Click on the image above to explore this fascinating interactive map of energy use by building across the city. Usage was calculated statistically, based on this study on spatial distribution of urban energy consumption (in other words, no utility records or private information was used). Congratulations to Professor Vijay Modi and PhD student Bianca Howard of the Modi Research Group at Columbia- the map’ been featured in the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal and CNET.

Join us Tuesday, January 31, for the first 2012 event in Solar One’s and NYC ACRE’s cleantech discussion series Clean Energy Connections: No Money No Problems? Financing Cleantech in the Post-ARRA Era.

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2011 7:00pm-9:00pm (doors open at 6:30p)
The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC
44 Charlton Street, New York, NY 10014
General Admission: $25, Students: $10

Register for your advanced tickets here
A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

The beginning of 2012 ushers in a new era in renewable energy funding. Section 1603 Treasury Program is dead in the water thanks to a gridlocked Congress, and low tax appetites have hamstrung potential investors. As we move into an uncertain financial landscape, where will today’s renewable energy upstarts find funding for their projects and companies? Will private financing step in to sustain the industry’s momentum? How can the considerable financial power of New York City take a leadership role? Financial experts will examine these issues and offer a realistic assessment of where cleantech is headed now that the federal buck has stopped.

A networking reception will follow the panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Opening Speaker:
- Nathanael Greene, Director of Renewable Energy Policy, Natural Resources Defense Council

Panelists:
- Izzet Bensusan, President and CEO, Karbone
- Ann Davlin, Director of Development, Carbon War Room
- Jason Scott, Partner, EKO Asset Management Partners

Moderator:
- Michael Molnar, Partner, Greentech Capital Advisors

Can’t make it? Greentech Media is the media sponsor for this series and will host a free live web stream of this event at www.greentechmedia.com. Questions for the panelists and comments can be submitted via Twitter@CleanECNYC, #CleanNRGx.

No Money No Problems? is the first event of the second season of the cleantech discussion series Clean Energy Connections. Clean Energy Connections is a program of Solar One and NYC ACRE at NYU-Poly that brings together professionals, policymakers, investors and academia to explore major topics shaping NYC’s blossoming cleantech industry, and provides an expert forum to share best practices and new inspirations.

Starting January 30, New Yorkers will be able to conveniently finance energy-efficient upgrades to their homes through a charge on their electric bill. On average, this charge will be less than the money saved by the improvements, so participants should not see their bills rise on a yearly basis. And if you act soon, you won’t have any payments due until June 2012.

This is the new On-Bill Recovery Loan Program, which we explained in November. The program will be available to homeowners who are customers of Central Hudson Gas and Electric, Con Edison, Long Island Power Authority, New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, National Grid (upstate NY customers only), Orange and Rockland, and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation. The program will soon be offered to small businesses, not-for-profits, and multifamily building owners, although it is not yet available for these groups.

NYSERDA recently released the details of the On-Bill Recovery program, which offers lower interest rates than its current financing programs.  For a rundown of the newly released details and an explanation of how the program will benefit you, continue reading after the jump.

Directed by Cambria Matlow and Morgan Robinson and originally screened in collaboration with Rooftop Films and IFP, the film tells the story of 26-year-old Daniel Dembele, who decides to return to his homeland in Mali and start a local business building solar panels.  As it follows his progress from startup to viable business, the film touches on themes of climate change, poverty, and African self-sufficiency.  Check out the trailer:

Congratulations to Cambria and Morgan on getting their film in front of a nationwide audience! Also check out our update from March that features a 7-minute video by Morgan called “Burning In The States” focusing on the efforts of local NYC students building small-scale projects.

EmPower New York services are provided free to households earning 60 percent or less of the statewide median income (HEAP eligible). Services include high-efficiency lighting, replacement of inefficient refrigerators and freezers with new ENERGY STAR® qualified models, heating system upgrades, insulation and air sealing, and health and safety testing to ensure the home is properly ventilated and gases are not escaping into the living space. To ensure quality, all EmPower New York services are provided by Building Performance Institute (BPI)-accredited contractors, and the work is reviewed to make sure it has been done correctly.

Applicants may apply directly or be referred to the program by participating utilities, local Offices for the Aging and Weatherization Agencies. Energy efficiency services are prioritized based on the potential for cost-effective energy usage reduction. For additional information call 1-800-263-0960 or request an application online. For more information on all NYSERDA programs, call the Energy $mart Communities Coordinator at 212-785-0734.

Read the complete NYSERDA Announcement

The money awarded by the DOE is for SunShot NY, a two-phase $3.4 million dollar plan that aims to increase the accessibility and affordability of solar for New York City residents by driving down administrative costs.

