National Grid Launches Weatherization Program in Downstate New York Market
National Grid has started gearing up for a new weatherization program in the New York Market. This will be marketed as part of their “power of action” campaign. The somewhat awkward acronym for the program is EHSIP for Enhanced Home Sealing Incentives Program.
This will be offered in New York City and Long Island. A variation may be offered upstate, but I’ll stick to what I know – the downstate market.
What is it?
If you own a home built before 1980 that is heated with gas, you are eligible to receive an energy audit and 2 hours of air sealing for a $50 payment to National Grid (See my pitch later about how to save that $50). This is about $600 worth of services that National Grid is covering the bulk of. The energy audit will be run according to BPI standards and will include combustion safety, an air leakage (blower door) test, inspection of the various energy systems in your house and the generation of recommendations along with a payback analysis. See our piece on Energy Audits. This will be put together in a “comprehensive home assessment (CHA) report” and provided to the homeowner within 48 hours of the field audit.
The energy audit report will also include a proposal for the recommended services. One of the recommendations will generally include blown cellulose insulation into the attic. National Grid will reimburse 50% of the cost of blow cellulose into the attic up to a cap of $3000. There will likely be other recommendations as well, but National Grid will only provide a rebate on attic cellulose. The additional work would be done in a later visit.
Who does the audit?
The audits are done by BPI Accredited contractors (BPI.org for more details on what this means) that are licensed to do business in the county that you live and have gone through the National Grid Application process. The auditor must have a Building Analyst certification from BPI as well. Typically this means a person with a background in home improvements and insulation who has had some training in building science and demonstrated a basic level of competence. The air sealing is generally completed by a second person who will help with the audit and spend the rest of the time in your attic.
What’s the catch?
This program is funded by money that rate payers have already paid to the Public Service Commission through gas utility fees. These funds are intended to be returned to the public good. This program helps to reduce the overall demand and improve energy efficiency. So there is no real catch, but a few of things to be aware of:
- The Audit is an educational tool, but it will find things that you did not expect to find out were wrong with your house. In this case wrong means “not compliant with code or BPI Standards."
- The additional rebates are limited. Most of the recommendation will not have rebates attached. LIPA runs a similar program for Electric only heat customers in Nassau and Suffolk that covers a wider list of efficiency improvements.
- In addition to energy efficiency, expect the auditor to identify health and safety and building durability issues. Many of these are ventilation issues and occasionally heating system issues.
- Don’t expect a lot on the electrical analysis – BPI audits are focused on the efficiency of the building. Literally does the building keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer and not cause indoor air quality and/or moisture issues in the process.
- This won’t last forever – National Grid probably has enough money for 9-12 months, and then it’s anyone’s guess. Unfortunately, they have a poor history of managing the spend in these programs. Typically, they are oversubscribed and the funds are spent faster than expected and then programs terminated with little or no notice.
What if my home is built after 1980?
What we were told is that you are not part of the “target” market, but are not excluded from the program. So go head and sign up. Let me know how you do - if you have trouble, let us know and we'll advocate on your behalf. In my mind post 1980 homes certainly have plenty of issues and are typically larger so use more than their fair share of heating fuel.
Do I have to do what is recommended?
No. The auditor’s job is to make recommendations and educate you on why these recommendations make sense. But, you are in the driver’s seat.
How do I sign up?
Assuming you think this is for you, call National Grid at (877) 741-4330. Initially, they will only take your name and number, but by the week of 10/18/2010 they should be able to actually enroll you in the program.
The Green Audit USA Marketing Gimmick
Of course we want you to be in the program because we are a contractor in the program and we would like you to select us as your contractor of choice. If you want to get back the $50 that National Grid charges request Green Audit USA as your company of choice and let us know that you made the request through our contact form. When you come up in our work queue, we’ll tag that for a $50 gift card. When we get paid by National Grid, we’ll send you a $50 Visa Gift card as our thank you for selecting us.
If you own a home built before 1980 that is heated with gas, you are eligible to receive an energy audit and 2 hours of air sealing for a $50 payment to national Grid (See my pitch later about how to save that $50). This is about $600 worth of services that National Grid is covering the bulk of. The energy audit will be run according to BPI standards and will include combustion safety, an air leakage (blower door) test, inspection of the various energy systems in your house and the generation of recommendations along with a payback analysis. See our piece on Energy Audits. This will be put together in a “comprehensive home assessment (CHA) report” and provided to the homeowner within 48 hours of the field audit.
In addition, National Grid will be providing a 50% rebate on loose fill cellulose installed into an attic. While this is somewhat limited, it is probably a reasonable policy decision for national Grid who is looking to stretch a limited budget.
What is it?
If you own a home built before 1980 that is heated with gas, you are eligible to receive an energy audit and 2 hours of air sealing for a $50 payment to national Grid (See my pitch later about how to save that $50). This is about $600 worth of services that National Grid is covering the bulk of. The energy audit will be run according to BPI standards and will include combustion safety, an air leakage (blower door) test, inspection of the various energy systems in your house and the generation of recommendations along with a payback analysis. See our piece on Energy Audits. This will be put together in a “comprehensive home assessment (CHA) report” and provided to the homeowner within 48 hours of the field audit.
