Step 1:
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY

Community Choice Aggregation and Buying Green Power

Community choice aggregationCommunity Choice Aggregation (CCA) allows local governments to obtain power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider.     Resources:
Hudson Valley Community Power
Find Local Energy Service Companies
More (CCACommunity Choice Aggregation (CCA) allows local governments to obtain power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider.     Resources:
Hudson Valley Community Power
Find Local Energy Service Companies
More) is when a local entity purchases clean energy on behalf of the entire community or region, allowing many homeowners at once to be supplied with clean energy.

Action for this Step

• If your town has joined a CCACommunity Choice Aggregation (CCA) allows local governments to obtain power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider.     Resources:
  Hudson Valley Community Power
  Find Local Energy Service Companies
  More to buy 100% green electricity, you are already participating.
• If your town has not yet joined a CCACommunity Choice Aggregation (CCA) allows local governments to obtain power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider.     Resources:
  Hudson Valley Community Power
  Find Local Energy Service Companies
  More, encourage the town board to do so.

Resources

1. Hudson Valley Community Power
2. Westchester Power
3. Finger Lakes Community Choice
4. Community Choice Aggregation Toolkit for municipalities

Step 2:
HOME OR COMMUNITY SOLAR

Community solarUnlike traditional solar, where panels are installed on your roof or property, community solar is installed at an offsite location. You can subscribe to the community solar project and receive credits on your regular electric bill for the clean energy produced. Resources: Hudson Valley Community Power Solar for All (low income) Buyer’s Guide to Community Solar in NY (2017) Community More is a subscription to get your home’s power from a solar farm. This can result in up to 10% on your electricity bill.

Solar PV is a good option for those that have a suitable roof and can take advantage of tax credits.

ACTION FOR THIS STEP

• Signing up for community solarUnlike traditional solar, where panels are installed on your roof or property, community solar is installed at an offsite location. You can subscribe to the community solar project and receive credits on your regular electric bill for the clean energy produced. Resources: Hudson Valley Community Power Solar for All (low income) Buyer’s Guide to Community Solar in NY (2017) Community More is quick and easy.
• See additional documents for more information that can help you search for a local solar PV contractor

Resources

1. Community Solar
   1. Hudson Valley Community Power
   2. Solar for All (low income)
   3. Buyer’s Guide to Community Solar in NY (2017)
   4. Community Solar vs Green Electricity
2. Home Solar
   1. Home solar FAQ
   2. Solar financing guide [pdf]

Step 3:
BUILDING INSULATION and AIR SEALING

Your home energy efficiency can be one of the easiest things to identify and improve.

ACTION FOR THIS STEP

Many contractors low cost, or even free, energy audits. This is a great way to evaluate your home for any areas that can and should be upgraded

RESOURCES

1. DIY energy audit
2. Community Energy Advisors

Step 4:
EFFICIENT LIGHTING &  APPLIANCES

Lighting is considered a “low hanging fruit”. This means that while replacing the bulbs in your home is a low cost, it can contribute greatly to your home’s energy efficiency.

ACTION FOR THIS STEP

Purchase CFLA CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) is a light bulb which lasts 10 times longer than standard bulbs.  More or LEDAn LED (Light-emitting diode) is a type of lightbulb which lasts 5o times longer than standard bulbs. Resources: CenHub Store
Choose a light guide
More lightbulbs

RESOURCES

1. Lighting
   1. CenHub Store
   2. Choose a light guide
2. Appliances
   1. Get paid to recycle your refrigerator or freezer
3. Wood stoves, pellet stoves and fireplace inserts

STEP 5:

VEHICLES / TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is responsible for about 30% of nation wide emissions. Driving less, biking, or using public transportations are easy, and cheap ways to reduce the fossil fuel output from transportation.

ACTION FOR THIS STEP

• Be EV ready. The next time you have electrical work done at the home, ask the electrician to install an EV charger or a charger ready circuit.
• Browse the 40+ new & used models to make your next car electric.

RESOURCES

1. Charging
   1. EV Ready recommended outlet: NEMA 14-50 (Outdoor)
   2. EV Ready recommended outlet: NEMA 14-50 (Indoor)
   3. Guide to home EV Charging stations
   4. CenHub Store
   5. Find public chargers near you: PlugShare.
2. New Electric and Plug-in electric
   1. PlugStar.com
   2. Drive Electric Hudson Valley
   3. Drive Change, Drive Electric (includes info on every make & model)
3. Used EVs
   1. Plug in America Buyer’s Guide to find the make/model that’s right for you.
   2. Surprisingly affordable electric vehicles.
   3. Ebay Motors Electric is very useful to browse electrics.
   4. CarMax used EVs
4. 511 NY Rideshare
5. Public transport
   1. Ulster County Area Transit
6. Bikes and Electric bikes/scooters
   1. Revolution Bicycles, Kingston

STEP 6:
HEATING AND COOLING

Heating and cooling in the home can be the largest consumption of energy and carbon within the home. Making sure these systems are efficient and clean is important to making the home carbon free.

