Note: To power your home with renewable energy, see the most recent Subscription Community Solar update and 100% Renewable Electricity update.

​By Gerri Wiley, HeatSmart volunteer and Energy Navigator

Today I am also sharing a way for you to level up your energy literacy. There are still a few spaces open in Get Your Greenback Tompkins' Energy Navigator Program! To learn more, visit their website.

I remain vigilant in trying to provide more than one option for you that meets my criteria of 'price no more than 2 cents/kWh over NYSEG's rate' (yet is WAY cleaner), good customer service, zero or very few customer complaints, and purchases RECs from New York State renewable electricity sources. Losing Clearview's fixed low rate was a sad experience. At least we have one ESCO on the list...ECA Renewable. It isn't a fixed price, but it meets all of my criteria, including zero customer complaints to the PSC...That's something about which to be proud!

All is chuggin' along well with Subscription Community Solar. If you don't have your own panels and haven't signed up as yet, you may want to sign up now while solar panels are free of snow and the days are getting longer! Subscription Solar is a can't lose proposition. Also, not too long from now, there will be consolidated billing, with all data on your utility bill, ending the need for two payments.

If there's one thing the cold winter here in New York is telling us, it is that a well-insulated home is your best protection against winter weather damage and high energy bills. Ice dams on roofs can cause tremendous damage, water infiltration, and mold. Here is a resource for some steps you can take to protect your roof, the most important step of all is ensuring that your roof is properly insulated and ventilated. 

Fortunately, there's never been a better time to enroll with HeatSmart and get a free assessment for an insulation upgrade! Until June, income-qualified households are eligible for grants to pay for insulation and air sealing. If you're in a higher earning category, ask us whether the Comfort Home program might be right for you.
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It's not too late to be a part of the Heat Pump Demonstration Pilot Study now being conducted by NYSERDA. There has been tremendous interest in this short-term opportunity, so don't delay! Scroll down to see some real examples of heat pump systems installed with grant money through the study. Join our Heat Pump Pilot Study webinar on March 10 at noon to learn more. 

Register for an upcoming webinar on clean heating and cooling
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​Weds, March 10 from noon-1pm :: Register Now
Heat Pump Pilot Study
NYSERDA is conducting a Heat Pump Pilot Study to learn how heat pumps can benefit low-to-moderate income households in NY. Join the  HeatSmart team to learn if you're a good candidate for this short term opportunity that will provide deeply discounted heat pumps to low-to-moderate income households that are heating with any fuel except gas.

Weds, March 24 from 7-8pm :: Register Now
Getting the Most out of Your Heat Pump System
Congratulations! You just got a new heat pump system (or you are about to get one)! This webinar will go over how to use your system to maximize comfort and efficiency. We will also go over best practices for maintenance.

Weds, April 14 from noon-1pm :: Register Now
Tax Time!
Join us to learn about federal tax credits for heat pumps and other clean energy technologies. A basic overview of heat pumps will also be provided.

Weds, April 28 from 7-8pm :: Register Now
Campaign for Clean Heat
Join the HeatSmart team to learn about the movement for clean heat at the local level, the state level and the national level. #HeatPumpsNotPipelines

Those icicles hanging from your house may look beautiful, but you'll want to be on the look out for ice dams that can form on the edge of the roofline. 

Ice dams are formed when attic heat warms the roof and melts the snow. Melted snow flows to the edge of the roof, where it freezes again.  As snow continues to melt, water can accumulate behind the layer of ice that forms and can back up underneath roof shingles and leak into the attic space. 

This Old House compiled some great steps you can take to protect your roof, and the rest of your home, and the most important steps include ensuring that your roof is properly insulated and ventilated. This is because the number one problem is undesirable attic heat. Too little insulation, too little ventilation, or a combination of the two create the conditions for ice dams.

Learn more in this resourceful article from This Old House:  
How to Get Rid of Ice Dams

Visit our incentives page for information about home weatherproofing incentives. And view our webinar archive with informative topics such as the "ABCs of Home Performance".

Note: To power your home with renewable energy, see the most recent Subscription Community Solar update and 100% Renewable Electricity update.

​By Gerri Wiley, HeatSmart volunteer and Energy Navigator

Progress?
Have you seen the movie, “Groundhog Day” in which a weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again?
​
Well, Groundhog Day is over, but you’d never know it by looking at NYSEG’s electricity supply for us. In fact, as you see in above chart, the percentages of renewables and greenhouse gas emission-free electricity were higher in 2009 than they were ten years later in 2019!

