Join Sustainable Flatbush and NYC Councilmember Jumaane D. Williams for an informational event about energy efficiency programs, including the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) for low-income homeowners, Empower NY for renters and homeowners, free or low-cost energy audits for homeowners of all income levels available through Green Jobs Green New York, subsidies for benchmarking and energy efficiency for multi-family buildings, and energy-saving tips for everyone!

Learn about free Weatherization Benefits available through WAP including:

• - Replacing or repairing heating systems, including boilers and hot-water heaters
• - Applying superior weather-stripping and caulking
• - Installing high-efficiency cellulose insulation in walls and attic
• - Replacing inefficient appliances with Energy Star® models
• - Installing health and safety hardware, especially smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• - Installing low-flow shower heads, aerators, and energy-saving light bulbs

Weatherization Will Help:

• - Make your house warm in winter and cool in summer
• - Lower your electric, gas, oil, and water bills (by as much as 32%)
• - Improve your comfort and safety

Learn about other energy efficiency programs, including free or low-cost energy audits for homeowners available through NYSERDA’s Green Jobs Green New York program. Homeowners who bring their utility bills can sign up for these audits at the event; the first 10 participants will receive free energy-saving CFL light bulbs!

WHAT:
How to Fix Your Home and Save on Energy Bills

WHERE:
St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church
1281 Troy Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11203

WHEN:
Tuesday, May 24th from 7-9pm

image: CUNY Sustainable Cities

On Thursday, March 24, Sustainable Flatbush will host the second in our series of informational events to promote the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). This federally-funded program provides home improvements that reduce energy bills by an average of 32%, while at the same time improving health, safety and comfort, all at NO COST to income-eligible homeowners and tenants. Although the Weatherization Assistance Program has existed for over 30 years, it is not well-known or understood. The purpose of these events is to connect Flatbush residents with the program’s benefits.

The primary goal of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is to help low-income families reduce energy consumption and costs. Weatherization can include some or all of the following:
•    Replacing or repairing heating systems, including boilers and hot-water heaters.
•    Applying superior weather-stripping and caulking.
•    Installing high-efficiency cellulose insulation in walls and attics.
•    Replacing inefficient appliances with Energy Star® models.
•    Installing health and safety hardware, especially smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
•    Installing low-flow shower heads, aerators, and energy-saving light bulbs.

Most importantly, Weatherization means:
•    Your house or building will be warm in winter and cool in summer
•    Your electric, gas, oil, and water bills will go down (an average of 32%)
•    Your comfort and safety will increase

Income-qualified homeowners receive these benefits at NO COST. Weatherization not only lowers energy bills, it also benefits all Brooklynites by reducing pollution, upgrading housing stock, and decreasing New York City’s carbon footprint.

Co-sponsored by Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush (NHSEF), the event is being held at Lenox Road Baptist Church, 1356 Nostrand Avenue at Lenox Road, from 6 – 8 p.m. Representatives from Community Environmental Center (CEC) will be on hand to discuss details of WAP, assist participants to determine whether they qualify, and help them enroll in the program by beginning the application process.

Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush is a community-based not-for-profit housing organization founded in 1982. Through financial education and affordable lending, NHSEF enables individuals and families to invest in, preserve, and improve their Neighborhoods, their Homes and their Future.

Community Environmental Center, a Long Island City-based non-profit, was founded in 1994 to address the housing and energy efficiency needs of low- and middle-income communities. Through our partnership with CEC, Sustainable Flatbush is able to provide the resources to inform Brooklyn residents about subsidized opportunities to make their homes more energy efficient.

Although the focus of our event series is WAP for 1-4 family owner-occupied homes, information will also be available on other energy efficiency programs and subsidies, provided by the Pratt Center for Community Development. NHSEF will provide information on financing for energy efficiency improvements, in addition to other home improvement programs. A home inspector/contractor will discuss do-it-your-self repairs to make your home more energy efficient.

Sustainable Flatbush, established in 2007, is a grassroots community-based organization that brings neighbors together to mobilize, educate, and advocate for sustainable living in our Brooklyn neighborhood and beyond. SF’s Energy Solutions Initiative provides information and resources to bring the benefits of energy efficiency to our community in central Brooklyn.

