[SustainableTompkins] please share with your contractor friends

[GayNicholson at aol.com]

RELEASE:      IMMEDIATE 
CONTACT:     Gay Nicholson, Southern Tier Energy $mart  Communities 
Coordinator, Cornell 
Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, 607-533-7312 
Colleen Ryan,  NYSERDA 
518-862-1090 ext. 3359 

Build a Career in Energy  Efficiency -- 
Orientation Session on Becoming a  Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®  
Contractor 
Ithaca, NY -- The New York State  Energy Research and Development Authority 
(NYSERDA), in partnership with Chemung County Cornell  Cooperative Extension 
and the City of Elmira  is offering a free orientation on May 22 for home 
improvement contractors  interested in offering energy efficiency services. The 
orientation is being  promoted through the Southern Tier Energy $mart Communities  
Program. 
Local  and state governments are setting new goals to reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions  by improving energy efficiency and switching to renewable forms of 
energy.  Probably the most critical actions will  be taken in the building 
sector which accounts for nearly half of carbon  emissions in the U.S.  
Contractors and builders will play a  primary role in helping homeowners, businesses, 
and local institutions identify  the most cost effective combinations of energy 
improvements for their  buildings. 
The  session, to be held  at the Holiday Inn in Elmira, at 760 East Water  
Street, is for contractors who wish to become  accredited and certified by the 
Building Performance Institute (BPI), a national  resource for building science 
technology that sets the standards for assessing  and improving the energy 
performance of homes.  This is a required step for participation  by a 
contractor in the Home Performance with ENERGY  STAR® program. The May 22 event at the  
Elmira Holiday Inn is free, but registration is requested. 
“BPI  accreditation is an important step for contractors to take in order to 
offer  homeowners a systematic approach to identifying, installing, and 
financing  energy improvements to their homes,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Peter 
R.  Smith. “Through our Home Performance with ENERGY STARâ  program, we’re 
creating new opportunities for contractors to attract customers,  while 
expanding energy efficiency and renewable services for the individual  homeowner.” 
Demand for certified home  performance contractors is increasing as residents 
across our region learn about  NYSERDA’s energy efficiency programs, which 
can result in up to  40% savings in energy bills.  The Southern Tier region 
currently does  not have enough accredited contractors to meet demand, and 
participating  contractors can tap into this expanding market.   
NYSERDA offers incentives  to participating contractors through their Home 
Performance with ENERGY  STAR® Program, to help offset  the cost of training, 
certification and equipment.  This is more than just an energy  efficiency 
program; it’s the model for the home improvement industry of the  future.  
Participating contractors  differentiate their services to homeowners by making their 
homes energy  efficient, as well as healthy, safe, and comfortable.  This goes 
a long way toward creating  greater customer satisfaction and value for home 
improvement services.  NYSERDA also provides low-interest  financing and other 
incentives to qualified residents to fund the energy  efficiency improvements 
they receive through the Home Performance with ENERGY  STAR® program.   
For questions and to  register to attend, please call Kelli Ramsdell, City of 
Elmira Community  Development Department, at  (607)737-5697. 

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----------------------------------------------------
Gay  Nicholson, Ph.D. 

607-533-7312 (home office)
607-279-6618  (cell)

1 Maple Avenue
Lansing, NY  14882
gaynicholson at aol.com

Sustainable Tompkins 
Program  Coordinator 
w_ww.sustainabletompkins.org_ (http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/) 

Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities
Regional  Coordinator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow  Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850
agn1 at cornell.edu




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