Commercial, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  September 25, 2023

NY State Helps Residents Make Efficiency Upgrades

Governor Hochul announced a $200 million EmPower+ home retrofits program to reduce energy costs for low-income New Yorkers.

The statewide program, funded in the Enacted FY2024 State Budget, will help approximately 20,000 low-income families improve their home with energy efficiency upgrades. Energy efficiency upgrades include adding insulation, installing energy efficient appliances and switching to clean energy.

EmPower+ combines two longstanding residential programs, EmPower NY and Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, into one singular offer administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). 

"It's critical that we continue the transition to create an affordable clean energy future that benefits all New Yorkers," Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "I am proud to stand side by side with my fellow Governors in the U.S. Climate Alliance to show our commitment to bold action to decarbonize the buildings sector. This coalition continues to prove that when we come together, we can make a greener future more equitable and accessible for all."

The U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 25 governors representing approximately 60% of the U.S. economy and 55% of the population, announced a series of new commitments from its members to eliminate emissions from buildings, including collectively quadrupling heat pump installations by the end of the decade. 

To accelerate building decarbonization efforts, New York State made additional commitments with U.S. Climate Alliance members, including:

• Exploring the adoption of zero-emission standards for space and water heating equipment, 
• Exploring the development of clean heat standards,
• Working to phase out fossil fuel heating and cooling in new construction by 2027,
• Exploring the adoption of Building Performance Standards like those enacted in Colorado, Maryland, Oregon and Washington, and
• Supporting the development and adoption of advanced energy-efficient building codes that maximize opportunities for efficient electrification and support solar and electric vehicle readiness.

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