Affordable Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program
Program Overview | How to Participate | Incentive Structure | Become a Participating Contractor | Program Roadmap | Ready to Participate | Resources & Links | Related Information
Program Overview
Driving lower costs and lower carbon emissions for affordable multifamily buildings.
Incentives are now available for eligible projects.
The New York State Affordable Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program is a combined effort of the Joint Utilities of New York and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). By offering incentives for the installation of energy-efficient equipment and technology, we can reduce overall energy use and maintenance costs, while increasing operating efficiencies and improving tenant comfort. Efficient buildings also release fewer carbon emissions, providing a big boost as we work toward New York State’s ambitious climate goals.
The Joint Utilities of New York is a coalition of utilities operating across the state that includes Central Hudson, Con Edison, National Grid, National Fuel Gas, NYSEG/RG&E, and Orange & Rockland.
How to Participate
Determining Project Eligibility
Participation in the program is limited to affordable multifamily buildings with five or more residential units. Affordable multifamily housing is defined as buildings that have regulatory agreements with a housing agency or in which at least 25% of the units are, or are expected to be, occupied by households earning not more than 80% of Area Median Income or State Median Income, whichever is greater.
Supporting documentation, such as regulatory agreements or mortgages from housing agencies, must be provided. Click here for a full list of accepted documentation.
If your building is not developed and maintained as affordable housing, you may be eligible for market-rate incentives. Click here to learn more.
There are two types of pathways, the Comprehensive Pathway, and the Non-comprehensive Pathway, with differing incentive structures. See below for more information on each.
For detailed information, refer to our program manual for overall program rules.
Interested in speaking with someone about a potential project? Submit an interest form to be contacted.
Understanding the Program Incentive Structure
Your project may fall into either of the following pathways: Comprehensive or Non-comprehensive.
The Comprehensive Pathway provides greater incentives while allowing for more significant efficiency upgrades by encouraging whole-building retrofits across multiple building systems (e.g., heating and cooling, insulation, and lighting). Incentives are applied based on a point system. A minimum of 100 points will need to be achieved to fall into comprehensive category. To help affordable multifamily property owners and managers identify energy efficiency opportunities and develop comprehensive scopes of work, energy audits, also known as energy assessments, will be required. Technical assistance is available to offset part of the cost of the audits. See below for more details.
The Non-comprehensive Pathway is available for affordable multifamily property owners and managers interested in completing smaller projects that do not reach 100 points or do not want technical assistance. Incentives for projects in the Non-comprehensive Pathway are determined by the equipment installed and/or energy savings.
Featuring both greater incentives and dramatically improved energy efficiency, the Comprehensive Pathway is for more-intensive whole building retrofit projects. A point designation, which ranges from 5 to 40, has been assigned to each in the table below.
Points Per Measure
| 40 Points Per Measure (High-Value EE) |
30 Points Per Measure (High-Medium Value) |
20 Points Per Measure (Medium Value EE) |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| 10 Points Per Measure (Light-Medium Value EE) |
5 Points (Light Touch EE) |
|---|---|
|
|
Any project that accumulates 100 or more total points qualifies as a comprehensive project. Please refer to the incentive fact sheet for additional information on eligible measures, requirements, and incentive amounts.
Incentive Amounts
Comprehensive project incentives are provided on a dollar per dwelling unit basis, with two tiers of incentives based on a project’s total points. The higher the tier, the higher the incentive amount per dwelling unit. For an example of how this could look, see the tables below.
Example Comprehensive Scopes
| Tier | Minimum Points | Downstate Incentive ($/Dwelling Unit) |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
100 |
$1,500 |
|
2 |
150 |
$2,000 |
Technical Assistance for Energy Audits
To qualify for comprehensive projects energy audits, also known as energy assessments, will be required. These are conducted by approved Energy Providers, which are either a NYSERDA Multifamily Building Solutions Provider or a NYSERDA FlexTech Consultant, before the project begins and can help identify energy efficiency opportunities and determine an initial scope of work. To encourage and support comprehensive projects, we have a list of Energy Providers via the link below. The program covers up to 75% of the costs associated with these assessments by providing:
- A 50% cost share when the assessment is completed
- An additional 25% when the building proceeds with a comprehensive energy retrofit
For a list of eligible energy consultants, click here to find a NYSERDA Multifamily Building Solutions Provider or a NYSERDA FlexTech Consultant.
If a building has recently gone through an energy audit, they may be exempt from this requirement. Examples of eligible audits include ASHRAE Level I, ASHRAE Level II, or an Integrated Physical Needs Assessment (IPNA).
Interested in becoming an eligible energy consultant? Learn more to become a NYSERDA Multifamily Building Solutions Provider or a NYSERDA FlexTech Consultant.
The Non-comprehensive Pathway is available for affordable multifamily property owners and managers interested in completing smaller projects that do not reach 100 points or do not want technical assistance. Incentives for these projects are determined by the equipment installed and/or energy savings. Technical assistance is not required for these projects and there is no minimum points threshold per project.
We also offer free installation in dwelling units of quick, easy measures such as LED lights, low-flow showerheads, and faucet aerators.
Please reference the incentive fact sheets below for current information on eligible measures, requirements, and incentive amounts.
Eligibility Information for Contractors
Contractors are an essential part of this program and are encouraged to become approved as Participating Contractors. Participating Contractors in good standing may be allowed to accept incentive payments on behalf of the customer.
To become eligible as a Participating Contractor, complete a Participating Contractor application and Participating Contractor Agreement and follow the instructions to submit to the utility in your service area.
Roadmap to Completion
For a quick overview of how each milestone fits into the overall program, see below.
Ready to participate or need more information?
If you’re ready to pursue an eligible project, submit an application to the utility that serves your area. Of course, if you have any questions at all or need more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out here before submitting your application.
Please note that if you have separate utility providers for electric and gas service and your project covers both electric and gas measures, the electric utility will oversee and coordinate the entire project. Applications, as well as any questions, should be submitted to the contact information associated with your electric utility or via the email link below.
Resources and links
- Program Manual
- Customer Application
- Contractor Application
- Contractor Agreement
- Incentive Fact Sheets
- Participating Contractors
- Energy Providers
Related Information
National Grid
To apply: Email NationalGridLMI@willdan.com for submission instructions
Questions? Email NationalGridLMI@willdan.com or call 1-844-316-4288