Town offers energy-saving program
Proposal will help save money- and the environment says Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone
By Joanna Fantozzi and Tiffany Elliott
Standing in front of her West Babylon high-ranch, Terry Sabatino talked about how an energy study had shown that small changes and improvements to her home could not only cut her energy use but also save her money. Now, a program is offering homeowners the chance to do that, with a little help from the Town of Babylon. Called the Long Island Green Homes Program, the plan is to provide homeowners with funds needed to make energy improvements and to pay back those funds, called a benefit assessment, with the savings realized. Once the payback is completed, the homeowner continues to reap the financial benefits of an energy-saving home, year after year. The plan starts with a private contractor making an evaluation of the household's energy. The home performance evaluation typically lasts two hours, and includes an assessment of insulation, how much air is escaping the house, infrared scanning of cracks and gaps, and a review of the home's heating, cooling and water systems. There is an appliance and light efficiency, and health and safety inspection as well.
After the homeowner receives the report and chooses an improvement plan, private contractors will complete the work. The program is structured to strike a balance between the cost of the work, and the savings, so that homeowners do not incur any expenses beyond the savings realized. The benefit assessment debt is on the property, not the homeowner, so in the event the house is sold before it is paid off, it is transferred to the new homeowner. Once the benefit assessment is paid off, the homeowner continues to enjoy those savings year, after year. "In a time when residents are struggling to buy gas and food, we need to find a way to save money," said Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone, who has set aside $2 million for the project. "One way to do that is by reducing energy costs."
"They looked at air leaks in my home and found that my burner was inefficient," said Sabatino. "I was surprised by how much energy I wasted." The program will focus on efficient lighting, weatherstripping, caulking, air and duct sealing, insulation, and upgrading of heating units. Bellone said the plan is a help to the environment as well as to homeowners' pocketbooks. The average home, he said, emits 25 pounds of carbon dioxide a day, or about 1,800 pounds per year. "There are 65,000 homes in the Town of Babylon," he said. "This program will help combat global warming by reducing carbon emissions. It will also create 6,600 new jobs, according to the Supervisor. "Green Collar" courses will be taught at BOCES schools, allowing students to go into the construction field knowing how to save energy. LIPA also wants to work with other schools in the Babylon area to educate the public about energy efficiency.
"We need to be smarter about the energy we are using," said LIPA President and CEO Kevin Law. "LIPA can't solve energy problems alone…we need partners." Energy costs have increased 850 percent in the last 10 years. Money for the program will come from the Town's Solid Waste Management Fund and Town officials are planning to hold a public hearing next week to include carbon emissions into the Town's list of solid waste materials. Under New York State municipal law, the Town will have to charge three percent interest on the assessment. The program is open to all Town residents, including those in the Villages. Homeowners who would like more information on the program, can call Town hall at 631-957-3000 or log on to www.ligreenhomes.com.
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