right) Tom Seaney, Marie McRae, Bruce Lane, Heather Lane, Jonathan Comstock, Brian Eden. Photo: Mary Alyce Kobler By Jonathan Comstock, Director, HeatSmart Tompkins You already loved Purity Ice Cream, but now you can love them even more. When the owners of the iconic Ithaca institution renovated their shop, they decided to scoop out a little happiness for the planet, too. Today, Purity heats and cools its entire operation with high-efficiency ground source heat pumps, and it powers those pumps – not to mention its lights, machinery, and appliances – entirely with solar energy. When we at Solar Tompkins considered nominees for our first HeatSmart Award for Outstanding Earth Stewardship, Purity was a natural choice. For co-owner Bruce Lane, ground source (also known as geothermal) heat pumps were the perfect answer for a year-round business that consumes a considerable amount of energy. Not only have the heat pumps drastically reduced the company’s greenhouse gas emissions, but they have also made life more comfortable for customers and employees alike. “Geothermal is almost like magic,” Lane marveled. “Most of the energy for heating comes from the earth and is available for free. And cooling with geothermal is so inexpensive that we could even afford to air-condition the kitchens, something that restaurants rarely do because of the cost.” Solar Tompkins created the earth stewardship award to help spread the news about the magic of heat pumps and related technologies. “People are taking action in both the private and commercial arenas all over our county, and we all need to know about it, and celebrate it, and think about how we can each be part of this progress,” said Brian Eden, chair of the Solar Tompkins Board. Solar Tompkins is a local nonprofit led by volunteers and funded by donations and grants. The award, and indeed all our work, is intended to accelerate the global process of “beneficial electrification,” which combines renewable electricity generation with high-efficiency electric alternatives for heating and cooling buildings, fueling vehicles, and powering industry. Beneficial electrification is the path we urgently need to take if we are to reduce climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions. The good news is that it is a broad one with room enough for all of us. Solar Tompkins has been traveling this path since our founding five years ago. We began by facilitating the adoption of solar panels by local homeowners and businesses. In just two years, the program more than tripled the number of photovoltaic installations in Tompkins County. Our success can plainly be seen today on rooftops and in yards throughout our region, and in the number of companies now offering solar services. As awareness of solar technology grew, and as community and commercial solar farms began to flourish, we decided to shift our focus to heating and cooling. After all, most of us heat our homes by burning fossil fuels in our basements, and those of us who use air conditioning tend to power it with electricity from fossil fuel-burning plants. In fact, heating and cooling together account for roughly 70 percent of all residential greenhouse gas emissions in Tompkins County. HeatSmart Tompkins organizes publicity campaigns, community meetings, and public tours of homes and businesses with heat pump systems. We vet installers who work one-on-one with property owners to assess and improve the efficiency of their buildings, and then, where appropriate, install air or ground source heat pumps for heating, cooling, and even hot water. We make no money on the installations we help to arrange. Heat pumps aren’t as visible as solar panels, but more and more area homeowners, developers, and business owners are making the switch, just as Purity Ice Cream did. And with good reason. Heat pumps are clean, healthy, safe, and highly efficient. They provide cooling and dehumidification as well as heating. While sizing, cost, and other specifications will vary from building to building, business owners and homeowners with oil, propane, or electric baseboard systems can often save money by switching over. When powered by renewable electricity, heat pumps are virtually emissions-free. Our innovative HeatSmart program has not just begun to move the home heating and cooling market in Tompkins County and surrounding areas; it has also become a model for organizations in other communities across the Northeast. We hope the HeatSmart Award for Outstanding Earth Stewardship will help raise awareness even further. If you own or know of a business or facility that might qualify, send me your story at jonathan@solartompkins.org. And keep your eyes out for our next HeatSmart campaign, which will launch after May 1. For more information, visit us at solartompkins.org. Remember, there’s no sense in waiting for solutions to climate change. The solutions are waiting for us!  Here is the monthly update on 100% renewable electricity ESCOs (Energy Supply Companies). There are no major changes this month...just the usual price updates for new customers.
Note...With fixed price ESCOs, mark your calendar. When the 12 month contract period expires, your fixed rate becomes variable. To avoid surprises, re-evaluate your choices at the end of the contract period. View our FAQ page for more information about ESCOs. New Yorkers have had the opportunity to shop for their electricity supplier since the late 1990s. The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) started by ‘unbundling’ your energy bill, separating charges for delivering energy to your home from charges for the energy itself.
Although you are able to shop for your electricity and select your favorite ESCO, about 80% of residential customers allow NYSEG to supply their electricity. No matter from whom who you choose to buy energy, your local utility will continue to deliver your electricity and respond to service interruptions and outages. You will still pay your utility for these services.  Renewable Electricity ESCOsNew Yorkers have had the opportunity to shop for their electricity supplier since the late 1990s. The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) started by ‘unbundling’ your energy bill, separating charges for delivering energy to your home from charges for the energy itself.
Although you are able to shop for your electricity and select your favorite ESCO, about 80% of residential customers allow NYSEG to supply their electricity. No matter from whom who you choose to buy energy, your local utility will continue to deliver your electricity and respond to service interruptions and outages. You will still pay your utility for these services. See our resource and FAQ page for more info. The Solar for All program helps renters and homeowners get solar energy at no-cost. Program eligibility is based on your location and household income. More info on the Solar for All program.  A few days ago, the 2017 NYGATS report was finalized. "How exciting!," you say.
