El Puente is proud to be making it easier for homeowners, renters, landlords, not-for-profits and small businesses to participate in energy efficiency programs offered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). In addition to cutting waste and saving people money, these programs spark job and business opportunities—right here in our neighborhoods. We'll help you take the first step.

NYSERDA offers several programs that help people use less energy at home, save money and make living spaces more comfortable year-round.
El Puente can help you choose which energy efficiency program is right for you. Contact us at 347-532-2809 x105 and our organizer Esteban Duran will walk you through your options and help you get started.

Save hundreds—even more—each year by cutting energy waste

We can connect homeowners and renters with NYSERDA programs that help save energy and money. The programs begin with a home energy assessment, which is a top-to-bottom test to see where your home is wasting energy. This first step is very important because it uncovers hard-to-see problems like air leaking out of your house, walls that need insulation, trouble with your furnace, or other issues.

A BPI accredited contractor will perform your home assessment and can make any improvements or upgrades. BPI is short for the Building Performance Institute, a national organization that trains and certifies energy efficiency contractors to do energy efficiency work. Learn more about BPI.

At the end of the assessment, you will get a report about the next steps that can be taken to make your home more energy efficient.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®

If you own a single-family home or a two- to four-unit building, take advantage of free or reduced-cost comprehensive home energy assessments, as well as a 10 percent cashback incentive and low-interest financing for up to $25,000 in energy efficiency improvements.

1. Apply for a comprehensive home energy assessment. Most New Yorkers qualify for a free home assessment, paid for by NYSERDA's Green Jobs – Green NY program.
2. After your home assessment, you can hire the contractor who did the assessment (or another participating Home Performance Contractor) to make some or all of the recommended upgrades to your home.
3. If you move forward with upgrades, you can pay for them with a low-interest loan. Visit NYSERDA's website to learn more about low-interest financing.
4. After the work is done, you can get a portion of the project cost back! You can qualify for a 10 percent cashback incentive.
   Special offers for low-income homeowners

Special offers for low-income homeowners

Depending on your household income, you may qualify for a grant to help pay for energy efficiency improvements, or even have the improvements made for free.

Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR offers the same benefits as Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, but income-qualified homeowners can receive grants of up to $5,000 to cover as much as 50 percent of the cost of energy upgrades. See the income guidelines chart on this page, or at [347-532-2809 x105 and our organizer Esteban Duran will help you see if you qualify.

Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR income guidelines for 2011-2012:

For low-income homeowners and renters

NYSERDA offers a program that provides energy efficiency improvements for free to New Yorkers whose income is lower than 60 percent of the statewide median. You can also qualify if you're eligible for HEAP or if you participate in your utility's payment assistance program. Contact us, at 347-532-2809 x105 and our organizer Esteban Duran will help you see if you qualify.

Two affordable financing option.

When you make energy efficiency improvements through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR or Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR programs, you can qualify for two different types of low-interest loans.

Green Jobs – Green NY financing offers low interest rates, a simple application process, and easy-to-manage monthly payments that you make through the mail or by setting up automatic deductions from your bank account.

On-bill recovery financing allows you to use your energy savings to pay for energy upgrades directly on your utility bill. The payment amount is based on what you can expect to save each month on energy costs. For example, if your comprehensive home energy assessment shows that you can expect to save $100 each month by making energy upgrades, then your loan payment would be no more than $100.

Visit NYSERDA's website to learn more about both of these low-interest loan opportunities.

Take charge of your world: Now is the best time to get started

Funding for NYSERDA's energy efficiency programs will run out, so call El Puente today at 347-532-2809 x 105 or send us an email here (please hyperlink this email address greenlightdistrict@elpuente.us. We'll help you understand your choices, get started with a program and improve your home. It feels good to take charge of your world.
To learn more about NYSERDA programs, visit nyserda.ny.gov or call 1-866-NYSERDA.

El Puente is a not-for-profit, Brooklyn-based organization that builds leadership for peace and justice by engaging youth and adult members in individual and collective actions that improve their lives, their communities, and the world. Founded in 1982 in the Southside of Williamsburg, today El Puente "bridges" the arts, education, health and wellness, greening and environmental justice programs to reach more than 5,000 New York City residents each year.