Phase 1 will shorten NYC’s approval process for solar installations by creating an online multi-agency permit tracking portal. Development of the portal will involve the support and collaboration of 30 organizations that are part of the solar industry, including utility companies, installers, government agencies, and industry leaders. Once completed, it will remove delays in city installations, cutting down the permitting processes from one year to 100 days. These changes will significantly increase the rate of new solar installations in NYC.

For more information on the award, you can read the press release here. You can also check out the DOE’s page about the Rooftop Solar Challenge, where you can see info about the other 22 award winners.

Following Governor Cuomo’s creation of 10 Regional Economic Development Councils in July last year, the newly created New York City Economic Development Council developed a plan to stimulate economic development and job growth in the region. On December 8, state agencies announced the funding awards that will put the plan into action, and New York City received over $66 million.

Many of the projects that received funding in New York City and around the state will reduce electricity use and promote sustainability. We are pleased to announce that Solar One received $229,000 for its Solar 2 project. The funding will go toward installing a green roof on Solar 2, a new energy positive and net-zero water use environmental learning center that will replace Solar 1 in Stuyvesant Cove Park.

This project grew out of our Green Design Lab project that was recently highlighted in the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere. Now, the Greenhouse project will be taken to a new level thanks to a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $16,500.

Check out this awesome video from the Wall St Journal about Solar One’s Green Design Lab program in the NYC Public schools! You can also read the article HERE at WSJ Online.

Big thanks to the NYC DOE and to all the partners and funders who have helped us this program a success. And congratulations to the Education Team on their incredible work!

Join us this Wednesday for the 6th event of Solar One’s and NYC ACRE’s cleantech discussion series Clean Energy Connections: EVs in NYC: What Roll-out Strategies Work Best for the Big Apple?

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011 7:00pm-9:00pm (doors open at 6:30p)
The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC
44 Charlton Street, New York, NY 10014
General Admission: $25, Students: $10

Register for your advanced tickets here
A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

New York City has the nation’s largest hybrid vehicle fleet and the best access to public transportation in the United States. City officials and Con Edison are planning for widespread adoption of electric vehicles and its impact on the electric grid. This event will focus on fleet-based approaches for electric vehicles, charging infrastructure challenges, and what this roll-out means for grid-scale storage and reliability issues.

A networking reception will follow the panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Opening Speakers:
- Christina Ficicchia, Executive Director, New York City and Lower Hudson Valley Clean Communities
- Keith Kerman, Deputy Commissioner, New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS); New York City’s first Chief Fleet Officer

Panelists:

- Brian Asparro, Chief Financial Officer, Green Charge Networks
- John Shipman, Department Manager, Electric Vehicle Programs, Con Edison
- Brett Gipe, Regional Sales Director, Eastern U.S. & Canada, Smith Electric Vehicles
- Anatol Feygin, Vice President, Energy Strategist, Loews Corporation

Moderator:
- David Leeds, Senior Manager, Smart Grid Research, Greentech Media

Can’t make it? Greentech Media is the media sponsor for this series and will host a free live web stream of this event at www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/evs-in-nyc-what-roll-out-strategies-work-best-for-the-big-apple. Questions for the panelists and comments can be submitted via Twitter@CleanECNYC, #CleanNRGx.

EVs in NYC is a part of the cleantech discussion series Clean Energy Connections. Clean Energy Connections is a program of Solar One and NYC ACRE at NYU-Poly that brings together professionals, policymakers, investors and academia to explore major topics shaping NYC’s blossoming cleantech industry, and provides an expert forum to share best practices and new inspirations.

Our friends at Build It Green NYC have opened a new retail location in Gowanus! Visit bignyc.org for all the info and directions. And, if you are thinking of heading over this weekend to check it out, why not time your visit to coincide with our Community Solar Day photo, to be taken in front of the Build It Green entrance at 2PM on Sunday, November 20. See you there!

Show the world that your community supports solar power! On November 20th, Solar One is partnering with Solar Mosaic, 350.org, Vote Solar, and others for the first Community Solar Day: Occupy Rooftops, a day for people around the world to come together at a building they want to help go solar and start creating local jobs and clean energy through a community solar project. Here is how it works:

1.) Find a building where you want to see solar in your community. (To figure out just how much solar it can support, use the NYC Solar Map.)

2.) Get together an allstar community solar team of your friends and neighbors

3.) Snap a picture in front of or on top of (stay safe and legal people!) your dream community solar project

4.) Post that photo to meetup.com/Community-Solar and/or email to theteam@solarmosaic.com

NYSERDA is currently developing the on-bill financing program, which will available to the public in 2012. In the meantime, you can access the NYSERDA Green Jobs Green NY programs for audits and financing.

