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Laquatra to head state program offering cash incentives for energy-savers

By Susan Lang

A Cornell housing and energy expert has been named to head a New York state consumer program to promote energy-saving incentives for homeowners, landlords and builders. He is Joseph Laquatra, professor of design and environmental analysis (DEA) in the College of Human Ecology.

Laquatra

The new program, the Consumer Education Program for Residential Energy Efficiency (CEPREE), has been created by New York Energy $mart, managed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), with an award of $155,000.

CEPREE, a one-year project associated with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), will provide consumer-education programs on the multitude of ways to save energy -- and money -- in the home and to take advantage of incentives to reduce energy use.

"NYSERDA has almost a dozen residential programs that can benefit homeowners and builders on ways to reduce energy costs," said Laquatra. "Saving energy not only saves money but it can prevent some air and environmental pollution." The New York Energy $mart programs include:

  • cash incentives of $1,000 for builders and $500 for homeowners who construct Energy Star homes, which are 30 percent more efficient than those built to current state energy codes (Energy Star is a U.S. government-backed program to improve energy efficiency);

  • consumer loans at 4.5 percent interest, and other financial incentives to improve energy efficiency in houses and apartment buildings;

  • a $35 bounty for New Yorkers who turn in their old, inefficient air conditioner and replace it with a new Energy Star model (room air conditioners with Energy Star labels use at least 10 percent less energy than other models); and

  • financial incentives for homeowners who install photovoltaic (solar electric) panels on their homes, or other advanced energy systems.

    Working with assistant director Mark Pierce, an extension associate in Cornell's DEA, Laquatra will provide training and develop materials for 23 CCE educators. All are consulting in 23 counties in New York state and New York City and are eligible for NYSERDA mini-grants to fund outreach and educational activities in their areas.

    In addition to writing a program manual for the extension educators, Laquatra and Pierce are writing a series of fact sheets. One, for example, will focus on Energy Star-labeled washing machines that use half the water per load than other washers. Another paper will detail the work of the Building Performance Institute, which certifies contractors to conduct home energy audits and make upgrades to achieve improved energy efficiency.

    NYSERDA provides energy-related technical and financial assistance to promote energy efficiency and economic development throughout New York.

    May 1, 2003

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