Evaluation of NYSERDA's Existing Homes Retrofit Programs

Strategic Insights -

The New York State Department of Public Service has issued an evaluation of NYSERDA's two umbrella programs, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR(r) (HPwES) and EmPower New York (EmPower), along with the National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation's (NFGDC) Low Income Usage Program (LIURP). The evaluation aims to condense the existing programs into a singular, comprehensive effort to reduce energy consumption within one-to-four family residential buildings across the state and capture heating fuel and electricity-related savings.

Key Takeaways:

  • The evaluation covers three existing homes programs: HPwES, EmPower, and LIURP, with the latter being administered through EmPower.
  • The primary goals of the programs are to reduce energy consumption and capture heating fuel and electricity-related savings, with incentives based on household income level.
  • The programs require the use of Building Performance Institute (BPI)-Gold Star (accredited) contractors to perform a comprehensive home energy assessment and install energy-efficient improvements and technologies.
  • Effective March 1, 2016, the primary funding source for NYSERDA's residential programs changed from the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) to the Clean Energy Fund (CEF), which has led to a transition in the programs' focus from resource acquisition to market transformation.
  • NYSERDA will continue to offer incentive-based programs for the low-to-moderate income sector and make changes over time during the transition period for the market rate sector initiative.
  • The three initiatives are aligning in their technical and programmatic requirements and are merging to a single administrative process and platform, while incentives will still be based on income eligibility.
  • The evaluation team, consisting of NYSERDA evaluation staff and Consultant NMR Group, Inc., will carry out the analysis in consultation with NYSERDA and NFGDC.
  • Direct impacts expect from the pilots/projects funded by NYSERDA are targeted savings of 13,167 MWh of electricity and 667,615 MMBtu of gas, with a budget of $7,555,295 for electricity and $33,282,033 for gas.
  • The CEF Single Family initiatives have a targeted savings of 1,290 MWh of electricity and 67,100 MMBtu of fuel, with a budget of $7,884,100 for fuel-neutral savings.
  • The LIURP program has a targeted gas savings of 57,365 Dth and a budget of $5,490,000.

Statistics:

  • EEPS2 Targeted Energy Savings & Budgets: Electric Savings Target (MWh) - 13,167, Gas Savings Target (MMBtu) - 667,615, Electric Budget - $7,555,295, Gas Budget - $33,282,033.
  • CEF Single Family initiatives 2016 Targeted Savings & Budgets: Electric Savings Target (MWh) - 1,290, Fuel Savings Target (MMBtu) - 67,100, Budget (Fuel Neutral) - $7,884,100.
  • NFGDC Residential ETIP Programs 2016 Targeted Savings & Budgets: Electric Savings Target (MWh) - N/A, Gas Savings Target (MMBtu) - 57,365, Budget (Fuel Neutral) - $5,490,000.

Sources:

  • New York State Department of Public Service document: Program/Initiative Background
  • NYSERDA website: Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES), EmPower New York (EmPower)
  • National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation's (NFGDC) Energy Efficiency Transition Implementation Plan (ETIP)
  • New York State Public Service Commission document: Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS)
  • NYSERDA website: Clean Energy Fund (CEF) Reports