WHAT:
How to Fix Your Home and Save on Energy Bills

WHERE:
Lenox Road Baptist Church
1356 Nostrand Avenue (at Lenox Road)
Brooklyn, NY

WHEN:
Thursday, March 24th from 6-8pm

(image courtesy of CUNY Sustainable Cities)

Sustainable Flatbush is hosting an informational event and workshop on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 to provide information on the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). This federally-funded program provides home improvements that reduce energy bills by an average of 32%, while at the same time improving health, safety and comfort, all at NO COST to income-eligible homeowners and tenants. Although the Weatherization Assistance Program has existed for over 30 years, it is not well-known or understood. The purpose of this event is to connect Flatbush residents with the program’s benefits.

The primary goal of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is to help low-income families reduce energy consumption and costs. Weatherization can include some or all of the following:
•    Replacing or repairing heating systems, including boilers and hot-water heaters.
•    Applying superior weather-stripping and caulking.
•    Installing high-efficiency cellulose insulation in walls and attics.
•    Replacing inefficient appliances with Energy Star® models.
•    Installing health and safety hardware, especially smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
•    Installing low-flow shower heads, aerators, and energy-saving light bulbs.

Most importantly, Weatherization means:
•    Your house or building will be warm in winter and cool in summer
•    Your electric, gas, oil, and water bills will go down (an average of 32%)
•    Your comfort and safety will increase

Income-qualified homeowners receive these benefits at NO COST. Weatherization not only lowers energy bills, it also benefits all Brooklynites by reducing pollution, upgrading housing stock, and decreasing New York City’s carbon footprint.

Co-sponsored by Pastor Gil Monrose’s Brooklyn Center for Quality Life and NYC Councilmember Jumaane D. Williams, the event is being held at Mt. Zion Church of God, 203 East 37th Street, between Church Avenue and Linden Boulevard, from 7 – 9 p.m. Representatives from Community Environmental Center (CEC) will be on hand to discuss details of WAP, assist participants to determine whether they qualify, and help them enroll in the program by completing the application process.

CEC, a Long Island City-based non-profit, was founded in 1994 to address the housing and energy efficiency needs of low- and middle-income communities. Through its partnership with CEC, Sustainable Flatbush is able to provide the resources to inform Brooklyn residents about subsidized opportunities to make their homes more energy efficient. Although the focus of the event is 1-4 family owner-occupied homes, information will also be available on other energy efficiency programs and subsidies, provided by the Pratt Center for Community Development.

Sustainable Flatbush, established in 2007, is a grassroots community-based organization that brings neighbors together to mobilize, educate, and advocate for sustainable living in our Brooklyn neighborhood and beyond. SF’s Energy Solutions Initiative provides information and resources to bring the benefits of energy efficiency to our community in central Brooklyn.

Refreshments will be served. Free energy-efficient compact fluorescent lightbulbs will be available, courtesy of Beam NY.

WHAT:
How to Fix Your Home and Save on Energy Bills

WHERE:
Mt. Zion Church of God
203 East 37th Street (between Church Avenue and Linden Boulevard)
Brooklyn, NY

WHEN:
Tuesday, March 8th from 7-9pm

“How many members of Sustainable Flatbush does it take to change a light bulb?” asked State Senator Kevin Parker during his remarks at our Neighborhood Energy Forum last month, riffing on the perennial joke.

Brooklyn Apartment Building (photo by Keka Marzagão)

“None, because you already changed your incandescent  bulbs to CFLs and they last forever.”

Well, maybe not forever, but the long-time advocate of energy and the environment made his point.  At our Energy Forum on March 20 at the Brooklyn College Student Center, we learned that to meet our ambitious local, state, and federal energy efficiency goals, we’re going to have to do a lot more than change our light bulbs.

More than 70 people gathered to find out how to make major energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades on the large and small homes of Flatbush.  Our Executive Director Anne Pope fulfilled her promise to share what she learned on her quest to reduce her coop building’s energy use, save money for its residents, and reduce the carbon emissions that damage our health and contribute to global warming.

