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Program Announcement

The Residential Energy Assessment Program has updated the Assessment Tool

To: Participating Auditors
Regarding Programs: Residential Energy Assessment Program
Summary:  The Residential Energy Assessment Program has updated the Assessment Tool. A new version is available now and must be used by November 1, 2022. Training and updates materials are now available.
Contact: [email protected]

This announcement contains important information about updates to the Residential Energy Assessment Tool.  

The Residential Energy Assessment Program has updated the Assessment Tool in three ways:  

  1. In support of the Climate Act, NYSERDA has made updates to the Residential Energy Assessment Program that supports informing customers about options for electrification of homes.  This aligns with measure updates made to NYSERDA’s income-eligible residential programs earlier this year, and measure updates being made to the Green Jobs – Green New York Residential Financing Program. 
  2. To support the Green Jobs – Green New York Residential Financing Program’s new Web ProForma, updates have been made to provide contractors with the necessary ProForma inputs.  
  3. General enhancements to usability and bug fixes. 

This version is required to be used by the new Web ProForma Plus for Green Jobs – Green New York Residential Financing. For all other uses of this tool through the Residential Energy Assessment Program, NYSERDA encourages the use immediately and will require its use by November 1, 2022. No earlier versions will be accepted after that date. 

Beneficial Electrification Updates 

In support of New York’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and to align with changes to the Green Jobs – Green New York (GJGNY) Residential Financing Program, the following previously announced changes have been made to the upgrade options: 

  1. In homes with natural gas space heating, the upgrade options are now high efficiency gas equipment or air source heat pump(s). 
  2. In homes with any space heating fuel other than natural gas, the only upgrade option is air source heat pump(s). 
  3. In homes with natural gas water heating, the upgrade options are now high efficiency gas equipment or heat pump water heater. 
  4. In homes with any water heating fuel other than natural gas, the only upgrade option is heat pump water heater. 

A fact sheet for home electrification has been created for contractors to provide to homeowners along with each energy assessment.  A copy can be downloaded from here.  Provide a PDF copy or hard copy to each customer. 

Updates Supporting Loan Web ProForma Plus 

To support the new online GJGNY Loan Web ProForma, the Loan Step 2 tab has been updated. This tab now contains the dollar savings per measure and energy savings by fuel type data that are required to complete the Web ProForma.   

Workflow: 

Step1:   Use the Data Collection tab to complete the assessment.  Click the Data Collection Complete Proceed To Next Step button. 

Step 2:  Use the Loan Step 1 tab to select the upgrade(s) being financed and their cost(s). 

Step 3:  Use the information on the Loan Step 2 Web ProForma Inputs tab to complete the web loan ProForma. 

General Enhancements 

  1. Several tab labels have been simplified:  The tab used for data collection is now labeled Data Collection.  The tab that displays the customer report is now labeled Summary Report. 
  2. Several on-screen messages have been added or updated to display when a recommended upgrade is missing or inappropriate. 
  3. The total heat pump capacity must be aligned with the home’s heating load. If the value entered in the heating capacity field is too large or too small, a message will display indicating that you must enter a heating capacity value that falls in this range. 
  1. When specifying an upgrade to air-source heat pump(s), the design temperature is now populated automatically based on the home’s Zip Code.   
  2. Several on-screen tool tips have been added or updated. 
  3. An issue with some thermostat upgrade scenarios has been resolved. 
  4. The logic supporting the interaction of primary A/C and room A/C has been improved. 
  5. The messaging around floor insulation, basement wall insulation, and crawlspace wall insulation has been improved. 
  6. Available water heater efficiency values have been updated to support higher efficiency equipment. 
  7. Primary supply and return duct location dropdown lists include an option labeled “Condition Space (all ducts)”. Use this option if the home has ductless mini-split heat pump(s). 
  8. The Notes field has been updated to allow easier text entry. 
  9. To support future residential electrification efforts, fields have been added to document the electrical panel type and main breaker size.  Gather and enter this information for each home.  At this time, this is a data collection portion only. This information does not print on the Summary Report and no upgrade fields are available.  
  1. When data entry is complete, click the button to move on to the next tab in the Excel workbook file.  Entries on the Data Collection tab will be automatically checked and messaging will display if any required fields are not completed. 

