Federal, State and City Offers Homeowner Incentives for Retrofit Projects and Solar PV

Retrofit NYC Case Study posted January 25, 2012

Gerry Singleton, Flushing

Single-Family House

Gerry Singleton was interested in making his house more energy efficient to help lower his energy costs and protect himself from future utility rate hikes. His first step was to have a home energy audit by a NYSERDA participating Home Performance Contractor, You Save Green, Inc. After the audit Gerry received a detailed report outlining the costs and projected energy savings of different possible energy efficiency projects for his home. With the report in-hand he began researching different measures and decided on several projects that would allow him to save money for years to come.

Gerry had a contractor put on a new roof and continued with other measures. He had a ductless air conditioning system installed for heating in the winter and summertime cooling. By having an air handler in each room he can heat or cool different rooms in the house depending on when they are used. He worked with You Save Green to have a solar electric system installed on his new roof. His 2.9 kW solar system produced 2,100 kW hours in its first year, over a $400 electricity value if purchased from his utility. By lowering his electrical costs and no longer using his furnace for steam radiator heating, Gerry saved $627 on his energy bills in the first year after his retrofit work and will save more in the future.

Gerry enthusiastically recommends the energy audit and retrofit process to other homeowners. By making his home more energy efficient he has already seen significant savings on his energy bills and says the measures “will pay dividends long into the future, akin to a retirement annuity.”