To: REA Contractors
Regarding Programs: REA Program
Summary: Revised REA Audit Tool (Excel File)
Contact: homeaudits@nyserda.ny.gov
A new version of the Residential Market REA Tool is available on the contractor website with an update to the ASHP calculator. We recommend all contractors use the updated version as the old version will no longer be accepted as of February 15, 2023.
To: Contractors and Stakeholders
Regarding Programs: EmPower New York & Assisted Home Performance
Summary: NY Home Energy Portal Timeline Announcement
Contact: Please contact your Account Manager
In Spring 2023 the Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®, EmPower NY, and the Residential Energy Assessment Programs will be migrating from the current project portal (Uplight) to a new portal called the NY Home Energy Portal. The new portal will have many features requested by contractors and should help quicken project approval and closure times.
To efficiently move to the new portal, there are a number of steps needed to migrate project data from the current system to the new system. Below is an estimated timeline of the transition, which is current based on the best information we have available at this time. As some of these factors are outside of NYSERDA’s control, this timeline is subject to change slightly. Please note, this timeline is updated from what was presented at the January 6, 2023, program webinar.
January and February 2023– NYSERDA will be working with the portal contractor to finalize the design and functionality of the portal and continue internal testing.
March through Mid-April– Voluntary testing is available to contractors and appliance vendors while internal NYSERDA testing continues. If you are a contractor or vendor interested in participating in this testing (which will be on sample projects), please email Scott Oliver at scott.oliver@nyserda.ny.gov.
Late April– Submitted customer applications will continue to be approved but will not be assigned out to contractors in Uplight for 1-2 weeks.
April 30– Contractors will have until 5:00 PM to submit documentation for completed projects or assessments in the Uplight portal.
May 5– Payments issued for all completed projects/assessments in the Uplight portal
Week of May 8– NY Home Energy Portal opens. For EmPower and Assisted Home Performance, all projects that were at the workscope submission stage or earlier in Uplight will be available in the new portal. New assignments of customers will begin.
Week of May 15– Payments begin for projects and assessments completed in the NY Home Energy Portal
June 1– Projects that were awaiting final completion in the Uplight portal will be migrated to the NY Home Energy Portal. Contractors can access these projects and continue the submission process, once projects are complete
NYSERDA realizes that this change will disrupt business practices for many contractors. We will developing additional materials to provide you with information about this transition. We encourage everyone to engage with your Account Managers.
To: Contractors
Regarding Programs: EmPower New York & Assisted Home Performance
Summary: Monthly Contractor Check-in
Contact: empower.residential@nyserda.ny.gov
NYSERDA Single Family Programs Update
Friday, March 3, 2023
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. ET
Event number: 2598 720 9155
Event password: Energy1
All attendees must register prior to joining the event. This process will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar and provides each individual with a custom link to join the meeting. Please do not share your link with anyone. To register, click the link below:
March 3-Single Family Residential Programs Update Webinar Link
All webinars are recorded and links to the recordings are available on the Contractor Support site.
To: Contractors
Regarding Programs: All Residential Programs
Summary: Certification requirements to complete energy assessments in the Single Family Residential Programs
Contact: Please reach out to your account manager
Starting April 1, 2023, NYSERDA will require that all contractor staff completing energy assessments through EmPower+ will be required to hold at least one of the following certifications. This will continue to be a requirement of the Residential Energy Assessment and Comfort Home Programs.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your account manager.
To: Contractors
Regarding Programs: All Residential Programs
Summary: BPI new certifications and Program requirements
Contact: Please reach out to your account manager
Building Performance Institute (BPI) will be replacing the BPI Building Analyst (BA) and BPI Envelope Professional certifications with the BPI Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) and the BPI Building Analyst Professional (BA-P) in early 2023.
Due to these changes, starting January 1, 2023, NYSERDA’s Single Family Residential Programs will continue to accept the BPI BA and Envelope certifications until the certification’s expiration date. When an individual’s certifications expire, they will be required to hold one of the BPI certifications listed in the program manual to perform energy assessments and BA-P will replace BPI Envelope as the requirement for a contractor to do building shell work.
BPI will be providing an additional overview of their certification changes on NYSERDA’s January 6th contractor call.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your account manager.