Assembly Gives Final Passage To Three-Way Legislation To
Promote Green Home Building

State grants encourage homes to 'go green' when building and renovating,
benefiting both the environment and economy

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Energy Committee Chair Kevin Cahill announced that the Assembly gave final passage to legislation as part of an agreement with the Governor and the Senate to encourage the construction of new homes and the renovation of existing homes to meet "green building" standards.

The bill (A.10684), sponsored by Cahill, creates a program through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) that will provide financial incentives to state residents who agree to "go green" when building new homes or renovating existing homes. Builders and homeowners who take advantage of these new incentives will reduce energy and greenhouse gas production while also preserving natural resources. They can also lower material costs, reduce waste, improve indoor air quality, and reduce indoor and outdoor pollution.

"Green buildings are constructed to lower a home's environmental impact and reduce energy use in a way that results in economic benefits," said Silver. "New York is setting the standard to encourage new buildings that are designed and constructed to be energy efficient and minimize their impact on the environment. This measure will include an incentive to New Yorkers who build or renovate their homes to meet these green building standards. The Assembly Majority applauds Governor Paterson for making this an important issue for the future of our state."

"One of the quickest and most effective ways we can cut back on energy costs and carbon emissions is by rethinking the way we build and renovate our homes," said Cahill. "Sustainable green building practices are no longer a luxury, they are a necessity for our economic, environmental and energy security. The program will give homeowners and builders the incentives to make green buildings the standard going forward."

The amount of the grants will be based on a number of considerations, including the size and type of the residential structure. New York law currently has an incentive program in place to promote green buildings for commercial use, but this is the first program designated to bring incentives to residential homes.

NYSERDA will administer the program and adopt rules and regulations in consultation with state agencies. They will develop standards and criteria for eligibility, application procedures, awards and award levels, inspection procedures, documentation and compliance requirements, and training and qualification procedures for builders and technicians.