We can do better than this! Let’s make sure our friends and family know that Subscription Community Solar and 100% Renewable ESCOs are available.
What’s new with Subscription Community Solar this month?

As solar projects reach capacity, new ones are being built, so if you haven’t purchased solar panels, you might consider doing so, or consider subscribing to a solar project. Delaware River Solar and Nexamp are building new projects now and Solar Farms NY still has available space. Get yourself on one of the waiting lists, as projects can reach capacity quickly.

What’s new with 100% Renewable Electricity ESCOs?

I’m still awaiting the magical appearance of a second plan from which to choose. Why is Energy Coop of America’s renewable plan still the only plan I can list? Because it is the only one meeting my criteria:

• Buys 100% renewable electricity (RECs) from New York State
• Its trailing 12 mo. average is no more than 2 cents/kWh more than that of NYSEG’s traditional grid mix
• Has few or no customer complaints to the Public Service Commission or Better Business Bureau
• Uses ethical marketing practices
• Provides timely and useful customer service

Note that if you live in a community that’s part of a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) with default 100% renewable electricity (such as Village of Owego, Town of Union, Village of Horseheads, Village of Elmira Heights), you may already be subscribed to an ESCO that fairly well meets these criteria. Check your NYSEG bill to see if an ESCO called ‘Constellation New Energy’ is listed or drop me a note and we’ll figure it out together.

On Wednesday, January 13th, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced New York State’s plan for an ambitious $26 billion green energy initiative to build renewable energy projects throughout the state. “Nature is telling us, ‘do something, or I will,’” Governor Cuomo said. “The time to act is now, and New York is proud to be a leader in clean energy initiatives.”

In the third part of his annual State of the State address, Governor Cuomo described this green energy-focused investment plan as a post-COVID opportunity for economic growth that will enable New Yorkers to reach our climate goals, which include the achievement of 70% renewable energy use by 2030 and carbon-free electricity generation by 2040 (Strategic Outlook for 2020-2023, NYSERDA).

Cuomo laid out the components of his plan*:

• Build enough green power-generating equipment to supply New York’s needs.
• Develop the technology to do this and manufacture the equipment in New York.
• Start with a $26 billion public-private partnership to build nearly 100 projects (work has already begun on 68 of them).
• Expedite the projects with a new siting process.
• Build the transmission capacity to move all that electricity around.
• Create battery storage facilities to hold onto the green energy for when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing, using technology being developed in upstate New York.
• Replace heating and cooling systems in 130,000 buildings with heat pumps and geothermal heating.
• Train and educate a diverse workforce to do all this, starting by investing $20 million in a new Offshore Wind Training Institute at SUNY Stony Brook and Farmingdale State College that will train 2,500 workers starting this summer.

(*Source: Dailey Gazette)

To meet these goals, solar and on- and off-shore wind projects will be constructed throughout the state, and are said to “create nearly 11,000 jobs in Upstate NY alone.” Most notably, these off-shore wind and land-based renewable projects will:

• reduce carbon emissions by almost 16 million metric tons per year
• attract nearly $26 billion in direct investment
• create over 17,000 good-paying jobs

For those of us interested in seeing substantial action from our elected representatives regarding the climate, this is an incredibly exciting time as the Governor discussed transmission projects to break up the congestion in the energy grid, and battery storage projects that will allow for storage of renewable energy to meet the energy needs of 1.2 million NY homes. The state plans to invest $20 million in a new Offshore Wind Training Institute, which will train 2,500 workers in the field of renewable energy, including solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Additionally, the Governor made note of the environmental injustice regarding communities of color. These communities have historically had weaker access to renewable sources of energy, which leads to disproportionately high rates of adverse health effects, increasingly evident during the current pandemic. It is clear that communities of color are in mind for the expansion of green job opportunities and green technology adoption.


As the Governor noted, “the evolution to green energy will involve replacing home heating and cooling systems in approximately 130,000 buildings with heat pumps and geothermal heating.” This goal is taken seriously by HeatSmart Tompkins. Our mission is to provide renewable energy education and outreach to our local community. Our volunteer-led team has been fighting against fossil fuels since the advent of our program in 2015. Governor Cuomo’s announcement of this green energy investment plan is another large step for New Yorkers towards our climate goals, with the support of our elected officials. This is something to be celebrated as hope for a better future. HeatSmart Tompkins fully supports the stance that “we must replace fossil fuel plants with clean power…. and now is the time to do it.”

