Solar Tompkins works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Tompkins County by promoting the deployment of solar and wind energy and by facilitating the adoption of home insulation, sealing, and heat pump technologies for heating and cooling. We provide residents with the information, confidence, and value they need to transition their homes toward zero net carbon emissions, and we strengthen local markets for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
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HEATSMART RECEIVES 'PEOPLE'S CHOICE SIGNS OF SUSTAINABILITY' RECOGNITION
AT THE EARTH DAY ITHACA COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF HOUSING HOSTED BY SUSTAINABLE TOMPKINS, SOLAR TOMPKINS RECEIVED A PEOPLE'S CHOICE SIGNS OF SUSTAINABILITY AWARD IN THE 'ORGANIZATION' CATEGORY FOR DEMONSTRATING PROGRESS TOWARD ADVANCING COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP, AND LOCAL ECONOMIC RESILIENCE. |
After two successful years of focus on rapidly increasing the deployment of solar PV in the residential sector, Solar Tompkins has turned to the promotion of non-fossil fuel alternatives and efficiency measures for home heating and domestic hot water, which, combined, account on average for 75% of the total energy use in Tompkins County homes. The HeatSmart Tompkins campaign accelerates the transition of home-heating away from fossil fuels via deployment of highly efficient air- and ground-source heat pumps in combination with improvement of building efficiency through better insulation and air sealing. This program will be offered in Tompkins County for a fourth time beginning in late spring 2019. More detail regarding program launch, selected installer partners, and public meeting dates is forthcoming.
This is a limited-time program intended to jump-start the rate of homeowners adopting both building envelope and heat pump technologies. Heatsmart Tompkins offers tremendous opportunities and benefits for participating residents. By offering lower-than-market rate pricing and a simple process with vetted Installation Partners, the program makes home energy efficiency easily achievable. Insulation and air sealing, together with an air- or ground-source heat pump system can provide great comfort, immediate cost savings, and have a positive environmental impact against climate change by reducing greenhouse gases emitted as a product of heating with fossil fuels. Further, heat pumps can be powered by renewably-generated electricity which allows the next step toward shrinking household carbon footprints. |