Want to know more? 

Chances are, unless you read our newsletter very carefully, you haven’t heard of on-bill financing. The concept was included in the Power NY Act of 2011 signed into law by Governor Cuomo in early August, and NYSERDA is currently evaluating how to implement an on-bill financing program, but it has received sparse coverage in the media.

Nonetheless, on-bill financing is something you should know about. It is one of the most significant energy-related laws to pass in recent years. In a Sept. 27 speech in Albany, Former President Bill Clinton touted the bill saying, “This on-bill financing is a very big deal that I think every region should maximize.”

So, what is it and what’s the big deal?

At its simplest, on-bill financing is a way for New Yorkers to pay for energy-efficiency improvements of their homes or businesses through a charge on their monthly utility bills (hence “on-bill” financing). What makes it so exciting is that it’s an easy system to navigate, allowing wide-scale participation, and the improvement work is paid for by the energy savings that it creates. That means you don’t have to put down any money up front and you probably won’t see your utility bill rise.

How can you take advantage of on-bill financing?

The on-bill system won’t be rolled out until next year, and the details are still being finalized by NYSERDA. To get an idea of how it might work, however, we can take a look at NYSERDA’s current programs and see where on-bill financing fits in.

Let’s say you’re a homeowner. You might be interested in making some efficiency improvements around your house to save money on your utility bills, for example if you replaced all your incandescent bulbs with CFLs or upgraded to a new boiler. But how would you know how much you would you save?

If your household income is less than $124,600 per year, you currently qualify for a free assessment of your home’s energy performance through the Green Jobs/Green New York program. A contractor will come to your home and examine the energy efficiency of everything inside, including your lighting, appliances, insulation, boiler and other heating/cooling systems. The contractor will then provide you a list of recommendations for efficiency improvements you could make, along with the amount of money you would save with each one.

To apply for this evaluation, also called an energy audit, simply fill out this form and send it to the address in the bottom left corner. If you qualify, you will receiver a reservation number. Bring this number to a BPI-certified contractor who participates the program, and the contractor will arrange your free assessment. You can find a participating contractor near you here.

Once you receive the list of energy efficiency recommendations from the contractor, it’s up to you which, if any, of the suggestions you decided to implement. They will be listed in descending order of the amount of time it will take for the savings on your utility bill to pay back the cost of doing the work. At the top, you might see changes to your lighting, which often offers the quickest payback. At the bottom, you might see replacing windows, which generally has the slowest payback.

If you decide to follow through on some of the recommendations, NYSERDA already offers several ways to help pay for them. The first step is to go over the improvements you want to make with a participating contractor. It could be the same contractor who performed your energy assessment, or you could find a different contractor who participates. Once you have decided on your contractor, you will work with him or her to develop a “Scope of Work” document, which describes the improvements you will make and their projected energy savings. NYSERDA will review this, and, if approved, you can explore the financing options.

You could be eligible to receive 10% cash back up to $3,000 through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR^® program. But even if you qualify, you might need to take out a loan to help pay for the work. Currently, NYSERDA offers low-interest loans of up to $25,000 per homeowner through Green Jobs/Green New York program. You can even apply online.

This is where on-bill financing will fit in. Although the details are still getting worked out, the idea is this: instead of taking out a traditional loan to pay for the work and then paying it back in installments, you would instead pay no money up front and pay for the work via a charge on your utility bill. The law requires this charge to be less than the projected average monthly savings that come from the energy efficiency upgrades. This means that you probably won’t notice any change in the amount you’re paying. As long as your usage remains the same, the efficiency savings will pay for the work you had done. Once the work is paid off, the savings will be even greater.

One of the reasons many people hold off on upgrading the efficiency of their home is that they don’t know how long they will live there. If you have doubts about whether you will live in a house long enough for efficiency savings to pay for the work you had done, you might hesitate to make the investment. With on-bill fiancning, you won’t have to worry. The charge applied to your utility bill through on-bill financing remains attached to the property, even after it is sold. That way, you can start enjoying the savings immediately without wondering whether you’ll stick around long enough for them to payoff completely.

If you own a business or run a non-profit, the mechanism will be similar. As with current NYSERDA incentives and financing options for businesses, they will likely be different than those offered to homeowners. For assistance with the different programs, contact your area’s NYSERDA Energy $mart Communities Coordinator (for Manhattan and Staten Island, contact Solar One at 212-785-0734, for other areas of New York State refer to the Energy $mart Communities website).

We will be discussing on-bill financing more in the coming weeks, so check back regularly for updates.