What’s a NYGATS report? The New York Generation Attribute Tracking System is an auditing system that verifies electricity generated, imported, and consumed in New York State. Why should you care? NYGATS spells out each utility’s and ESCO’s “Environmental Disclosure Label”, showing fuel sources and air emissions to generate your electricity. You don’t like what you see? You’re in luck…You can change it! What are NYSEG’s fuel sources and air emissions? Take a look at the table. Stunning, yes? Over the past decade, our electricity supply continues to be dominated by natural gas, and even with the blessing of our New York hydroelectric power, renewables supply less than 18% of our electricity. Why not change this to 100%? You CAN! How? Simply by obtaining your supply from an ESCO supplying 100% renewable electricity. See this month’s 100% renewable energy ESCO update. Can you still do this if you've purchased your own solar panels at your home or in a community solar garden or you subscribe to community solar program? Yes! You already subscribe to a 100% renewable ESCO? Then please share this link with your climate-smart friends who may not.December ESCO Update. Information provided by Gerri Wiley, a volunteer with HeatSmart, who provides us with regular reports on vetted suppliers. Time is still on your side to beat the HeatSmart 2018 Enrollment Deadline on December 15th!12/14/2018  Yes! Time is still on your side, but don’t let it slip away! Enrollment for the 2018 HeatSmart program continues until midnight tomorrow, Saturday, December 15th. And doing the enrollment form only takes a couple minutes!
Perhaps you have already opened this message and made your own decision to act. But have you shared it with your friends? They deserve HeatSmart too! So please please be our ambassador and forward this message to your friends and acquaintances. Remember, enrollment carries no obligations and provides a free assessment of the benefits of heating and cooling smart in your home.  The Ithaca Week at Ithaca College featured a story on how people in Tompkins County are greening up their homes while staying cozy. HeatSmart program director Jonathan Comstock was interviewed for this story.
Fall Update: HeatSmart Tompkins upcoming meetings, home tours, and how to help spread the word!10/22/2018 Thank you for being a part of the HeatSmart community. Whether you have started on the path to switch from space and water heating fueled by oil, propane, and natural gas to high-efficiency heat pumps, or you are just learning about it, we want to remind you that we are here to help you with information, education, home tours and access to vetted installers. We know how important it is to keep your home warm and cozy while keeping costs down! Email a friend! Use this template to help more people get HeatSmart. Suggested email: SUBJECT HEADLINE: HeatSmart Tompkins Community Meeting – Heat Pumps for home heating and cooling – attend an upcoming program on _____ [Please ADD an UPCOMING DATE] 10/23, 11/1, 11/8, 11/20 BODY TEXT: Are you looking to save on your home heating and cooling bills? Do you want to improve the comfort and air quality in your home? Are you trying to reduce reliance on fossil fuels? HeatSmart Tompkins is a non-profit community organization that helps you navigate the heat pump technologies, answer your questions, and introduce you to vetted partner installers. They host community meetings and home tours to help people get informed. HeatSmart Tompkins is holding community meetings and home tours in Tompkins County, Tioga County, and Chemung County. Visit their schedule online and find one convenient for you: http://www.solartompkins.org/community-meetings.html Upcoming MeetingsOct 23 (Tues) — Dryden Varna Community Center 943 Dryden Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 6:30pm-8:30pm Join and share our Facebook event. Nov 1 (Thur) — City of Ithaca Tompkins County Public Library, Borg Warner Room 101 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850 6:30pm-8:30pm Join and share our Facebook event. Nov 8 (Thur) Van-Etten (Chemung County) Van Etten Community Center 6 Gee St./NY34, Van Etten, NY 6:30-8:30pm Join and share our Facebook event. Nov 20 (Tues) - Groton Groton Public Library 112 E. Cortland St., Groton, NY 13073 Join and share our Facebook event. Upcoming ToursSaturday, Oct. 27th, 10am-noon
David Weinstein and Christina Stark Heat Pump(s): 5-ton GSHP for space heating & cooling and hot water. Solar tracking solar panel array. 51 Freese Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 (Please park across the street from the house) Join and share our Facebook event. Saturday, Nov. 10th, 10am-noon Charlie and Kathy Woodcock Heat Pump(s): 3-ton Air source heat pump whole-home system; includes both multi-zone and single-zone units 167 Crescent Place, Ithaca, NY 14850 Join and share our Facebook event.  This year is perhaps the Best Year Ever for installing geothermal. Last year, people who bought geothermal systems got a wonderful surprise just before tax time. The federal 30% tax credit was restored and they got an unexpected $10 thousand dollars or more to subtract from their tax bills.
If you didn’t buy your system last year, it’s not too late to get a great deal, but act this year. Only for this next year do we have the combination of the NYSERDA incentive AND the federal tax credit, because the NYSERDA incentive will expire in 2019. So don’t miss out. There are some great deals to be had by acting now! Go to link: NYSERDA incentive Go to link: Federal Tax Credit Jay Egg of Egg Geothermal discusses the basics of geothermal and examines how far geothermal can go towards a renewable energy future. Presented by the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council and HeatSmart Tompkins. Co-sponsored by Campaign for Renewable Energy, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, Sustainable Tompkins, Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative (TCCPI).  Commercial Energy Workshop
Wednesday, October 24, from 3 – 5 PM BorgWarner East Room, Tompkins County Public Library (101 E. Green St., Ithaca) Join us at the Commercial Energy Workshop, a FREE two-hour workshop intended to introduce various programs that can help businesses save energy and money. For more information, please see the attached workshop flyer, and RSVP to Andrea Aguirre (gaguirre@tompkins-co.org) by Monday, October 15. Light refreshments will be provided. |
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