In addition, National Grid will be providing a 50% rebate on loose fill cellulose installed into an attic. While this is somewhat limited, it is probably a reasonable policy decision for national Grid who is looking to stretch a limited budget.
Who does the audit?
The audits are done by BPI Accredited contractors (BPI.org for more details on what this means) that are licensed to do business in the county that you live and have gone through the National Grid Application process. The technician must have a Building Analyst certification from BPI as well. Typically this means a person with a background in home improvements and insulation who has had some training in building science and demonstrated a basic level of competence. The air sealing is generally completed by a second person who will help with the audit and spend the rest of the time in your attic.
What’s the catch?
This program is funded by money that rate payers have already paid to the Public Service Commission through gas utility fees. These funds are intended to be returned to the public good. This program helps to reduce the overall demand and improve energy efficiency. So there is no real catch, but a few of things to be aware of:
- The Audit is an educational tool, but it will find things that you did not expect to find out were wrong with your house. In this case wrong means “not compliant with code or BPI Standards.”
- The additional rebates are limited. Most of the recommendation will not have rebates attached. LIPA runs a similar program for Electric only heat customers in Nassau and Suffolk that covers a wider list of efficiency improvements.
- In addition to energy efficiency, expect the auditor to identify health and safety and building durability issues. Many of these are ventilation issues and occasionally heating system issues.
- Don’t expect a lot on the electrical analysis – BPI audits are focused on the efficiency of the building. Literally does the building keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer and not cause indoor air quality and/or moisture issues in the process.
- This won’t last forever – National Grid probably has enough money for 9-12 months, and then it’s anyone’s guess. Unfortunately they have a poor history of managing the spend in these programs. Typically, they are oversubscribed and the funds are spent faster than expected and then programs terminated with little or no notice.
What if my home is built after 1980?
What we were told is that you are not part of the “target” market, but are not excluded from the program. So go head and try to sign up. Let me know how you do. In my mind post 1980 homes certainly have plenty of issues and are typically larger so use more than their fair share of heating fuel.
Do I have to do what is recommended?
No. The auditor’s job is to make recommendations and educate you on why these recommendations make sense. But, you are in the driver’s seat.
How do I sign up?
Assuming you think this is for you, call National Grid at (877) 741-4330. Initially, they will only take your name and number, but by the week of 10/18/2010 they should be able to actually enroll you in the program.
The Green Audit USA Pitch
Of course we want you to be in the program because we are a contractor in the program and we would like you to select us as your contractor of choice. If you want to get back the $50 that National Grid charges you, request Green Audit USA as your company of choice and let us know that you made the request through our contact form_______. When you come up in our work queue, we’ll tag that for a $50 gift card. When we get paid by National Grid, we’ll send you a $50 Visa Gift card as our thank you for selecting us.
What is it?
If you own a home built before 1980 that is heated with gas, you are eligible to receive an energy audit and 2 hours of air sealing for a $50 payment to national Grid (See my pitch later about how to save that $50). This is about $600 worth of services that National Grid is covering the bulk of. The energy audit will be run according to BPI standards and will include combustion safety, an air leakage (blower door) test, inspection of the various energy systems in your house and the generation of recommendations along with a payback analysis. See our piece on Energy Audits. This will be put together in a “comprehensive home assessment (CHA) report” and provided to the homeowner within 48 hours of the field audit.
In addition, National Grid will be providing a 50% rebate on loose fill cellulose installed into an attic. While this is somewhat limited, it is probably a reasonable policy decision for national Grid who is looking to stretch a limited budget.
Who does the audit?
The audits are done by BPI Accredited contractors (BPI.org for more details on what this means) that are licensed to do business in the county that you live and have gone through the National Grid Application process. The technician must have a Building Analyst certification from BPI as well. Typically this means a person with a background in home improvements and insulation who has had some training in building science and demonstrated a basic level of competence. The air sealing is generally completed by a second person who will help with the audit and spend the rest of the time in your attic.
What’s the catch?
This program is funded by money that rate payers have already paid to the Public Service Commission through gas utility fees. These funds are intended to be returned to the public good. This program helps to reduce the overall demand and improve energy efficiency. So there is no real catch, but a few of things to be aware of:
- The Audit is an educational tool, but it will find things that you did not expect to find out were wrong with your house. In this case wrong means “not compliant with code or BPI Standards.”
- The additional rebates are limited. Most of the recommendation will not have rebates attached. LIPA runs a similar program for Electric only heat customers in Nassau and Suffolk that covers a wider list of efficiency improvements.
- In addition to energy efficiency, expect the auditor to identify health and safety and building durability issues. Many of these are ventilation issues and occasionally heating system issues.
- Don’t expect a lot on the electrical analysis – BPI audits are focused on the efficiency of the building. Literally does the building keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer and not cause indoor air quality and/or moisture issues in the process.