While we are proud to see our representatives putting their words into action, let’s not forget that this is the result of decades of advocacy for the adoption of clean energy across New York State, by New Yorkers. Involvement by our neighbors and communities in adoption of clean energy is crucial for progress to be made. Below are some options you have to make a difference for your home, community, and planet now.

​Note: To power your home with renewable energy, see the most recent Subscription Community Solar update and 100% Renewable Electricity update.

​By Gerri Wiley, HeatSmart volunteer and Energy Navigator

Do you know anyone who still buys their electricity supply from NYSEG or any other New York State utility? If they do, what exactly are they buying? Solar? Wind? Hydro? You might expect that, over the years, renewables would be an increasing percentage of utility purchases on our behalf. Is this true?

The percentages for year 2019 just rolled this month, and here is the 2019 data, along with data from 2016, 2017, and 2018. 

As you see, overall, the utilities purchased the same percent of natural gas for you in 2019 as in 2018, about 2.4% more nuclear, about 2.6% less hydro, slightly less wind, and slightly less coal.

So, if we’re planning to green the grid, we certainly can’t wait for the utilities to do it on our behalf. It’s time to grab the reins. The updated Subscription Solar and 100% Renewable Electricity ESCO options available as well. I invite you email me with your questions and send people my way so I can help them find solutions to their clean energy needs and their wish to make a difference.

​Did you know that 90% of households in New York State use fossil fuels to heat their homes? Imagine using the benefits of home electrification that run everything from your car to your heating unit, your hot water heater to your stove! Don’t think it’s possible to electrify your home AND save money? Read on to find out what you can do to save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and eliminate your home’s use of fossil fuels.
​
​Step 1: Improve Your Home’s Building Envelope
56% of the average NY resident’s energy consumption goes to space heating, and air leaks in the average American home may squander 15-25% of the heat our furnaces generate in the winter. Air leaks also account for the same amount of unwanted heat our homes gain in the summer. Remember the “ABCs” of building envelope improvement needs with “A is for Attic, B is for Basement, and C is for Conditioned Space” to improve your home’s energy efficiency. This “A-B-C” ordering is helpful, since A-attic insulation/sealing is more important/energy saving than B-basement insulation/sealing, which is more important/energy saving than C-conditioned space (walls). Thus, if you have a limited amount of money to spend on insulation this year, you’d want to focus on A, the attic.

Step 2: Install Heat Pumps
Do away with your inefficient, costly, and environmentally disastrous fossil fuel-fired heating system. Replace your old heating system with a semi-renewable heat pump. There are two types of heat pump, ground-source and air-source, and you can read more about the differences and how they work here. Heat pumps are semi-renewable heating and cooling systems, since they are run on the electricity of the home, meaning if the home gets its electricity from a renewable source of energy, such as solar or wind, the heat pump system is entirely renewable. And since 56% of a NY resident’s energy use goes to heating the home, think of the reduction in carbon emissions! Heat pump incentives are also available for both ground-source and air-source heat pumps. Added bonus - heat pumps also provide air conditioning!

Step 3: Heat Pump Hot Water Heater.
A heat pump hot water heater uses the energy of an inner heat pump to convert cold water to hot water, for your home’s domestic hot water needs. Heat pump hot water heaters are 3x more efficient than traditional gas-fired hot water heater, with lower operating costs and NYSEG incentives are available!

​Step 4: Induction Cooking.
Top chefs the world over are raving about precision induction cooking! Cooking on an induction stovetop is significantly more efficient than cooking using gas or propane, since food being cooked with induction will receive 90% of the heat generated, as opposed to only 40-55% for gas. This will keep your kitchen much cooler and more comfortable as you prepare your meals. Induction stoves are also safer and very easy to clean.

Step 5: Go Solar.
3 ways to go with solar:

1. Purchase on a solar farm
2. Subscribe to a community solar project
3. Install solar panels on your own property.

By running your home’s electricity on solar energy and installing clean energy heating, cooling, and cooking systems, your home has the potential to entirely eliminate its reliance on gas.
Now that you have all the facts, please reach out to HeatSmart for any questions you may have regarding your home’s needs. By enrolling with HeatSmart Tompkins, you could also get any or all of our four trained, professional installer partners to assess your home’s energy efficiency, improve your home’s building envelope, and install heat pumps if desired. Enrolling in HeatSmart is absolutely zero obligation, and the home assessments from our installer partners are completely free. If you’d like to know more about fossil fuel reduction and increased energy efficiency, here are our most recent webinars.

