Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Program Manual

EmPower+ Program Dense Packing Wall Cavity Updates 

Events, Training Opportunities and ConferencesArchive
EmPower+Archive
Residential Energy AssessmentsArchive
Comfort Home PilotArchive
Green Jobs – Green New York Residential FinancingArchive
General AnnouncementsArchive

Program/s: EmPower+  
To: Participating Contractors 
Summary: EmPower+ Program Dense Packing Wall Cavity Updates 
Questions: Please Contact Contractor Support at 1-800-284-9069 

Beginning December 1, 2024, the EmPower+ program will no longer provide incentives for the dense packing of wall cavities or ceiling slopes in instances where the cavity includes pre-existing insulation that does not allow for the proper installation of the proposed material to achieve the final R-value according to the insulation manufacturer specifications and workscope submitted to program.  

To be eligible for EmPower+ incentives wall cavities proposed for insulation upgrades must have a minimum void depth of 2 inches. 

Building component example that does NOT qualify

  • 2×4 wall cavity that has 2 inches (or more) of pre-existing fiberglass insulation. 

Building component example that DOES qualify

  • 2×6 wall cavity that has 3 inches (or less) of preexisting fiberglass insulation.   

Floor cavities located above an attached or tuck-under garage, above unconditioned spaces, and cantilevers are exempt from this Program rule. Contractors still must verify there is space in the existing cavity to add the proposed insulation upgrade by providing photos of the available space in the floor cavities.  

Assessment 
Contractors must conduct a thorough assessment of wall cavities or ceiling slopes before proposing these areas for additional insulation work through EmPower+. 

  • The assessment must document the type, condition, and R-value of the existing insulation and be included in the Existing Conditions section of the Workscope Submission step in NYHEP. 

Compliance 
Workscope submissions that include the dense packing of wall cavities or ceiling slopes where the proposed cavity includes pre-existing insulation must include photos of the existing wall cavity conditions to support that the combined R-value and density of new and existing insulation will meet manufacturer installation specifications. 

NYHEP Workflow 

Workscope Submission 
All wall cavity or ceiling slope insulation proposals involving pre-existing insulation must be submitted for approval as part of the workscope submission. NYHEP will be updated so wall insulation measures are not auto approved.  At the Workscope Submission step, contractors must submit clear photos of the open space in the cavity, via a borescope or other industry practice(s). IR camera images alone will not be accepted.  

Final Project Submission 
Geo-tagged post-installation photos must be provided in the single PDF submitted in NYHEP at the Final Project Submission workflow step to verify compliance with the approved proposal and manufacturer specifications. Photos must include clear detail of installed insulation prior to sealing off wall cavity or ceiling slope access point. 

Expected Outcomes 
Program expects contractors to fill 100% of each cavity achieving the final R-value included in the workscope submission while meeting the required insulation manufacturer specifications. 

  • As best practice, contractors are advised to provide the customer with a dated manufacturer insulation receipt signed by the installer that minimally includes Installed insulation type, coverage area, installed thickness, minimum settled thickness, installed R-value, and number of bags installed at the home at time of final project completion. 
  • Contractors are asked to keep a record of this on hand for any projects that include this type of measure receiving incentives through the program. 

Non-Compliance  
Contractors installing insulation in wall cavities or slope surfaces that included pre-existing insulation and are non-compliant with the updated guidelines will be required to cover the cost of the insulation. 

  • Charging the customer for the non-compliant measure will not be permitted. Incentives paid for the non-compliant measure will be reimbursed by the contractor. 
  • Additional disciplinary action may be taken against the contractor according to the current Program Manual. 

This update was covered in the November 1, 2024, Contractor Webinar which can be found here.  Prior to the effective date, Sections 5.18 and 8.2 of the Program Manual will be updated to reflect these program changes. If there are any questions, please reach out to Contractor Support at 1-800-284-9069. 

Project Photo Requirements Update

Events, Training Opportunities and ConferencesArchive
EmPower+Archive
Residential Energy AssessmentsArchive
Comfort Home PilotArchive
Green Jobs – Green New York Residential FinancingArchive
General AnnouncementsArchive

Program/s: EmPower+
To: Participating Contractors
Summary: Project Photo Requirements Update
Questions: Please contact Contractor Support at 1-800-284-9069.

Effective for EmPower+ final project submissions on or after October 1, 2024, project photos will need to be time-stamped, geo-tagged and aggregated into a single document for submission to the program. A single PDF document for each project is required to be submitted and can be made using a commercial product such as CompanyCam or the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory  Quality Install Tool | PNNL. Alternately, a contractor can create a visible geo-tag for each photo individually and aggregate the photos into a single PDF.

EmPower+ project submission photo requirements were covered as part of the Single-Family Residential Program webinars on September 6, 2024, and October 4, 2024. Recordings of the webinars are located here. As a correction note, on the October 4, 2024, webinar, it was indicated that for heat pump projects, a geo-tagged photo of the existing plenum was required at project submission, this was an error, Program does not require photos of the existing plenum to be geo-tagged. The posted slide deck and any program materials will be updated to reflect this.

