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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.

HeatSmart Tompkins is partnering with four companies for 2020, a result of a competitive selection process. HeatSmart selection criteria include company experience, reputations, work quality, and a record of excellent customer service. 

The four companies are: 

• NP Environmental
• Halco
• Snug Planet
• Dailey Geothermal

On average, 75 percent of the energy use by homes in Tompkins County goes towards heating, cooling, and domestic hot water. Most of that comes from burning fossil fuels. Fortunately, the technology is now available to let homeowners increase their comfort, reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and save money.

The HeatSmart Tompkins program is designed to make it easier for county residents to weatherproof their homes and switch to highly efficient heat pump systems by coordinating education, access to incentives, and a streamlined process to connect with vetted installers. 

Heat pumps draw heat from the ground or the outside air and transfer it to the interior of the home. They run on electricity and can be used for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. Both ground-source and air-source heat pumps are effective at the low temperatures typical of this region.

​Please visit our partner installer profile page for more details on what each company offers.