​Note: To power your home with renewable energy, see the most recent Subscription Community Solar update and 100% Renewable Electricity update.

Your monthly update from HeatSmart volunteer and Energy Navigator Gerri Wiley: 

I virtually meet many people seeking to help green the New York State electricity grid, yet missing some key points on how their choice of electricity supply is so influential. The focus this month is on Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)...a powerful tool in greening the grid.

CCA (Community Choice Aggregation) 
        If you live in a municipality that is part of a CCA that chose 100% renewables as its default plan on behalf of residents and small businesses, make sure you are enrolled in that plan. In the Southern Tier, those municipalities are: Town of Union, Village of Owego, Village of Elmira Heights, and Village of Horseheads. Look on your NYSEG bill and/or call Constellation at 1-833-866-9637.
        If you live in a municipality that is part of a CCA that chose a fossil-nuclear mix, opt up to the 100% renewable plan by calling Constellation at 1-833-866-9637. In the Southern Tier, those municipalities are: Village of Delhi, Town of Dickinson, Town of Owego, Village of Newark Valley, Village of Spencer, City of Elmira, City of Hornell, Town of Horseheads, Village of Burdett, Village of Montour Falls, and Town of Canisteo.

Why is this important? Because a CCA's ESCO must purchase New York State-generated renewable energy. The more NYS energy is purchased, the more renewable infrastructure will be built and the quicker we'll meet our goal of 70% renewable electricity here in New York.

What if I don't live in a municipality with a CCA or the price seems too high? That's ok too. You can sign up for one of the two ESCOs on my attached chart. Did I say two ESCOs? YES! I've added Clearview Energy to this month's listing because the price is right and they purchase NYS hydro-electricity to cover kWhs their NYS customers use.

So you’ve made the switch to an air-source heat pump (ASHP). Now what? Here to answer some of your most pressing air-source heat pump questions is Jon Harrod, President and founder of Snug Planet,  one of our four trusted installer partners. Heat pumps operate differently than fossil fuel heating systems. We’re all used to conserving energy and reducing our heating bills by turning down the heat at night and then up again in the morning during the cold months, but did you know that it’s actually more effective to just “set it and forget it” when it comes to your heat pump? Read on to uncover this and more truths and answers to some of the most important ASHP-related questions to get the most out of your new heating and cooling system.
 
Why don’t you recommend setting back the temperature or programming a schedule?
Heat pumps operate most efficiently with a “set it and forget it” approach. If you are leaving your house for several days, you can set the temperature back several degrees—just remember, it may take several hours to reach your target temperature when you return, which is why it’s best to just leave it at a particular temperature to most efficiently and effectively heat or cool your home.
 
The temperature on my remote doesn’t match my room thermostat. Why is that?
Your heat pump senses temperature at the indoor unit itself, not at the remote. The temperature there will often be a few degrees different than the temperature where the thermostat is located. Find a setpoint at which you’re comfortable, even if it’s a few degrees different than what you’ve used in the past.
 
What maintenance do I need to do?
To clean the filters, first turn off the indoor unit. Pop open the front cover by pulling the tabs on either side of the unit. Remove the two filters and gently clean them using a vacuum attachment brush. Put the filters back in place, snap the front cover closed, and turn the unit back on. Depending on unit location, pets, and other dust sources, we recommend cleaning filters every 2-6 weeks, or when visibly dirty. This routine filter cleaning will prolong the life of your ASHP and improve your home’s air quality.
 
When should I call for professional service?
We recommend that your heat pump gets a thorough cleaning and check-up annually to maintain efficiency, longevity, and warranty coverage. All the HeatSmart installer partners offer annual maintenance contracts to keep your heat pump system running smoothly. And if anything ever doesn’t seem right, or you have any questions about your system, your installer welcomes your call!
 
A special thank you to Jon Harrod of Snug Planet for creating such a helpful resource for this blog post. Check out this air-source heat pump informational page, a Mitsubishi MSZ-FH Heat Pump Quick Guide and FAQ sheet, created by Snug Planet.

During October and November, HeatSmart Tompkins and Building Performance Contractors’ Association (BPCA) of New York will build on earlier success and again offer three webinars and a hands-on workshop featuring varying topics covering air source heat pump installation guidelines, best practices, and marketing insights for selling the benefits of this leading edge technology to homeowners.