Multi-Family Buildings

Most of us have had to open a window in an overheated apartment in the middle of winter, and we recognize that, as Anne noted at our panel on multi-family buildings, we might as well be throwing money out the window.  Here in New York City, large multi-family buildings present one of our biggest challenges.  We can’t build new state-of-the-art buildings in our dense neighborhoods; we have to work with what we have.
Because of our density, New York City uses less energy per resident than other cities, but as panelist Andy Padian pointed out, the average NYC apartment uses 3 to 5 times the energy per square foot per heating degree day as a dwelling in Iowa.

Neighborhood Energy Forum (photos by Keka Marzagão)

Padian, Vice President for Energy Initiatives at the Community Preservation Corporation and this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, also provided the title of this post: “Green is the stuff you DO in buildings, not what you put on them”. His presentation included a photo of the roofs of Manhattan’s Stuyvesant Town housing complex–where 500 vents leak a lot of heat–to make the point that building managers need to know how to find and seal holes.  Padian made other recommendations, too, such as turning off or dimming common area lighting, cutting way back on water use (40% of the heat in our buildings is used for hot water), and fixing those leaks.  One leaky toilet can cost up to $12,000 per year!

Panelist Jonathan Flothow of The Steam Balancing Company advised a “balanced” approach to heating in our large residential buildings.  Before replacing a boiler, make sure the pipes and radiators are properly maintained, sized, and vented.  Simply replacing a boiler won’t save you much energy or money.  If you do replace a boiler, make sure it’s the right size.  Most boilers are wasteful because they’re too big.

Lucas Falk of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and National Grid’s Paolo Morisi touched on incentives offered by the State and utility.

For more details, download a report on the Multi-Family Session by Lois Sturm (Neighborhood Energy Network).

1-4 Family Homes

It’s an ideal time for energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy projects on our 1-4 family homes, according to panelists Louis Rizzo of National Grid and  Ellen Honigstock, an architect, LEED-AP, and certified building auditor.  With a range of tax credits and government and utility incentive programs, you can get funding for new windows, energy efficient appliances, solar-electric installations, and much more.  Then you can start saving money on your energy bills and make back your investment in a few years.

Ellen’s presentation gives all the details, with numbers from sample projects, but your investment and payback may be different. Download the presentation here.

“Sustainability Starts with Us”

Those were words that Lucas Falk left us with on March 20, and it’s a mandate we take to heart.  It’s our goal at Sustainable Flatbush to increase the energy efficiency of our neighborhood.  Stay tuned for your in-depth guide to all the resources we gathered at the Neighborhood Energy Forum to assist you on your path to energy efficiency and affordability.

Thanks to Lois Sturm for her contribution to this post.

Kensington, Brooklyn (photo by Jon Melnick)

After I finished explaining to my father, my mom asked me what is the point for all of this that the organization you work for is trying to do. Her question reminded me of something we were talking about in our Friday meetings. We were talking about a campaign called the 2030 Challenge, which wants reduction in energy consumption and green house gas emission to become a priority in order to avoid catastrophic climate change. I thought this would spark her interest since she’s a mother, she would care more about the impact of not becoming more energy efficient for us.

All in all, both my parents are now interested in the Neighborhood Energy Forum and what it is trying to accomplish. It was hard at first to explain what I wanted to get through to them because they weren’t educated here. Most people from my country could care less about such problems because they really don’t have the educational background to understand such things. I think everyone can benefit from the information that will be provided at this forum in some way or other. That is why, we need to figure out a way to educate people who should know about this but don’t because of their inability to understand. When everyone has an equal opportunity to understand the facts and impact of energy efficiency, we can hope to reach our goal faster.

I recently had the pleasure of talking to Ellen Honigstock, who will be leading the 1-4 family breakout session during the Energy Forum on Saturday.

To tell you a little bit about her, Ellen is the owner of Ellen Honigstock Architect PC since 1999, where she has focused the work of the firm on energy efficient retrofits for existing residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. She has also been the Residential Green Building Advocate for the Urban Green Council since 2007, working to increase the level of green building and the penetration of the LEED for Homes certification in the residential marketplace in NYC. She is also the Chair of the Homes Subcommittee for NYC’s Greening the Codes Task Force, where she has been heavily involved in recommending new green policy in NYC as related to updating NYC’s codes, rules and regulations.