Photo Credit: © All rights reserved by Governor Andrew Cuomo

Online ticket sales for Clean Energy Connections’ “Biomimicry in the Big City” will close at 4pm today. If you haven’t bought yours yet, go here to register. If you missed your chance to register online, there will be a limited number of tickets available at the door. Be sure to arrive early!

If you can’t make it in person tonight, be sure to follow along online. We had previously posted a livestream.com link for the web cast, but this has been changed. To view the live web stream of Biomimicry in the Big City, visit the Greentech Media article about the program here. The video will be embedded about a half hour prior to the event’s start.

If you haven’t heard about Biomimicry in the Big City, check out the description on the Clean Energy Connections website. Here are the logistical details:

Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 7:00pm-9:00pm (doors open at 6:30p)
The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC
44 Charlton Street, New York, NY 10014
General Admission: $25, Students: $10

Join us this Thursday for the 5th event of Solar One’s and NYC ACRE’s cleantech discussion series Clean Energy Connections: Biomimicry in the Big City: Can Nature Inspire Cleantech Solutions?

Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 7:00pm-9:00pm (doors open at 6:30p)
The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC
44 Charlton Street, New York, NY 10014
General Admission: $25, Students: $10

Register for your advanced tickets here
Order in advance because only a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Humans have always looked to nature for inspiration in industry and progress. By observing nature, we have developed better machines, materials and buildings to improve our world. Only recently, however, have we begun to explore the potential of observing nature to advance clean-energy technology. Entrepreneurs, investors and biomimetic designers will discuss how companies are utilizing biomimicry to design, build and operate innovative cleantech technologies. Join us as experts explore the benefits and challenges of this new collaborative model and dive into the best strategies for success.

A networking reception will follow the panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Opening Speaker:
- Miriam Pye, Senior Project Manager of Manufacturing Technology Development, NYSERDA

Panelists:
- Sam Cochran, Co-founder, CEO & Chief Design Officer, SMIT
- Mark Dorfman, Consulting Scientist, Biomimicry 3.8
- Chris Garvin, Partner, Terrapin Bright Green
- Pat Sapinsley, Venture Partner, Good Energies; President, Build Efficiently, LLC

Moderator:
- Reena Jana, Contributing Editor, SmartPlanet, a CBS Interactive site

Can’t make it? Greentech Media is the media sponsor for this series and will host a free live web stream of this event at www.livestream.com/greentechmedia. Questions for the panelists and comments can be submitted via Twitter @CleanECNYC, #CleanNRGx.

Biomimicry in the Big City is a part of the cleantech discussion series Clean Energy Connections. Clean Energy Connections is a program of Solar One and NYC ACRE at NYU-Poly that brings together professionals, policymakers, investors and academia to explore major topics shaping NYC’s blossoming cleantech industry, and provides an expert forum to share best practices and new inspirations. The event partner for Biomimicry in the Big City is Terrapin Bright Green.

Get your spooky fun on this Friday at BuildItGreen!NYC’s brand-new space in Gowanus, Brooklyn! From 3-6pm, kids can stop by the BIG!NYC/GrowNYC costume swap and trade their old finery for new, plus watch family-friendly Hallowe’en films, do some eco-crafts (Solar One will be making cardboard animal masks), play games and much more!

Then at 7pm, it’s time for more adult fun at BIG’s costume fundraiser. Tickets start at just $10 and are available HERE!

BIG!NYC Costume Swap and Fundraiser
Friday October 28, 2011
Costume Swap at 3pm, Fundraiser at 6pm
69 9th Street, Brooklyn
Get directions HERE!

How can smart co-ops and condos turn pressure to “go green” into an opportunity to reduce costs and comply with new codes?

Solar One and the Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums (CNYC) are hosting another Intro to Green workshop for co-ops and condos at 7:00pm on October 13. This two-hour workshop will present cost-effective ways to reduce energy expenses and have a healthier, greener building; details on the NYSERDA Multifamily Performance Program for energy efficiency retrofits and financing; an overview of new green laws and code changes; and strategies for engaging owners in the greening process.

Date: Thursday, October 13, 2011
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: New York Society for Ethical Culture
2 W. 64th Street, New York, NY 10023
Register

If your building wants to go green but doesn’t know where to start, this is the workshop for you. We hope to see you there! See below for how to register, or check out the Intro to Green website to learn more. Pre-registration is required due to limited space.

This workshop is free for residents of CNYC member buildings. If your building is a CNYC member, please register by contacting CNYC at (212) 496-7400 or info@cnyc.coop. For questions about the workshop, call Solar One at (212) 785-0734 or email jeff@solar1.org.

There is a $30 fee for non-CNYC members. Please sign up by clicking here.