“In 2018, clean energy employment in New York increased 4.8% to nearly 159,000 workers, while increasing 2.7% nationally,” said Brian Eden, chair of HeatSmart Tompkins (Solar Tompkins). “While the pandemic has considerably slowed down clean energy projects, support from New York State for the clean energy industry and its workers will help them to bounce back.”

To address the shortage of trained heat pump installers, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has committed nearly $70 million over the next 10 years to help clean energy businesses with recruiting and training new employees, upskilling existing workers, and establishing a talent pipeline to reduce businesses cost of attracting and hiring new workers.
​
Join experienced contractors, entry level technicians, and those looking to expand into this emerging field to get the latest scoop on trending clean energy topics sweeping the industry. The training features regionally renowned experts.

This workforce training is offered  free of charge.

For more information and to enroll, go to heatsmarttompkins.org/workforcetraining.

Schedule of programs:

Wednesday, October 14 | 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
​Webinar #1: Why Every Home WILL Eventually Need a Heat Pump
Register
 
Wednesday, October 21 | 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Webinar #2: The Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) as an Integral Part of an Energy Efficient and Comfortable Home.
Register
 
Wednesday, October 28 | 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Webinar #3: Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) Installation Without Call-backs
Register
 
Saturday, November 7 | 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Location in Ithaca, NY: Address provided after registration
Hands-on Training Event; Strategic Installation “Best Practice” Guidelines for Air Source Heat Pumps. Note the hands-on training is limited to 8 participants. An additional training in downstate New York is being considered.
Register

The HeatSmart team knows that there's nothing like touring a HeatSmart home, experiencing the comfort, touching the heat pump, and talking to a happy homeowner for inspiring confidence in this still unfamiliar technology. Covid-19 makes home tours impractical, so this fall, we're bringing home tours to you, virtually.

Join us on Tuesdays at 12:30 this fall for a series of virtual home tours. You'll watch a short video, get briefed on the latest incentives, and meet the homeowner and the installer. We'll have plenty of time for your questions! #GetHeatSmart

​With the dog days of summer falling to the wayside, the chilly return of fall is almost upon us. Upstate winters are often unforgiving; don’t get stuck in the frost! This year, install a new heat pump system to heat your home in the winter, provide air-conditioning in the summer, and keep you and your family comfortable year-round.

There are several different types of heat pumps available for installations, and there isn’t a “one-heat-pump-fits-all” type of mentality that comes with installing a new heat pump system. Getting in-touch with one or more of our trusted, highly rated, and rigorously vetted HeatSmart Tompkins installer partners is the best way to determine which heat pump system could be the right fit for your home and family’s needs. Air-source and ground-source heat pumps are both semi-renewable, meaning they provide heating and cooling with the use of electricity and can use electricity generated from a renewable source of energy, in this case making them entirely renewable! Many people with solar panels on their homes choose to run their heat pumps off their renewably sourced solar energy.

One of the greatest benefits of heat pumps – besides the cleaner, greener energy – is the cost-savings. Did you know that 70% of total home energy consumption goes to home heating in our region? Homeowners on propane, the costliest form of heating available, can and do save up to thousands of dollars on their total annual heating bills after making the switch to a semi-renewable heat pump. Heat pumps provide some of the most efficient, comfortable, and clean heating energy available to homeowners, and many systems also provide air-conditioning for the warmer months. This additional cooling has the added benefits of dehumidification and air-quality improvement for the spring and summer allergy seasons!
Don’t wait for your current heating system to fail this winter. Look into a new heat pump system for greener and more efficient energy, a more comfortable home environment, and energy cost savings! Complete a short and simple form to enroll in our program today. Also, watch our recent webinar series to learn more about the various types of heat pumps, cost and energy savings, and our trained HeatSmart Tompkins installer partners.

​HeatSmart Tompkins, a home-grown community non-profit which helps residents access the benefits of heat pumps and energy efficiency, has named a new program director to administer a $200,000 grant which will help the organization continue its mission for another two years. HeatSmart Tompkins, founded as Solar Tompkins, is a grassroots organization committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through implementation of clean and renewable energy technologies such as heat pumps, solar wind and increased home insulation and sealing.
 