I asked Ellen a few questions about what we should all be thinking about as we attempt to make energy efficiency changes in our homes.

MB: What do you think is important for people to know as they try to make their homes more energy efficient?

EH: That a building is like a living organism, if you change one thing it affects the others. Although it is easy to do, you really need to be careful to make sure you are thinking about the building as a whole, you need the whole picture.

MB: What is the message you are sending to homeowners now when there are so many different messages and programs being talked about?

EH: I am a very New York City-centric person, I do all my work here. Buildings account for 87% of our energy currently (according to PlaNYC). We need to reduce it. In 2030 we are going to have a million more people in the city but the same buildings will still be standing. We need to make changes to those buildings now. Another message is that it’s not that hard. We need to have an “oh my god!” moment where we realize how serious these energy inefficiencies are and start changing them today. I also believe community is important, and that pressure from our peers will have a positive effect. We need the community standard to be one of reduced waste. There is such colossal energy waste in our buildings, we need to get that under control.

Before we ended the interview, Ellen said, “The whole thing is so doable. The fact is little changes will save you so much money and energy usage, that’s the incentive! It’s just these small measures but everyone has to buy in.”

Come learn more about all this at our event on Saturday!

See you there!

Relevant Links:

• Neighborhood Energy Forum Registration
• Neighborhood Energy Forum
• What National Grid Can Do For You
• On The Path To Energy Efficiency and Affordability
• Neighborhood Energy Forum on March 20th

Multi-Family Building in Flatbush (photo by Keka Marzagão)

This week we spoke with Louis Rizzo, Energy Efficiency Lead Program Manager at National Grid, about the utility’s residential energy efficiency programs. “National Grid has comprehensive programs and generous rebates to help the homeowner reduce their energy costs and increase comfort,” Mr. Rizzo said.

If you are interested in any of these programs, contact National Grid Energy Efficiency at 1-800-292-2032 or visit their website.

Multi-Family Buildings

There are two types of programs for larger buildings (5-50 units):

1) The first type is a straight rebate of $100-$6,000 (this amount could go up!) for certain energy upgrades in your home, such as heating equipment, insulation, boiler reset controls, and more.

The rebate will cover about 50% of the equipment cost and has a 3-7 year payback period depending on how much you do.

2) The second incentive is for customized, comprehensive energy efficiency measures for buildings with larger heating systems, and can include heating system upgrades, weatherization, and much more.  To qualify for this program, you have to promise to meet a certain level of energy savings.

In contrast to the straight rebate, the customized program could cover 50% of project costs–not just equipment–up to $100,000, with a payback period of 3-5 years.

You can choose your own contractor for both of these programs, but National Grid has a helpful list on their website.

1-4 Family Homes

For smaller homes (1-4 families), there is a straight rebate of $200-$1,000. This covers natural gas heating equipment upgrades to pre-qualified high-efficiency units, outdoor reset controls, water heaters, thermostats and more.

You could save 30% or more on total project costs.  Combine this with another 30% covered by a federal tax credit for energy efficiency measures (sometimes capped at  $1,500) and you’re well on your way to meeting your cost.

According to Mr. Rizzo, “Homeowners have been seeing quite a bit of benefit. Customers are seeing savings of 20% to 40% off their heating bills.” Also, National Grid will launch a weatherization program for single family homes this spring. The expected date for the program to start is April 1st. The program describes that “eligible customers receive a comprehensive home energy audit with installed air sealing measures and generous rebates for additional weatherization measures such as insulation.”

National Grid’s pre-qualified weatherization contractors

You can learn more about this program here. Think about all those savings! And not only that, Mr. Rizzo explained, ”The process is very straightforward and easy to do.  There’s not a tremendous amount of paperwork.  We’ll work with you to make your building more energy efficient.”

Ready to get started? Great!

Visit https://www.powerofaction.com/efficiency or call 1-800-292-2032 to learn more about the National Grid Energy efficiency programs.

Relevant Links:

• Neighborhood Energy Forum Registration
• Neighborhood Energy Forum
• Ellen Honigstock at our Neighborhood Energy Forum
• On the Path To Energy Efficiency and Affordability
• Neighborhood Energy Forum on March 20th

About a year ago, Sustainable Flatbush’s Executive Director Anne Pope and I sat at Sycamore Bar and Flower Shop on Cortelyou Road.

