Smart Energy Choices Program

Start Saving Energy

The Smart Energy Choices Program can help you save energy and money in your home, small business or multifamily home.  Smart Energy Choices is a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension that provides free energy advising to residents, small commercial, non-profit and multifamily building owners and managers to help them reduce their energy use, switch to renewable energy, save money, and improve the comfort of their homes and buildings.  Click HERE for our brochure!

Energy Efficiency

Did you know that the average home has enough leaks to equal the size of a window being open?  Sealing cracks and adding insulation should be a first step when thinking of energy efficiency.  The good news is home energy assessments are available to most New York State residents at no- or low-cost.

• Apply online for a free Home Performance with Energy Star energy audit, or call us for an application and information.

Here’s a quick video to show your what your energy audit would look like:

Renewable Heat

Changing to a renewable heating source can reduce carbon emissions and save money.  There are several renewable heating options and great incentives to buy:

Wood Pellet Boilers & Stoves: Pellets are made from sawdust and low-quality trees, and can be used to heat a whole house just like wood. NYSERDA is currently offering $1,500 to $2,500 rebates on pellet stoves for residences not served by natural gas.

Air Sourced & Ground Source Heat Pumps:  Heat pumps, like air conditioners or refrigerators, use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. Give us a call for more information on rebates and tax credits.

Solar

Think solar is expensive?  Think again!  Options are available to both homeowners and renters to get solar.

Residential Solar: This is the most traditional form of solar, with roof or ground panels.  NYSERDA Rebates, NYS Tax Credits and Federal Tax Credits are all available to assist with cost reduction.  Also, there are great financing options to pay for the cost after incentives.

Community Solar:  This is the newest way to get solar and links your utility bill to a local solar farm, allowing power to come to your home if you can’t or don’t want to install solar panels. You can either purchase panels on the farm or subscribe to receive a portion of energy production.  Renters can sign up too!

Check out more information about renewable energy savings on the SmartEnergyChoices.org website or contact our Community Energy Adviser at 607-865-6531 (cas44@cornell.edu) to help navigate your way to energy savings!

We were interviewed on the radio on August 29, 2020!  Click HERE to listen to community energy advisor Eileen Hanrahan discuss Smart Energy Choices with Leslie Parmerter on WZOZ 103.1 as part of the “This Week in Central NY” show. 

For more information contact
Cheryl Starcher-Ceresna, Energy Advisor, cas44@cornell.edu
(607) 865-6531