Tompkins County has been a leader in the adoption of energy efficient air and ground source heat pumps thanks in part to the outreach and education provided by HeatSmart Tompkins. Heat pumps use refrigeration technology to capture the free solar heat in the air or the ground and use it to heat or cool buildings. These systems are 2-4 times more efficient than the most efficient fossil furnaces and are considered one of the key technology solutions for transitioning off fossil fuels to curb climate change. According to the “New York State Decarbonization Pathways Analysis”[1], 50 -70% of heating system sales need to be heat pumps by 2030 to stay on track to meet the carbon reduction goals codified in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) passed by the New York State legislature in 2019.
 
The grant, awarded through a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Program Opportunity Notice (PON) will help HeatSmart Tompkins conduct community outreach and education campaigns to inform residents about the benefits of heat pumps, home energy efficiency improvements and other clean energy technologies.
 
“We started in 2013 as Solar Tompkins,” explained Jonathan Comstock, founder and outgoing program director of HeatSmart Tompkins. “We ran the first big Solarize program in New York State to alert people locally to renewable energy solutions. Following the success of that program, we turned our attention to clean heating and cooling for even greater climate impact.”
 
“We learned that the technology was quite advanced and that heat pumps are popular in Europe and elsewhere, but haven’t caught on here,” said Brian Eden, chair of HeatSmart Tompkins. “The main reason for this is lack of familiarity with the technology for both contractors and the customers. We created HeatSmart to fill that information gap.  We also help customers identify solutions for their buildings and quality contractors to implement them.”
 
HeatSmart Tompkins’ grassroots efforts attracted the attention of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the state authority which promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.
 
“We immediately saw the potential of doing grassroots community outreach about energy efficiency solutions for homes,” said Scott Smith, program manager of NYSERDA’s Clean Heating and Cooling team. “Albany has shown great leadership in providing us ambitious goals for climate sustainability and we rely heavily on our community partners and support from across the state to help us achieve those goals.  We are now funding 15 Clean Heating and Cooling campaigns across the state, all of which were inspired by the HeatSmart Tompkins model.”
 
“Now in our fifth year, HeatSmart Tompkins continues to innovate and lead,” said Lisa Marshall, the newly appointed program director. “We’re incredibly grateful to have been a recipient of a $200,000 grant from NYSERDA that will carry our program forward into 2022.  Our goal for this next phase of HeatSmart is to move past the early adopters to more mainstream customers, making heat pumps the default heating systems in Tompkins County. New York State is at a critical juncture in terms of our energy policy; we have to rapidly scale up energy efficiency measures including heat pump adoption to meet Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading climate goals. HeatSmart Tompkins is proud to lead the way in making that happen.”


[1] https://climate.ny.gov/-/media/CLCPA/Files/2020-06-24-NYS-Decarbonization-Pathways-CAC-Presentation.pdf

The report, Health Effects from Gas Stove Pollution, summarizes two decades of health research, and finds that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside, due in part to nitrogen dioxide emissions and other pollutants coming from gas stoves.

“The health case for transitioning to all-electric cooking has been slowly mounting for more than forty years but policymakers must urgently address air pollution now,” said Brady Seals, senior associate at Rocky Mountain Institute and report author. “We have the tools to do so – Canada recently strengthened indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide limits to protect public health.”

The report’s key findings include:

• Gas stoves release several hazardous pollutants, notably nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.
• Homes with gas stoves have nitrogen dioxide concentrations 50 – 400% higher than homes with electric stoves. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide, even in the short term and at low levels, can cause respiratory effects.
• Children are at increased risk from illnesses associated with gas stove pollution: living in a home with a gas stove increases their risk of having asthma by 42%.
• Lower-income households may be at higher risk of exposure to gas stove pollution.
• Ventilation is important to managing the immediate risk posed by gas stove pollution, the report finds that it cannot be relied upon as the sole mitigation strategy.

HeatSmart Volunteer and Energy Navigator Gerri Wiley provides us with monthly updates to help you choose an Energy Supply Company (ESCO) that offers 100% renewable electricity, and/or a community solar subscription. 

Wiley uses the following criteria to make her ESCO selections: 

• 100% renewable energy delivered to the grid
• Price per kWh is no higher than that of the ‘premiere company’ that meets all of the other criteria
• The company’s menu of choices includes either a 12 month plan (so that customers can make this choice an easy, calendar event) or a zero month plan (cancel any time without penalty).
• No substantive negative reviews

In our final webinar of the “Lunchtime Installer Series,” HeatSmart Tompkins invited one of our installer partners, NP Environmental, to talk with our community about important considerations to make when deciding if heat pumps are right for their home. The decision to install heat pumps as a fossil fuel alternative can seem daunting. Still, Nick Pryputniewicz, co-founder of NP Environmental and a founding member of the New York Geothermal Energy Organization, passionately believes that “Heat Pumps are for Everyone!”

