Con Edison seeking customers in Westchester County to participate in Smart Solutions program
Con Edison is offering natural gas and fuel oil customers an opportunity to get paid to electrify their heating, upgrade HVAC controls or weatherize their homes.
The payments are available under Con Edison’s Smart Solutions for Gas program to customers.
“Our Smart Solutions program is all about taking advantage of technology and innovation to provide our customers with clean energy choices and meet their heating needs,” Vicki Kuo, director of Energy Efficiency programs for Con Edison, said. “Our incentives lower the upfront costs of upgrades and will help the state meet its environmental goals.”
The company is investing $223 million in the program to help customers reduce their need for natural gas from interstate pipelines that bring fuel into the region.
The Yonkers Housing Authority is using the program for energy-saving work at its William A. Schlobohm Houses.
“We see the Con Edison incentives as a great environmental and economic opportunity,” Joseph Shuldiner, executive director of the Housing Authority, said. “Our investment will lower our energy usage and costs, reduce emissions and enhance the comfort of our residents for decades to come.”
The authority made energy efficiency upgrades in eight developments last year with the help of $358,000 in Con Edison incentives.
The work will include cleaning gas boilers and repairing steam distribution equipment to eliminate steam losses and ensure that heat is distributed evenly to all apartments. Con Edison also works with Sealed, a company that installs insulation and smart technology to save energy
The incentives from Con Edison and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority offset about 30 percent of a geothermal system for a customer. The customer pays for the improvements with the money saved on energy bills, meaning there is little upfront cost.
Con Edison plans to increase incentives for its multi-family and commercial and industrial gas energy efficiency programs in Westchester by as much as 100 percent. The company will also work with developers of new buildings who choose clean alternatives.
