Bronx homeowners encouraged to attend and apply
Contact: Dan Miner, Program Manager, SSBx, dminer@ssbx.org, 646-400-5433; Bernadette Ferrara, Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance
Bronx, NY, March , 2016 – – At the next meeting of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance, staff from Sustainable South Bronx will explain how Bronx homeowners can take advantage of State home energy programs, including how to obtain a free home assessment to identify upgrades to improve the comfort of their residence and lower energy bills. The public is invited to attend the meeting on Tuesday, April 19, 7 PM. Monsignor Fiorentino Apartments, 1830 Amethyst Street, Bronx, NY, 10462.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA) offers a wide range of energy conservation programs, that cover individual homes, multi-family apartment buildings, small businesses, nonprofits, community centers, and houses of worship. Most New York City homeowners are eligible for a free energy assessment through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program, for which Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx) is NYSERDA’s Bronx partner.
“Many homes have rooms that are chronically uncomfortable, drafty and cold in winter, and too hot in summer. These are common indicators that a home is wasting energy. Upgrades like air sealing, installing insulation and replacing old equipment with highly efficient models will make a home more comfortable while cutting energy bills,” said SSBx program manager Dan Miner.
“Van Nest is mostly made up of 2-3 family homes originally built in the early 1900s. Having no-cost home energy assessments and financial benefits for home upgrades to Bronx homeowners is a must. This can only add value and comfort to one’s property. We are looking forward to this presentation,” said Bernadette Ferrara, president of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance.
SSBx will connect homeowners with NYSERDA-approved home contractors who will conduct the home assessment. The contractor will interview the homeowner and tour the house, collecting the utility bill history and information about the home’s dimensions and structural characteristics. The contractor will use a blower door – a portable fan set in a door frame – to increase the air pressure in a room and measure how fast air leaks out. They will check if the boiler and furnace are working properly and ensure they are not leaking natural gas or producing carbon monoxide.
Homeowners will receive a report identifying the most cost-effective upgrades. Financial benefits available through the program include 10 percent discounts on recommended upgrades and the ability to finance the project through a low-interest loan or on-bill financing. For income eligible homeowners additional grants are available.
Under Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV), the State is committed to making energy more affordable for all New Yorkers and providing new opportunities for people to take an active role in achieving New York’s energy goals.
About The HOPE Program and SSBx
HOPE empowers New Yorkers living to lift themselves out of poverty through training, jobs and career advancement. HOPE’s strength lies in its comprehensive and innovative programming, its evidence-based and employer-driven approach, and the transformative learning environment it offers to every New Yorker who walks through its doors. HOPE offers two programs that provide a similar range of services and are tailored for different career trajectories. HOPEworks prepares students for diverse positions such as clerical, animal care, maintenance, social services and others, giving students the ability to explore career paths and develop a variety of job skills. FOODworks provides contextualized training for the growing food industry.
Sustainable South Bronx, a division of The HOPE Program, addresses economic and environmental issues in the South Bronx – and throughout New York City – through a combination of green job training and social enterprise. Each academic year, SSBx offers two 14-week sessions of full-time training, serving approximately 60 men and women. Students first complete a series of core courses, including techniques to increase energy efficiency in homes, building maintenance, green technologies (e.g., solar power), retrofitting, lighting efficiency, insulation, and air sealing. Then students choose one of two tracks on which to focus the remainder of their studies: construction or building systems. SSBx also operates SmartRoofs, LLC, an environmental social enterprise that creates transitional green jobs to training graduates, who gain valuable job experience while simultaneously earning income. As a partner of the NYC Cool Roofs program, SSBx provides free reflective coatings for nonprofit facilities.
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