Energy Star® Homes

New York State legislation follows model of Energy Star Homes codes adopted by ten Long Island towns.

A bill to amend the State Energy Conservation Construction Code (S6912- Foley/A10288 Englebright) would set a higher energy efficiency standard for new homes bult in New York State, and will require performance verification of all new homes by an independent Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater. This will result in homes that are more comfortable, save energy, save money, and reduce our carbon footprint.

The legislation has bi-partisan support in the State Senate, and "same as" versions in both houses. This gives it a good chance of passing this legislative session.

You can find a memo in support and the full text of the bill on the New York State Assembly web site.

Write your State Senator and Assembly Member in support on this important energy saving bill. To find out who your State Senator and Assembly member are, visit the New York State Board of Elections web site at:
http://nymap.elections.state.ny.us/nysboe/

The Energy Star program sets out more stringent construction specifications designed to make buildings more energy efficient; generally about 30% savings in energy used for heating, cooling, and water heating can be achieved as compared with homes built to the existing National 1993 Model Energy Code. Currently, LIPA has an excellent program in place to provide financial incentives to encourage builders to follow a purely voluntary Energy Star labeling program for new home construction.

The average Long Island home could spend about $6,200 dollars a year on energy, based on that figure an Energy Star Home on L.I. would save about $1,236 a year on energy costs. The additional construction costs for meeting the higher standards have been estimated at between $2000 and $4000. (Some have pointed out that those costs could be lowered as the techniques and materials used become more standard and the market develops.) The cost of energy saved far outweighs any additional mortgage payments as a result of higher construction costs. As a result, Energy Star Homes are more affordable from the first year of ownership.

Example:

Annual Energy Savings: $1236
Annual Increased Mortgage Cost: $56.88*
Annual Net Savings: $1,179.12

*Based on $2000 increased construction cost, $1250 LIPA incentive, and a 30-year, 6.5% mortgage

Home Energy Rater Frazer Dougherty demonstrates the "blower door" test that is part of the performance testing required for all Energy Star Labelled Homes.

In addition to saving money, Energy Star Homes are better for the environment. Because they use less energy, each Energy Star home results in 2.25 fewer tons of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere each year than a home that only meets the basic Model Energy Code requirements. (According to the U.S. EPA)

ENERGY STAR HOMES ARE NOW THE LAW IN HEMPSTEAD

Click Here to view LI News Tonight Energy Star Press Conference in Oceanside

Click Here to view LI News Tonight Coverage

Click Here to view LI News Tonight- NYIT Solar House

ENERGY STAR SOUTHAMPTON

Radio show -- Friday Morning Forums

Debate over effort to get every town on Long Island to adopt a new energy efficiency standard for all new home construction on Long Island called the Energy Star Homes Law.
Also discussed, is the new law in Southampton to require that people seeking permits for new pool heaters, must get solar thermal heaters first, and only use the propane heaters as a back-up system.

to find the program Click Here

Below is the article from the Independent covering the Southampton Law which is discussed in the debate.

Click on image twice to read.

September 12, 2008 Sag Harbor Express article:

Pool Execs Don’t Take New Law Swimmingly

Click here to download a PDF of our presentation on Energy Star Homes to the Brookhaven Town Board.

Town Energy Conservation Construction Codes

Under New York State law, local municipalities can adopt energy conservation construction codes that are more stringent that the State base-line code. The Neighborhood Network has proposed that all Long Island towns make the Energy Star standards a requirement for all new home construction in their town.

The first New York State town to adopt such a law was the Town of Greenburgh. The Towns of Brookhaven, Babylon, Riverhead, Oyster Bay, and Southampton have all passed local laws requiring Energy Star Homes standards, and the Neighborhood Network is contacting all the Towns on Long Island to encourage them to enact this policy, several more have expressed interest in amending their town codes to require Energy Star standards.

Neighborhood Network Executive Director, Neal Lewis speaking at the press conference announcing the Towns of Babylon and Brookhaven's passage of the Energy Star Homes law. With Neal, from left to right: Brookhaven Council Member Connie Kepert who introduced the law in Brookhaven, Brookhaven Supervisor Brian Foley, Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone, LIPA Chair Richard Kessel, and Edward Flax of Emmy Builders, builders of the Energy Star Home in the background.

The Newsday editorial board strongly endorsed the proposed code change, calling it a "bold, pioneering step toward energy conservation":

Look for an Energy Star Labelled home.

For more information about Energy Star Homes you can visit the EPA Energy Star web site:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_homes.hm_index
or the New York Energy Smart web site:
http://www.getenergysmart.org/WhereYouLive/ENERGYSTARNewHomes/overview.asp