ACTION FOR THIS STEP

• If replacing a boiler, furnace, or AC unit, consider installing a cold climate-rated air-source heat pumpThese transfer heat from outside rather than converting it from fuel. Resources: • Air Source Heat Pump Buying Guide
  .
• If you use a gas fireplace, a wood burning fireplace, or a wood stoveA self-contained heating appliance that produces heat through wood combustion. Resources: • EPA Wood burning stove guide
  • Mid Hudson Fuel Buying Coop
    More that is over 10 years old, replace with an EPA 2020 qualifies wood stoveA self-contained heating appliance that produces heat through wood combustion. Resources: • EPA Wood burning stove guide
  • Mid Hudson Fuel Buying Coop
    More or wood pellet stoveAn appliance that produces heat through the burning of organic materials, such as food or wood waste. Resources: • Wood stoves, pellet stoves and fireplace inserts
  • Wood & Wood Pellet furnaces/boiler program
  More.

RESOURCES

1. Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps
   1. Central Hudson incentives
   2. Cold Climate rated heat pump list
   3. Air Source Heat Pump Buying Guide from NEEP (Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership)
2. Geothermal/Ground Source Heat Pumps
   1. Choosing and installing (US EPA)
3. Wood/Biomass heat
   1. Alliance for Green Heat
   2. EPA Wood burning stove guide
   3. Wood Pellet Stove program
   4. Wood & Wood Pellet furnaces/boiler program
4. Mid Hudson Fuel Buying Coop – save money on fuel oil and propane until you can stop using them.
5.  Finally Fossil – Fuel – Free: Air-to-Water Heat Pump & Ventilation Retrofit – Self Study Online Course

Step 7:
HOT WATER

Hot Water consumption can be responsible for almost a fifth of the home’s energy use. Because they are often powered by natural gas, this can also be a large source of carbon emissions

ACTION FOR THIS STEP

Replace your water heater with a heat pumpThese transfer heat from outside rather than converting it from fuel. Resources: • Air Source Heat Pump Buying Guide
, hybrid water heater, electric on demand water heater, solar water heater, electric tank water heater, or auxiliary heater run off a high-efficiency wood or wood pellet furnace

RESOURCES

1. Heat PumpThese transfer heat from outside rather than converting it from fuel. Resources: • Air Source Heat Pump Buying Guide
   Water heaters
   Central Hudson information and rebate forms
   How it works- US EPA
2. Solar hot water

Step 8:
APPLIANCES: COOKING and CLOTHES DRYING

Your home has many energy consuming appliances for laundry and cooking. Making sure that these products are energy efficient is the easiest way to reduce your consumption.

ACTION FOR THIS STEP

• Use ENERGY STAR® rated appliances, and use the eco setting.
• Hang clothes to dry when possible

RESOURCES

1. a. Induction ranges and hot plates
2. b. Electric convection vs. conventional electric

Clothes dryers

Step 9:
APPLIANCES: YARD and POWER EQUIPMENT

Although not as high of an emitter as other steps, reducing your yard and home energy use and emissions remains an important step towards reaching 100% clean renewable energy.

ACTION FOR THIS STEP

Choose electric for small tools and power equipment such as lawn mowers, snow blowers, generators, chainsaws, and more.

RESOURCES

Battery electric yard equipment brands

Step 10:
LEARNING and SHARING

While it is the final step, Learning and Sharing is the follow through to the first nine steps. By sharing what you have learned through your own process, others will be more informed and better equipped to make the switch themselves.

ACTION FOR THIS STEP

• Start learning about these options so you are prepared when ready to switch.
• Share what you have learned with neighbors, friends, or others in the community.

RESOURCES

a. Local environmental groups – Get involved

1. Catskill Mountain Keeper
2. Citizens for Local Power
3. New Yorkers for Clean Power
4. Scenic Hudson
5. Riverkeeper
6. Sustainable Hudson Valley

b. Airline travel

Offsets

c. Fossil Fuel Free investing

1. AltEnergyStocks.com
2. https://fossilfreefunds.org/