If a macro security message displays, use the information from this webpage to learn how to enable macros for the NYSERDA Residential Energy Audit Tool:   

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/a-potentially-dangerous-macro-has-been-blocked-0952faa0-37e7-4316-b61d-5b5ed6024216

If you’re unable or uncomfortable enabling macros, the Tool will still work.  Use the Excel tabs at the bottom of the screen to navigate to the Summary Report. 

  1. An issue with the Print function has been resolved. 
  2. NYSERDA is updating terminology and the program name to better describe the market-rate evaluation and recommendations as a Residential Energy Assessment.  Throughout the documentation, Excel™ tool, and customer report, the term Assessment replaces the word Audit. 

Training Materials, Webinars and Office Hours 

NYSERDA has updated the User Guide for the Energy Assessment Tool to reflect these changes.  

NYSERDA is hosting webinars about this update and online office hours to answer questions you may have.  Once-monthly webinars will also be hosted to provide new user training for auditors or energy advisors new to the program or this tool.  Use the links below to access the webinars and office hours.  Registration is not required. 

August 2022 Release Webinar Focus:  Changes in this release of REA tool Webinar Link (All webinars use the same link)
Wednesday, August 31, 2022       3:00 to 4:00pm WebEx: https://nyserdany.webex.com/meet/keith.bohling   
Audio only: Call                   (415) 655-0003   Access code    924 360 023 
Friday, September 2, 2022            9:00 to 10:00am 
Tuesday, September 27, 2022      3:30 to 4:30pm      
Friday, October 28, 2022              1:00 to 2:00pm
Office Hours (Open Q&A) and New User Training Link  (All events use the same link) 
Online Office Hours (open for Q&A): Thursday, September 8, 2022         3:00 to 4:00pmWebEx: https://nyserdany.webex.com/meet/keith.bohling   Audio only: Call  (415)655-003Access code  924 360 023
Online Office Hours (open for Q&A): Wednesday, October 5, 2022          8:30 to 9:30am
New User Training: Tuesday, September 20, 2022         8:30 to 10:00am
New User Training:Thursday, October 20, 2022           10:30 to 12:00pm

Reminders 

  • The Residential Energy Assessment tool requires complete data entry on the Data Collection tab in order to make accurate modeling calculations.  If messages display or the results on the Summary Report aren’t what is expected, review yellow existing condition fields on the Data Collection tab.  Ensure that all fields are filled in and the entries are accurate. 
  • For the best experience, it is important to use the latest version of the tool directly from https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Become-a-Contractor/Become-a-Participating-Auditor and keep Microsoft Excel updated.   

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]   

Assisted Home Performance/EmPower New York Contractor Check-in

Assisted Home Performance/EmPower New York Contractor Check-in

Date and Time:Friday, September 9, 2022 8:30 am
Event Number:2598 729 6273
Event Password:Energy1
Call-In Number:+1-415-655-0003

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:
 
https://nyserdany.webex.com/nyserdany/onstage/g.php?MTID=e14fa1d3637aa4643e6a3dad661c79ca1

All webinars are recorded and links to the recordings are available on the Contractor Support site.

GJGNY Financing and Audit Changes to Eligible Measures

To: Contractors offering NYSERDA Green Jobs – Green New York (GJGNY) Residential Loans
Regarding Programs: Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® (AHP), GJGNY Residential Financing Program, NY-Sun, NYS Clean Heat, Comfort Home, Residential Energy Audit Program
Summary: GJGNY Financing and Audit Changes to Eligible Measures
Contact: [email protected]

Note – Date Change!

The 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection (Climate Act) calls for a major reduction in the use of fossil fuels for vehicles, buildings, and power plants to help protect our communities and ensure a sustainable future for every New Yorker. By doing our part, we’ll lower harmful emissions in the air we breathe while transforming New York’s economy, creating new jobs, and building more resilient communities.