Section 8.2 of the Program Manual has been created to provide information on photo requirements for energy assessments and project submissions.

If there are any questions, please contact Contractor Support at 1-800-284-9069.

Introducing MyEnergy: Your New Tool for NYSERDA Residential Program Applications

Events, Training Opportunities and ConferencesArchive
EmPower+Archive
Residential Energy AssessmentsArchive
Comfort Home PilotArchive
Green Jobs – Green New York Residential FinancingArchive
General AnnouncementsArchive

Program/s: EmPower+
To: Participating Contractors
Summary: MyEnergy platform will go-live on October 25, 2024
Contact with Questions: Please contact [email protected]

We are excited to introduce you to MyEnergy, a platform designed to enhance residential customer engagement with home and building clean energy improvements. The initial rollout of MyEnergy will support New York households by enabling residents to find clean energy home improvement incentives and connect with a participating contractor. Over the coming year, we will be enhancing MyEnergy with new features and resources to better connect residents and contractors to a broader range of clean energy programs.   

With a MyEnergy account, residents can initially

  • Submit an EmPower+ and/or Appliance Upgrade Program application
  • Search for a participating contractor or retailer
  • Find a Clean Energy Regional Hub
  • View NYSERDA residential rebate and incentive options
  • Get help with the EmPower+ and/or Appliance Upgrade Program application process

Effective October 25, 2024, participating contractors can begin using MyEnergy to complete the following actions:

  • Submit an EmPower+ and Appliance Upgrade Program application on behalf of a resident 
  • Access submitted EmPower+ and Appliance Upgrade Program applications and projects to provide status updates
  • Determine a resident’s eligibility for EmPower+ and Appliance Upgrade Program
  • Submit Appliance Upgrade Program sales documentation
  • Get support by submitting questions regarding NYSERDA programs, applications, or support with the MyEnergy portal

Upcoming Training Opportunities: Training opportunities will be offered in October to ensure you can make the most of the MyEnergy platform. Stay tuned for upcoming communications with details on how to register.

Important Considerations:

  • Comfort Home Applications: Applications for the Comfort Home Program will be available on MyEnergy in 2025. In the meantime, residents eligible for the Comfort Home program will be guided to NYSERDA’s Find a Contractor page. From there, they can connect with a certified contractor who will assist in conducting an assessment and identifying potential energy-saving projects.
  • Multifamily Residential Program: Applications for the Multifamily Residential Program will be available on MyEnergy in 2025. A separate communication will be distributed for this effort.

MyEnergy Recorded Demonstration:

During our Contractor Check-In on September 9, 2024, we conducted a demonstration of MyEnergy where we highlighted the numerous benefits of the platform. The session covered essential topics such as navigating the interface, submitting applications, and more! To watch the demonstration, please follow this link: https://hpwescontractorsupport.com/webinars.

We look forward to your active participation in the upcoming training sessions. Together, we can ensure a smooth transition and continue to provide exceptional service to New York residents.

Heat Pump Update to Required Documents

Events, Training Opportunities and ConferencesArchive
EmPower+Archive
Residential Energy AssessmentsArchive
Comfort Home PilotArchive
Green Jobs – Green New York Residential FinancingArchive
General AnnouncementsArchive

Program/s: EmPower+
To: Participating Contractors
Summary: Heat Pump Update to Required Documents
Questions: Please contact Contractor Support at 1-800-284-9069.

In Section 5.10 of the Program Manual, the following change is effective immediately. Under Air Source/Ground Source Project Documentation-Pre-Installation Requirements, the requirement for item 2. has been changed to the following:

     2. Manual S or equivalent sizing software such as NEEP sizing or the manufacturer sizing software for the equipment being installed that shows the % of load covered by the unit and % covered by supplemental heater if applicable.

If there are any questions, please contact Contractor Support at 1-800-284-9069.

Updated EmPower NY Pricing and Fuel Rates

Events, Training Opportunities and ConferencesArchive
EmPower NY & Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STARArchive
Residential Energy AssessmentsArchive
Comfort Home PilotArchive
Green Jobs – Green New York Residential FinancingArchive
General AnnouncementsArchive

To: Contractors and Stakeholders
Regarding Programs: EmPower New York & Assisted Home Performance
Summary: Updated EmPower NY Pricing and Fuel Rates
Contact: Please contact your Account Manager

EmPower NY pricing was reviewed and updated to reflect changes to several variables including national inflation and consumer price index (CPI) data, market price research, supplier letters detailing price increases. The updated list can be found in the Program Manual on the Contractor Support site.

Fuel rates have been updated and posted on the Contractor Support website in the Program Manual. They are based on a three-year average and for cost effectiveness calculations, NYSERDA uses volumetric charges including supply (commodity), transmission and distribution, and other charges applied based on the supply volume. The updated fuel rates were also posted in the Program Manual.