I had just become the Director of Energy Solutions at SF, and we were strategizing about the best ways to meet the urgent need for energy efficiency upgrades in our neighborhood, to bring down soaring energy costs and reduce our carbon emissions.  With new incentive programs from government and utilities, Anne and I realized the time was right to leverage funds that would bring major energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to Flatbush.

So we conceived the Neighborhood Energy Forum.  For the past year, SF’s Energy Solutions Initiative has been working diligently to bring the Neighborhood Energy Forum to fruition.  We’ve been fortunate to join forces with a fantastic group of sponsors and partners, the Flatbush Development Corporation, the Energy Smart Communities program of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), ConEd,  and National Grid.

Join us on March 20 at the Brooklyn College Student Center, from 9:30 to 2:00.
Admission is free!  Here’s what it’s about:

Multi-Family and 1-4 Family Tracks

We understand that large buildings face different challenges than smaller homes, so depending on the size of your residence, we have information tailored to your needs.  Representatives from NYSERDA, National Grid, and ConEd will highlight low- and middle-income incentive programs to help building owners, co-op boards, tenant groups and other stakeholders understand what needs to be done and how to take the first steps.

Meet Contractors Who Can Do the Work at Our Energy Fair

Energy auditors, building engineers, renewable energy installers—basically anyone you need to talk to—will be on hand offering their services.  You will gain important knowledge about how to move forward by talking to the experts, and may even find someone to work with on your project.

A Perfect Storm for Renewables in NYC

With federal, state, and local tax credits and abatements, plus a solar-electric (photovoltaic, or PV) incentive rebate program, 2010 is the year for solar–not just PV but solar heat and hot water too.  So if you’re one of those people who have asked us, “How can I get solar for my home,” come to the Neighborhood Energy Forum and catch up with renewable energy vendors at the Energy Fair.

Check-in with Your Elected Officials

Members of the New York State Assembly and Senate as well as New York City Council will be on hand to let you know what they’re doing to support energy efficiency and renewables in our city.  See the Neighborhood Energy Forum page to get the story on who will be there.

To find out more, visit our Energy Forum page, or jump right to our registration form.  Send me an email if you have any questions.  See you there!

Relevant Links:

• Neighborhood Energy Forum Registration
• Neighborhood Energy Forum
• Ellen Honigstock at our Neighborhood Energy Forum
• What National Grid Can Do For You
• Neighborhood Energy Forum on March 20th

Energy Efficiency and Affordability Where We Live

We are faced with the pressing challenge of reducing our resource use and greenhouse gas emissions, but how can we make that happen? We all know it’s going to take more than just changing our lightbulbs (although that is a great first step!), but the problem lies in the cost of retrofitting our older buildings or installing renewable energy.

The Neighborhood Energy Forum is bringing together all the people in the chain of making energy efficiency and alternative energy happen here and now.   If you have the desire to start an energy efficiency project in your building–whether big or small–come learn about how you can do it!  Find out how to get funding from all kinds of programs, and meet the contractors who can help you take the first steps.

The Forum’s long-term objective is to create a model block in Flatbush where the majority of homes and apartment buildings have lowered their energy use and costs, inspiring others to do the same.  Together we can decrease energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions and increase New York City’s overall energy efficiency.

You can look forward to speaking with representatives from Sustainable Flatbush, National Grid, Solar One, NYSERDA, and many other energy experts. Our elected officials will be on hand as well to let you know what they are doing to meet our energy efficiency goals.

Click here to register to attend the event. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

If you are interested in sponsoring the event we offer a range of  sponsorship opportunities that can help your business or organization reach its core audience and increase its visibility.  Check it out!

We look forward to seeing you there!

WHEN: Saturday, March 20^th 9:30am – 2pm

WHERE: Brooklyn College Student Center, Campus Road and E. 27th Street, 5^th floor

Relevant Links:

• Neighborhood Energy Forum Registration
• Neighborhood Energy Forum
• Ellen Honigstock at our Neighborhood Energy Forum
• What National Grid Can Do For You
• On the Path to Energy Efficiency and Affordability