In support of the Climate Act, NYSERDA is making the following changes to the Green Jobs – Green New York (GJGNY) Residential Financing Program and the Residential Energy Audit Program, effective September 14, 2022. 

Green Jobs – Green New York (GJGNY) Residential Financing Program Changes

  1. Fossil fuel heating equipment

NYSERDA will end GJGNY financing for delivered non-natural gas fuel heating equipment (oil, propane, kerosene, wood), except in a “no-heat” situation for low- to moderate-income (LMI) customers (customers with a household income of less than or equal to 80% of the Area Median Income).  A “no-heat situation” is defined as a home where the primary heating source is inoperable, and the home cannot be served by the OTDA Home Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) program.  Market-rate customers (customers with household income > 80% AMI) will not be eligible for the “no-heat exception”.

  1. Natural gas furnaces

For installed natural gas furnaces, NYSERDA will now require electric savings from ECM motors included in the work scope, be 96% efficient, and replace a furnace that is 80% efficient or less. Mobile Homes may use 95% mobile home rated furnaces.

  1. Fossil fuel water heating equipment

NYSERDA will only provide financing for heat pump water heater (HPWH) and electric resistance domestic hot water equipment.  Financing will end for fossil fuel water heaters except in health and safety situations where power vent natural gas water heaters may be installed when HPWH are not viable.  It is recommended that electric resistance heaters only be used in those cases when a HPWH cannot be installed, and the existing water heater is non-functioning.  Only HPWH will be considered a prequalified measure. 

  1. Electric to natural gas dryer conversions

No longer eligible for financing

See the updated list of the measures eligible for financing, effective September 14, 2022.  If you have any questions about these changes, please contact Heather Clark at [email protected] or 518-862-1090 ext. 3253.

Web ProForma Launch

To: Contractors offering NYSERDA Green Jobs – Green New York (GJGNY) Residential Loans
Regarding Programs:Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® (AHP), GJGNY Residential Financing Program, NY-Sun, NYS Clean Heat, Comfort Home, Residential Energy Audit Program
Summary: Web ProForma Launch
Contact: [email protected]

NYSERDA is getting closer to the rollout of our new web-based ProForma, to support the Green Jobs – Green New York (GJGNY) Residential Financing Program. The new platform, called Web ProForma Plus, will replace the current Excel ProForma.

Due to some technical issues the launch of the Web ProForma Plus will be delayed until September 14, 2022.  A step-by-step Web ProForma Plus User Manual and a pre-recorded training video will be posted on the Resources for Participating Contractors page upon the Web ProForma Plus launch.  NYSERDA will be hosting live training sessions on the new platform to provide contractors with an in-depth walk through of the process.  Information relating to these training sessions (dates, times, and meeting links) will be sent out in the coming weeks.

Due to the delay in the Web ProForma Plus launch, the Excel version ProForma will continue to be accepted after the launch of the Web ProForma until October 17, 2022.

If you have any questions about these changes, please reach out to [email protected], or contact Heather Clark, 518-862-1090 ext. 3253.Thank you for your continued support and cooperation in making GJGNY Residential Financing Program a success.

Residential Energy Audit Program Changes

To: Participating Contractors in the Residential Energy Assessment Program
Regarding Programs: Residential Energy Assessment Program
Summary: Residential Energy Audit Program Changes
Contact: Laura Geel at [email protected] or 518-862-1090 ext. 3446

Residential Energy Audit Program Changes

Audit Tool Updates:

  • Fossil fuel space and water heating equipment will no longer be a recommended upgrade
  • Fuel switching to natural gas will no longer be a recommended upgrade
  • Additional supplemental information will be available to homeowners to explain options to upgrading to heat pump technologies

An updated Assessment tool will be available on August 31.  Additional details and training materials will be sent next week.

If you have any questions about the Residential Energy Audit program changes, please contact Laura Geel or call 518-862-1090 ext. 3446.