2023 EmPower+ Program Manual

EmPower+ Test-In Form – Can also be generated in NYHEP
Rental Property Agreement – Tenant occupied enrollments; proof of ownership if switched from Audit Install
Utility Bills (electric, natural gas) – Recent 12 months or length of time in dwelling. Required when enrollment savings over 30%
- Energy Usage Waiver – actual bills preferred; waiver is acceptable for delivered fuels only
House Diagram – Must include dimensions; diagram does not need to be on Program document
Appliance Exchange Agreement – Submit on Appliance enrollment when proposing upgrade
Photos – Single aggregated file with labeled photos, template provided does not need to be used. Refer to Section 8.2 for additional information. Required photo list:
- All exterior sides of dwelling
- Refrigerator and nameplate
- Freezer (if present) and nameplate
- HVAC (Heating and Cooling Systems, Water Heater) and associated nameplates
- Pre-existing attic insulation levels
- Other targeted measure(s) for replacement
- Exception requests

SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) Form – IF needed. Required for the replacement of original windows or replacement windows greater than 45 years old or doors AND on a building which is greater than 50 years old with portions of the project visible from public-right of way.

Additional Required Documentation when ASHP/GSHP Heat Pump Proposed
Refer to Section 5.10 for additional details.

Manual J or other ACCA approved sizing software – Detailed summary page generated by approved ACCA Manual J sizing software or spreadsheet designed to the ACCA weather station closest to the project.
House drawings – Used to generate Manual J calculation that show rough measurements of windows, doors, walls either room- by-room or block drawings. Software generated diagrams are acceptable.
- Best Practice References (Residential Heating and Cooling Load Analysis Quality Control Checklist, Common Issues Checklist)
Manual S or equivalent sizing software – Such as NEEP advanced sizing tool or the manufacturer sizing software or manufacturer specification sheet showing unit btu output at design temperature. Must show what % of the building is covered by the installed unit(s). This % of the unit coverage can be calculated and written directly onto an uploaded document if software or specification sheet being used does not show that value.
AHRI certificate for GSHP’s and NEEP certificate for ASHP’s – Products must be AHRI and NEEP listed.
Photos – Include with Workscope Submission photos in a single aggregated file with labeled photos. Required photo list:
- Existing heating system
- Existing ducted systems: geo-tagged photos of the existing main plenum must be submitted for project approval
Utility bills including delivered fuels – Minimum of 12 months of energy usage must be documented. When receipts for un-metered fuels such as wood, pellets, or kerosene are unavailable a customer attestation (Energy Usage Waiver) may be used to estimate consumption and cost of those fuels.

Additional Required Documentation when Additional Incentive for ASHP/GSHP Heat Pump Proposed
Projects must be submitted to the workflow submission step in NYHEP by October 31, 2024, to be eligible for this incentive. Refer to Section 5.10 for additional details.

New ductwork and additional ductwork on existing systems
- Manual D as per ANSI/ACCA 1 Manual D 2016 with AHRI Certification Document
Existing ducted systems
- Accurate measurements of the supply/return and any runoffs from those plenums.
- Ductolator or equivalent measurements based off the CFM of the proposed unit and the size of the existing ductwork – Proving the new system will work effectively with the existing ductwork.
Mini-splits
- Floor plan indicating Internal Head placement for Mini split systems as per Manufacturing specifications.

FINAL PROJECT SUBMISSION

EmPower+ Test-Out Form – Required if any measure other than Direct Install measures were proposed. Generated in NYHEP.

Signed Contract – Required for all moderate- and low-income projects, including audit only. Signed contract needs to align with approved workscope and be signed prior to the start of work. Any workscope changes from the contract must be included in a change order. Sample contract in Section 13.2.
- Where EmPower+ funding is covering the entire cost of the project, contracts with the customer should contain the following statement: “The contract price is being paid by NYSERDA through the EmPower+ program, for and on behalf of the customer.”
- Where EmPower+ funding is paying for a portion of the work, contract with the customer should contain the following statement: “Part of the contract price is being paid by NYSERDA through the EmPower+ program, for and on behalf of the customer.”
Photos – Geo-tagged, time-stamped, labeled and aggregated into a single PDF document. Submissions can be made with a commercial product such as CompanyCam or using the PNNL Quality Install Tool. Alternately, a contractor can create a visible geo-tag/time-stamp for each photo individually and aggregate the photos into a single pdf. Required photo list:
- All installed measures
- Project conditions resulting in the completion of a Field Change Order
- Health and safety issues identified at the start of work that prevent the installation of approved measures.
- Areas that will be made inaccessible following the completion of work
Contractor Invoice – Invoice ProForma Report generated in NYHEP
Subcontractor Invoice(s) – Only required for subcontractor installed measure(s)
Appliance Exchange Agreement – Submit on Appliance enrollment when proposing upgrade

Additional Required Documentation when ASHP/GSHP Heat Pump Installed
Refer to Section 5.10 for additional details.

Manufacturer’s Commissioning Form – Fully completed with dates; if manufacturer’s commissioning checklist not available for installed equipment, a contractor may use the NYS Clean Heat ASHP Commissioning Checklist.
Photos – Include in geo-tagged, time-stamped and aggregated into a single PDF document single aggregated Final Project Submission file with labeled photos. Required photo list:
- Installed unit
- Name plate with clear view of the model and serial numbers
- Removal or disabling of the existing system
- Existing ducted system: photo of static pressure text being completed of the duct system with the new unit in place and the result of the static pressure test
Subcontractor Heat Pump Equipment Invoice(s) – IF using a subcontractor for heat pump installation.
Decommissioning Checklist – Fully completed
Acknowledgement Form Heat Pump Installation