Energy Smart Homes
Reduce your carbon footprint
New York provides a range of solar incentives, including the NY-Sun initiative, a 25% state tax credit, a 30% federal tax credit, exemptions from sales and property taxes, a property tax abatement (available only in NYC), and a beneficial net metering policy. Paying for Solar
What Makes a Smart Building, Smart?
A smart building in New York State uses technology to make the building more efficient, more comfortable, and quite simply a safe place to live.
Here are some of the things we found out about what makes a smart building, "smart":
Energy Efficiency: It uses smart systems to control heating, cooling, lighting, and energy use to save energy and reduce costs.
Automation: It has systems that automatically adjust things like temperature, lights, and security based on occupancy or time of day.
Data and Sensors: It uses sensors to collect data on things like temperature, air quality, and energy use. This data helps improve efficiency and spot problems early.
Security: It has advanced security features, like smart locks and surveillance cameras, to keep the building safe.
Health and Comfort: It ensures good air quality, comfortable temperatures, and lighting for the well-being of people inside.
Regulations: It follows local energy codes and laws, like reducing carbon emissions and using energy efficiently.
Water Management: It can monitor water use and even collect rainwater to reduce waste.
Nearly half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills - and your comfort.
Easy Lifestyle Choices to Start Reducing Carbon Footprint
The EPA's Home Energy Yardstick (HEY) offers a straightforward evaluation of your home's annual energy consumption in comparison to similar homes. By answering a few simple questions about your home, you’ll receive:
Your home's ENERGY STAR score (ranging from 1 to 100, with the average home scoring 50)
Insights into the portion of your energy usage dedicated to heating and cooling versus other daily activities like appliances, lighting, and hot water
Access to ENERGY STAR resources that provide tips on boosting your home's score, enhancing comfort, and reducing utility costs
An estimate of your home's annual carbon emissions
Also, we've included a few handy tips and do-it-yourself game-changers below!
GREEN Growing: Become a Carbon Sink
GREEN Living: You Are What You Eat
According to a report published by the Federal Reserve Bank (May 2024) sixty-three percent of adults said they would cover a hypothetical $400 emergency expense exclusively using cash or its equivalent, unchanged from 2022 but down from a high of 68 percent in 2021. Here are some simple and easy way to both go green and support New York State's green energy industry.
Are You Ready to Save Money, Now?
Three super easy ways to save money and reduce their carbon footprint:
Join Community Solar
Do you like the idea of solar but can't do it because you have trees shading the house (trees are an excellent thing!)? Perhaps you don't want to make the investment in solar or can't handle the hassle? Get solar electricity with no effort or investment! It's free to join and you can opt out at any time without penalty. Plus you'll receive a 10% discount on your Community Solar generated electricity. To learn more click here. It takes no time to sign up and you can take steps today to go solar the easy way.
Join ConEd's GridRewards™ Program
GridRewards™ is a free, award-winning app that connects you to your ConEd electricity usage and enables you to earn cash rewards for reducing your electricity usage. The app provides information about your energy usage, tips and recommendations to reduce it. Importantly, the app is tied to Con Edison’s demand response program, whereby the app alerts you to the peak (or high demand) energy usage times in your area. During these peak times,you can earn cash rewards for taking simple energy actions. There are no fees or penalties and you can quit at any time without strings attached. Click here to learn more.
For a step-by-step walk through of how to load GridRewards™ on your smartphone, click here. To watch the Ardsley CAN Neighbor for GridRewards™ webinar click here.
Choose a Renewable Power Provider today
Ardsley participates in Sustainable Westchester's Westchester Power program which means that you can choose to have 100% renewable, affordable New York State hydro-power as your electricity source, delivered via ConEd. Click here to learn more. Pair this with Community Solar and reap even more savings.
Enroll in SmartCharge NY for your EV charging and ConEd will send you money
SmartCharge NY is a ConEd program that sends you money for charging your electric vehicle during off-peak times. Not only is the off-peak rate lower, but you will be rewarded with additional cash each month. Enroll and save.