Energy.gov

Long Island Power Authority offers a variety of incentives for its non-residential customers to increase the energy efficiency of facilities through the Commercial Efficiency Program. Major renovations of existing buildings and new construction projects are both eligible for this program, with new construction incentives being slightly reduced compared to existing building incentives. There are several paths to choose from in the program, each one designed to fit the needs of a particular customer.

NYSEG is offering its residential electric customers rebates for recycling refrigerators, and its multifamily customers free CFLs and 50% off common area lighting equipment. See the program website for details or call for refrigerator pick-up or lighting rebates.

NYSEG offers a lighting incentive program designed to serve small business customers with a demand of 100 kilowatts (kW) or less. These small business customers may schedule a free energy assessment and then receive a 70% discount on the installed cost of recommended lighting measures. Eligible lighting measures include the retrofitting of fluorescent fixtures, replacement of upgrades from incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, and the replacement changing of illuminated exit signs with light emitting diode (LED) signs.

NYSEG and RG&E offer rebates to non-residential customers installing energy efficiency equipment that pay a natural gas Systems Benefits Charge (SBC). Both prescriptive rebates and custom incentives are available. These rebates are being offered due to the June 2008 New York State Public Service Commission order to meet New York's Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard. The goal is to reduce statewide energy use by 15% by 2015.

NYSEG is offering residential natural gas customers rebates for installing energy efficient equipment. Customers can complete one rebate application for multiple pieces of equipment as long as they are not the same type of equipment. Most products must be installed using a licensed contractor or a contractor that can supply either a Federal ID number, a Certificate of Insurance or a Business Certificate. Customers can refer to the ENERGY STAR Web site for tips on how to find the right contractor.

NYSERDA offers a program to encourage more industry involvement in the building of Energy Star rated Homes. Incentives are available for newly constructed residential dwellings of 3 stories or less that are located with the service territory of an electric or natural gas utility that collects the System Benefits Charge (SBC) or the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) surcharge.

'''''Note: The Federal Housing Financing Agency (FHFA) issued a [http://www.fhfa.gov/webfiles/15884/PACESTMT7610.pdf statement] in July 2010 concerning the senior lien status associated with most PACE programs. In response to the FHFA statement, most local PACE programs have been suspended until further clarification is provided. '''''

In July 2012 New York enacted legislation allowing municipal corporations to exempt green buildings from real property taxes. It is important to note that this law allows but does not require local governments to extend favorable property tax treatment to green buildings. In order for the exemption to apply, a municipal corporation must first adopt an ordinance this effect.

New York enacted legislation in July 2005 exempting the sale and installation of residential solar-energy systems from the state's sales and compensating use taxes. The exemption applies to solar-energy systems that utilize solar radiation to produce energy designed to provide heating, cooling, hot water and/or electricity. In 2012 the exemption was also extended to commercial solar energy systems, effective January 1, 2013. The exemption does not apply to solar pool heating or other recreational applications.

Section 487 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law provides a 15-year real property tax exemption for solar, wind energy, and farm-waste energy systems constructed in New York State. As currently effective, the law is a ''local option'' exemption, meaning that local governments are permitted decide whether or not to allow it. The exemption was mandatory prior to a 1990 reenactment in which the local option clause was added.