Nick laid out the following as points of priority for most homeowners and future heat pump users:

Price – everyone cares about cost, and installing a heat pump system for heating and cooling or domestic hot water is not an exception for this worry.

• Questions to ask: What is my budget? What rebates and incentives are available to me? How will switching systems enhance my property’s value? What would my payback period be?

Carbon Reduction – When you’re installing a heat pump system, you are committing to carbon reduction for your home.

• ​Questions to ask: How important is carbon reduction to me? How much carbon is my home currently emitting? How much would it emit with a heat pump system?

Available Land Area – For ground-source (geothermal) heat pumps mainly, having available land is essential.

• Questions to ask: What are my exterior constraints? Do I have enough available land space for a horizontal geothermal system? Do I have enough available space for a vertical geothermal system?

Geology – Available land space must also be complemented with the right kind of geology for drilling.

• ​Questions to ask: What is the geology of my property like? Can it support a ground-source heat pump?

Disruption – Installing a ground-source heat pump will mean disruption to your home’s yard space. After installation, however, geothermal systems are the least noticed heat pumps around!

• Questions to ask: What landscaping would I not want to dig-up (if any)? Am I willing to unsettle my yard for long-lasting, invisible comfort?

Distribution – The distribution system that your home runs on is an essential consideration because it may need to be replaced before installing a heat pump. If it is in good condition, it may also be used for your benefit…or not need to be used at all.

• Questions to ask: How is heat (and cool) currently distributed in my house? How old is my distribution system? Will it need to be replaced for me to install a heat pump effectively?

Aesthetics – While aesthetics do not play a major role in the feasibility of a heat pump system in your home, it is important to recognize your aesthetic preferences and relay them to your contractor.

• ​ Questions to ask: Do I strongly prefer an invisible system? Do I strongly prefer indoor, zone controlled air-blowers? How much floor space do I have available? How much wall space do I have available? How are other elements of the system going to interact with the components of my home?

System Longevity –Geothermal systems have a longer life-span than both fossil fuel alternatives and air-source alternatives.

• ​Questions to ask: How long will an air-source heat pump last compared to my existing system? How long will a ground-source heat pump last compared to my current system? How vital is maximum system longevity to me? 

System Maintenance – By working with one of our installer partners on your Assisted Home Performance project, you are guaranteed system maintenance by the contractor of your choice after installation is complete.

• A question to ask: Which HeatSmart Installer Partner is right for me?  

Not all of these questions will be able to be answered alone. It is never a wrong time to enroll with our program and begin getting home assessments by any or all four of our installer partners (NP Environmental, Halco Energy, Snug Planet, and Dailey Geothermal). You can enroll at the button below and have your home checked out on site or in person so that all of the important questions outlined here can be fully answered.

Also in this webinar, Nick presented three separate projects he has worked on that, after prioritizing these areas of focus, decided on some unexpected systems that they love! You can watch the full webinar here: 

​You can find our other webinars, virtual home tours, and informational videos in our video section.

Note: To power your home with renewable energy, see the most recent Subscription Community Solar update and 100% Renewable Electricity update.

A short message from HeatSmart volunteer and Energy Navigator Gerri Wiley: 

When considering New York State’s 10-year goals of 70% renewable electricity and 40% reduction of greenhouse gases, the task is simply too large without us—we, the people--joining together and pledging to reduce our energy use—and then doing it.
End of rant.
Right now, mask-free, we are able to sign up for Subscription Community Solar (if we don’t own our own panels) AND sign up for a 100% Renewable Electricity ESCO (whether or not we own our own solar panels).

​We can do this if we own a home, a business, or if we rent, assuming we pay our own electricity bill. By taking one or both of these steps, we collectively green the grid. The big ship of government doesn’t get us there fast enough. It’s OUR job to green the grid.
July’s charts for both of these actions are here Subscription Community Solar update and here 100% Renewable Electricity update.
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Please share this information with family and friends.

