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Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program

Program Overview

Driving lower costs and lower carbon emissions for affordable multifamily buildings. Incentives 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.

We’re offering incentives for the installation of energy efficient equipment and technology so you 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 toward New York State’s ambitious climate goals.

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.

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.

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:

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.

PROGRAM PATHWAYS

Comprehensive pathway	Non-Comprehensive Pathway
Ideal for large projects or whole building retrofits Offers higher incentives and a mid-project incentive payment Points-based incentive structure; must meet 100-point minimum Money-per-dwelling unit incentives Energy audit is required to help identify scope of work; incentives are available to offset the cost of the audit	Ideal for smaller upgrades of a few measures, projects that do not hit the 100-point minimum for the Comprehensive Pathway Incentives determined by equipment installed and/or energy savings

Comprehensive Pathway Incentive Structure

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.

COMPREHENSIVE PATHWAY POINT ALLOCATION PER MEASURE

40 points per measure	30 points per measure	20 points per measure	10 points per measure	5 points per measure
Window replacement Insulation (roof) Insulation (wall) Boiler replacement	Domestic hot water heater replacements	Energy management system (EMS) Hot water and steam pipe solution Central cooling Elevators Ventilation such as energy recovery ventilators	Air sealing Orifice plates Steam traps TRVs HVAC electric controls (BMS, thermostats) Motors and drives	Boiler clean & tune Common area lighting In-unit direct install measures such as faucet aerators, showerheads, LEDs Appliances (stoves, refrigerators, washer/dryers, dishwashers)

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.

COMPREHENSIVE PATHWAY INCENTIVE

Tier	Minumum points	Downstate incentive ($/dwelling unit)	Upstate incentive ($/dwelling unit)
1	100	$1,500	$900
2	150	$2,000	$1,200

Technical Assistance for Energy Audits

To qualify for comprehensive projects energy audits, also known as energy assessments, will be required. These are conducted by NYSERDA-approved Energy Providers before the project begins and will identify energy efficiency opportunities to 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.

For a list of eligible Energy Providers, 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 II or an Integrated Physical Needs Assessment (IPNA).

Interested in becoming an eligible energy provider? Learn more to become a NYSERDA Multifamily Building Solutions Provider or a NYSERDA FlexTech Consultant.

Non-Comprehensive Pathway incentive structure

The Non-Comprehensive Pathway is available for affordable multifamily property owners and managers interested in completing smaller projects that do not reach 100 points. 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 measure, 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.

COMPREHENSIVE PATHWAY

Step 1	1. Check eligibility 2. Submit an initial application
Step 2	3. Choose an energy provider to support the development of the scope of work 4. Energy provider works with the owner to develop the scope of work
Step 3	5. Finalize the scope of work 6. Receive a preliminary incentive offer letter 7. Design new systems, hire contractors and submit cut sheets
Step 4	8. Pre-construction inspection 9. Receive a notice to proceed 10. Install equipment 11. Receive mid-project incentive payment (optional)
Step 5	12. Submit completion paperwork 13. Post inspection and final engineering review 14. Receive incentive payment

NON-COMPREHENSIVE PATHWAY

Step 1	1. Check eligibility 2. Choose a contractor 3. Submit application package
Step 2	4. Pre-inspection and initial engineering review 5. Receive a notice to proceed / Preliminary offer letter 6. Install equipment
Step 3	7. Submit completion paperwork 8. Post inspection and final engineering review 9. Receive incentive payment

Ready to participate or need more information?

If you’re ready to pursue an eligible project, or need more information, email CentralHudsonMultifamily@Willdan.com.

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.

*A coalition of utilities operating across the state, including Con Edison, Orange & Rockland, Central Hudson, National Grid, National Fuel Gas, and NYSEG/RG&E. Con Edison supports enrollments from customers in New York City and Westchester County, including those with Con Edison electric service and National Grid gas service.