Association for Energy Affordability, Inc. (AEA) and GRID Alternatives Tri-State, Inc. announced the launch of the Energy Efficiency and Solar Partnership (EESP). 

The nonprofit partnership will combine AEA's expertise in energy efficiency with GRID Alternatives' low-income solar model to provide low-cost energy efficiency and solar power to owners and managers of affordable multifamily housing in the New York region. 

Up-front costs, lack of access to capital, and complex financing requirements remain significant barriers preventing this sector from tapping available technologies. EESP will leverage philanthropic funding and government and utility energy efficiency program funding to cover or substantially reduce the costs of technical assessments, design services, and system installation. Projects will provide job training and energy efficiency education opportunities for residents and community members. 

"Upgrading or replacing inefficient or deteriorated building systems to optimize their performance is a critical first step that increases occupant comfort and reduces the energy and water consumption of the building and their associated costs. This paves the way to design a solar energy system that can now supply a larger share of the building's energy requirements and further reduce both owner and resident utility bills," said David Hepinstall, executive director of AEA. 

"By offering both solar and energy efficiency we will serve our shared mission of reducing the burden for low-income New Yorkers who pay the largest portion of their income in energy costs," said Peter Mandelstam, Executive Director of GRID Alternatives Tri-State. 

Through EESP, the partners will install multifamily affordable solar projects in 2017 and facilitate additional projects through technical assistance and coordination with the Weatherization Assistance Program. The EESP is eligible for funding through NYSERDA's statewide NY-Sun program supporting solar energy system installations. Under Governor Andrew Cuomo's leadership, NY-Sun aims to add more than 3,000 megawatts installed solar capacity by 2023, or enough solar energy to power 400,000 homes. 

"The EESP is an exciting initiative that offers the potential for developing a model for the successful integration of energy efficiency and solar PV to lower energy costs and enhance comfort for residents of affordable multifamily housing," said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. "Partnerships like this are critical to achieving Governor Cuomo'sReforming the Energy Vision, for energy that is cleaner, more affordable, and more resilient for all New Yorkers." 

"The collaboration between AEA and GRID Alternatives Tri-State embodies OneNYC's spirit of inclusive climate action," said Mark Chambers, Director of the NYC Mayor's Office of Sustainability. "By pairing energy efficiency services with solar energy products, this effort will help keep housing costs more affordable while enhancing energy independence and accelerating a whole-city transition toward Mayor de Blasio's ambitious goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050." 

AEA | www.aea.us.org

GRID Alternatives | www.gridalternatives.org/multifamily