- This won’t last forever – National Grid probably has enough money for 9-12 months, and then it’s anyone’s guess. Unfortunately they have a poor history of managing the spend in these programs. Typically, they are oversubscribed and the funds are spent faster than expected and then programs terminated with little or no notice.
What if my home is built after 1980?
What we were told is that you are not part of the “target” market, but are not excluded from the program. So go head and try to sign up. Let me know how you do. In my mind post 1980 homes certainly have plenty of issues and are typically larger so use more than their fair share of heating fuel.
Do I have to do what is recommended?
No. The auditor’s job is to make recommendations and educate you on why these recommendations make sense. But, you are in the driver’s seat.
How do I sign up?
Assuming you think this is for you, call National Grid at (877) 741-4330. Initially, they will only take your name and number, but by the week of 10/18/2010 they should be able to actually enroll you in the program.
The Green Audit USA Pitch
Of course we want you to be in the program because we are a contractor in the program and we would like you to select us as your contractor of choice. If you want to get back the $50 that National Grid charges you, request Green Audit USA as your company of choice and let us know that you made the request through our contact form_______. When you come up in our work queue, we’ll tag that for a $50 gift card. When we get paid by National Grid, we’ll send you a $50 Visa Gift card as our thank you for selecting us.
This will be offered in New York City and Long Island. A variation may be offered upstate, but I’ll stick to what I know – the downstate market.
What is it?
If you own a home built before 1980 that is heated with gas, you are eligible to receive an energy audit and 2 hours of air sealing for a $50 payment to national Grid (See my pitch later about how to save that $50). This is about $600 worth of services that National Grid is covering the bulk of. The energy audit will be run according to BPI standards and will include combustion safety, an air leakage (blower door) test, inspection of the various energy systems in your house and the generation of recommendations along with a payback analysis. See our piece on Energy Audits. This will be put together in a “comprehensive home assessment (CHA) report” and provided to the homeowner within 48 hours of the field audit.
In addition, National Grid will be providing a 50% rebate on loose fill cellulose installed into an attic. While this is somewhat limited, it is probably a reasonable policy decision for national Grid who is looking to stretch a limited budget.
Who does the audit?
The audits are done by BPI Accredited contractors (BPI.org for more details on what this means) that are licensed to do business in the county that you live and have gone through the National Grid Application process. The technician must have a Building Analyst certification from BPI as well. Typically this means a person with a background in home improvements and insulation who has had some training in building science and demonstrated a basic level of competence. The air sealing is generally completed by a second person who will help with the audit and spend the rest of the time in your attic.
What’s the catch?
This program is funded by money that rate payers have already paid to the Public Service Commission through gas utility fees. These funds are intended to be returned to the public good. This program helps to reduce the overall demand and improve energy efficiency. So there is no real catch, but a few of things to be aware of:
- The Audit is an educational tool, but it will find things that you did not expect to find out were wrong with your house. In this case wrong means “not compliant with code or BPI Standards.”
- The additional rebates are limited. Most of the recommendation will not have rebates attached. LIPA runs a similar program for Electric only heat customers in Nassau and Suffolk that covers a wider list of efficiency improvements.
- In addition to energy efficiency, expect the auditor to identify health and safety and building durability issues. Many of these are ventilation issues and occasionally heating system issues.
- Don’t expect a lot on the electrical analysis – BPI audits are focused on the efficiency of the building. Literally does the building keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer and not cause indoor air quality and/or moisture issues in the process.
- This won’t last forever – National Grid probably has enough money for 9-12 months, and then it’s anyone’s guess. Unfortunately they have a poor history of managing the spend in these programs. Typically, they are oversubscribed and the funds are spent faster than expected and then programs terminated with little or no notice.
What if my home is built after 1980?
What we were told is that you are not part of the “target” market, but are not excluded from the program. So go head and try to sign up. Let me know how you do. In my mind post 1980 homes certainly have plenty of issues and are typically larger so use more than their fair share of heating fuel.
Do I have to do what is recommended?
No. The auditor’s job is to make recommendations and educate you on why these recommendations make sense. But, you are in the driver’s seat.
How do I sign up?
Assuming you think this is for you, call National Grid at (877) 741-4330. Initially, they will only take your name and number, but by the week of 10/18/2010 they should be able to actually enroll you in the program.
The Green Audit USA Pitch
Of course we want you to be in the program because we are a contractor in the program and we would like you to select us as your contractor of choice. If you want to get back the $50 that National Grid charges you, request Green Audit USA as your company of choice and let us know that you made the request through our contact form_______. When you come up in our work queue, we’ll tag that for a $50 gift card. When we get paid by National Grid, we’ll send you a $50 Visa Gift card as our thank you for selecting us.
This will be offered in New York City and Long Island. A variation may be offered upstate, but I’ll stick to what I know – the downstate market.
djdjdjdjdjdGrid has started gearing up for a new weatherization program in the New York Market. This will be marketed as part of their “power of action” campaign. The somewhat awkward acronym for the program is EHSIP for Enhanced Home Sealing Incentives Program.
This will be offered in New York City and Long Island. A variation may be offered upstate, but I’ll stick to what I know – the downstate market.