 ​A recent concern for many has been home visits from our heat pump installer partners.  In light of today’s circumstances, the thought of visitors in your home may carry with it a sense of general discomfort and unease.  HeatSmart Tompkins and our experienced installer partners understand these feelings and are now offering informational webinars and virtual home visits.  Please check out our upcoming “Lunchtime Installer Case Study Webinar Series” to learn more about each of our installer partners and some of the excellent heat pump installation and insulation work they have done.

New York businesses have begun reopening, and our installer partners are taking the necessary precautions to safely resume their work.  The start of summer brings the need for clean energy air-conditioning and better home insulation to keep your home cool and dry.  Now more than ever, home improvement projects should not be overlooked.  In the interest of safety, remote home assessments are available for those who prefer them.
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The first step is to enroll on our HeatSmart Tompkins website.  You can select any or all of our partner installers for a home assessment.  A virtual meeting can be set-up between the client and an installer partner, in which the client’s home is assessed and the client’s individual heating and cooling needs are discussed.  Through these virtual home visits and HeatSmart Tompkins’ installer case study webinar series (attend live or view recordings), our local community members will continue to be advised on the most accurate, up-to-date heat pump system information to reduce their homes’ carbon emissions, save money on energy bills, and live in a more comfortable home year-round.

​Due to unprecedented demand the 0% interest offer from NYSERDA/GJGNY is nearly depleted.

The offer of 0% financing to finance eligible energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems will end at 6:00 p.m. (EST) on Monday June 15, 2020. 

All applications received prior to this deadline will receive the 0% interest rate.

If you were counting on getting these funds for a heat pump and/or insulation project, please try and get your loan approval application completed today! 
 
You don't need to have already signed a contract with an installer or have completed an assessment to apply for a loan pre-approval at 0% interest. Be aware that the loan application does not talk about the 0% interest option.  Don’t worry about that. It is a generic form covering multiple loan programs. Give us a call if you have any questions about this!

Click here to read NYSERDA's notice about the 0% financing availability. 

We encourage you to also enroll with HeatSmart Tompkins, if you haven't already, so that we can help you explore your options:

Don't forget to join us for our Lunchtime Installer Case Study Webinar Series.
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Dailey Geothermal Case Study
June 18 (Thurs)  Noon-12:45 pm - webinar
REGISTER HERE 

Snug Planet Case Study
June 23 (Tues)  Noon-12:45 pm - webinar
REGISTER HERE

Halco Geothermal Case Study
June 25 (Thurs)  Noon-12:45 pm - webinar
REGISTER HERE

NP Environmental Case Study
June 30 (Tues)  Noon-12:45 pm - webinar
REGISTER HERE

HeatSmart Tompkins participant Brice Smith said his heat pump hot water heater “was able to cut our energy use for hot water in half. With our new baby, we have a lot of hot water use; a lot of laundry, a lot of baths, and we’ve been incredibly happy with this system…it’s always provided more hot water than we could ever use!”

Want to learn more heating your domestic hot water with heat pumps? Head to our archive of  2020 webinars and watch “Get Into Heat Pump Hot Water(!) Heaters.”

NYSEG is now offering a $700 rebate off the price of one! A high efficiency heat pump water heater uses about 1/3 of the energy, saving hundreds in utility bills. And, if you are income eligible you can buy one for as little as 15% of the regular price. Enroll in HeatSmart Tompkins today and ask that that they apply to Sustainable Tompkins on your behalf for the extra incentives.

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Note: To power your home with renewable energy, see the most recent Subscription Community Solar update and 100% Renewable Electricity update.

In New York's competitive energy market you can choose your supplier of electricity instead of buying your electricity from your utility company. 

While your utility company will send you a list of over 100 ESCOs (Energy Supply Company) to choose from, they don't help you select one that offers 100% renewable electricity. 

For over two years Gerri Wiley, Energy Navigator and HeatSmart Volunteer has been providing a monthly chart to help you choose an ESCO that offers 100% renewable electricity. 

Wiley uses the following criteria to make her selections: 

• 100% renewable energy delivered to the grid
• Price per kWh is no higher than that of the ‘premiere company’ that meets all of the other criteria
• The company’s menu of choices includes either a 12 month plan (so that customers can make this choice an easy, calendar event) or a zero month plan (cancel any time without penalty).
• No substantive negative reviews

Take a look at this month's ESCO subscription options. 

Don't forget you can combine your 100% renewably electricity ESCO with a Community Solar subscription, and you guessed it, Wiley vets those for you too. Take a look at this month's Community Solar subscription recommendations.