Archive: Business & Technology

Tompkins Community Action’s Energy Services has been awarded over $300,000 towards our Weatherization Assistance Program; this award is part of a nationwide effort to encourage the installation of renewable energy systems and cutting-edge energy efficiency technologies in homes, which will help families save even more on their energy bills. On Thursday, August 19th, 2010, the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it is awarding nearly $120 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) dollars to 120 organizations nationwide.

TCAction is one of three organizations in New York State slated to receive a portion of these funds under the Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC) grants. These grants are intended to drive innovation under the DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program by supporting new pilot projects and enabling successful weatherization agencies such as TCAction to expand their current programs.

“We’re excited that DOE and DHCR selected us for this pilot, and TCAction is exploring a few avenues with building owners to ensure a good fit for this historic effort,” states Lee Dillon, TCAction’s Executive Director. 

TCAction completed its first renewable energy project in February 2010, when we partnered with the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and Community Housing of Ithaca to weatherize three affordable housing units on Spencer Road in Ithaca. In one of those townhomes, our Energy Services crew installed high degrees of insulation, a 95% efficient heating system, and a domestic water system heated by solar panels on the roof. These measures will mean very low utility bills for the tenants, even in the winter.

In addition to this new grant, TCAction has received almost $2.4 million in ARRA funding for its Energy Services. This funding has allowed our Energy Services crews to exceed expectations; we are projected to weatherize 340 homes in Tompkins County before 2011.  TCAction was selected as one of three organizations in NY, in part, because of our proven ability to meet and exceed production schedules.

TCAction’s Energy Services helps consumers save money on their housing costs by improving the energy efficiency and comfort of their homes. TCAction has been providing weatherization services in Tompkins County for over 30 years. The Weatherization Assistance Program is free to Tompkins County homeowners and renters, and low cost for landlords. Our BPI certified technicians can provide energy improvement measures such as insulation and air sealing; ENERGY STAR® refrigerators; CO and smoke detector installation; and electric and water reduction measures; heating system repairs and replacements; and hot water repairs and replacements.

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