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Monday, December 5, 2011
NYSERDA Boosts Contractors, Creates a Skilled Clean Energy Workforce
The story of BrightHome Energy Solutions, LLC (BrightHome) exemplifies NYSERDA's success in supporting small business growth and workforce development in the clean energy field.
Mike Brown, Partner, Bright Home Energy Solutions from Elizabeth Silleck on Vimeo.
New Yorkers know the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) best for injecting millions of dollars into the state economy for direct support of clean energy projects in buildings and homes. While NYSERDA continues to provide funding for retrofits, energy efficient construction and renewable energy installations, it might get less attention for its other efforts — namely, business and workforce development. The story of BrightHome Energy Solutions, LLC (BrightHome) exemplifies NYSERDA’s success in supporting small-business growth and workforce development in the clean energy field.
In the midst of a struggling economy, business is good at BrightHome. Since 2009, the company has created 30 jobs in Westchester County. As a result, the county has 30 formerly unemployed people who have steady income and possible career prospects in the clean energy sector.
One of those jobs went to a disadvantaged worker who received NYSERDA-funded workforce development training at the Osborne Association. BrightHome also hired employees through workforce development initiatives of the Westchester/Putnam Workforce Investment Board, Sustainable South Bronx and WestCOP.
A key ingredient to BrightHome’s success is its participation in NYSERDA’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program, which requires participating contractors to be accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI).
“Home Performance training really gave us a foundation for doing energy efficiency work and enabled us to measure the results,” explained Mike Brown, partner at BrightHome.
Home Performance training teaches contractors to view the house as a system, understanding that changes to one part of the home can and do affect the home’s performance overall. As Brown explained, “It’s all about how things interact with each other — we see this house as a living organism with a life span. We want to figure out how to make it last as long as possible.”
One essential diagnostic strategy used by Home Performance contractors is the Comprehensive Home Assessment, which uncovers health, safety and energy-usage data used to determine appropriate energy-saving improvements. NYSERDA is currently offsetting the cost of Comprehensive Home Assessments to homeowners across the state, so contractors like BrightHome can provide them for free or at reduced cost, depending on the homeowner’s income.
In addition, NYSERDA supports a network of training sites across the state and reimburses half the cost of BPI technician certification. Depending on available funding, additional training incentives may be available for certain regions. NYSERDA also helps contractors ramp up their businesses by assisting with initial equipment costs and by providing co-operative marketing dollars.
“Last year alone, NYSERDA reimbursed us about $9,000 toward our marketing activities. We’ve invested in newspaper ads, television, website banners and signage on our vehicles,” Brown remarked.
Once a contractor has successfully obtained BPI accreditation and is approved to participate in NYSERDA’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program, the contractor’s clients have access to cash incentives, low-interest financing and, for those who are income-eligible, direct subsidies of up to 50 percent of project costs. NYSERDA’s customer incentives are vital to BrightHome’s business.
“Between the financing at 3.49 percent interest and the cash incentives, I have one client right now who is investing in insulation, air sealing, a high-efficiency heating unit and air conditioning system with no out-of-pocket cost. What’s more, the projected energy cost savings will offset the annual loan payments,” said Brown.
BrightHome was formed exclusively as a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractor, but many participants in the program had already been in business for years as home improvement contractors before signing up with NYSERDA. A full list of participating contractors can be found at www.nyserda.ny.gov. You’ll always want to do your homework before engaging any contractor.
BrightHome’s experience with NYSERDA is an example of a public/private partnership that is achieving measurable results. The business is growing, and formerly unemployed people have jobs working on projects that reduce energy use.
For more information about how to become a participating Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractor or general questions about NYSERDA, contact your local Energy $mart Communities Coordinator at Elizabeth.Silleck@gmail.com.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
BrightHome's Mike Brown Explains the Benefits of an Energy Audit on WCBS Channel 2 in New York
Thursday, September 22, 2011
BrightHome Energy Solutions Expands To Long Island To Help Homeowners Reduce Energy Usage
Sound Beach, NY – BrightHome Energy Solutions, an Elmsford, New York based home energy solutions company, is proud to announce that it is expanding its operations into Long Island. The company has helped countless homeowners across New York and New Jersey increase their homes’ comfort and energy efficiency and navigate the complicated world of green rebates and tax credits.
“Many homeowners are intimidated by the complex-sounding language around tax credits and rebates for energy efficiency improvements,” said Tom Brown of BrightHome Energy Solutions. “We have the expertise to help homeowners make sense of these incentives to maximize their energy efficiency investments.”
BrightHome is well versed in program incentives for Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), National Grid, the Town of Babylon and NYSERDA’s Green Jobs Green New York (GJGNY). In fact, through GJGNY, BrightHome is able to offer unsecured loans of up to $25,000 at rates as low as 3.49% for energy efficiency improvements and many customers qualify for free audits. BrightHome’s Energy Saving Consultants does the work to save customers the most money.
In addition, homeowners can still take advantage of a 10% rebate on qualifying energy-saving improvements of up to $30,000 with the Home Performance with Energy Star program.
BrightHome Energy Savings Consultant Tom Brown knows there’s more to energy efficiency improvements than just savings. “Our services can make your home more comfortable, reduce drafts and uneven temperatures, eliminate musty smells and even reduce allergens in your home.”
About BrightHome Energy Solutions
BrightHome Energy Solutions, headquartered in Elmsford, NY, offers energy efficiency solutions to residents in New York State. All key team members are trained in building sciences and green weatherization techniques. BrightHome offers a comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort at home, giving you the most bang for your buck, while protecting the environment.
BrightHome consultants are accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI). BrightHome offers the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program, a state and national program from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
BrightHome is a registered trademark. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
Contact:
Tom Brown
74 Hempstead Drive
Sound Beach, NY 11789
631-849-6303
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Governor Cuomo Unveils $8 Million Household Appliance Recovery Program
Eligible Equipment & Appliances | Rebate |
Refrigerators (ENERGY STAR) | $350 |
Clothes Washers (ENERGY STAR) | $250 |
Clothes Dryers w/Moisture Sensor (higher efficiency) | $250 |
Dehumidifiers (ENERGY STAR) | $100 |
Furnace (ENERGY STAR) | $2,000 |
Boiler (ENERGY STAR) | $2,500 |
Hot Water Heater Tanks (electric- higher efficiency; gas- ENERGY STAR) | $400 |
More information available on the Governor's website:
http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/09152011StormRecovery
If you have any questions about the new program or for more information, contact a BrightHome team member at (914) 909 - 5300.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Record Highs Don’t Have to Mean Record High Electric Bills
One of the best ways to keep your air conditioner from having to work as hard is by making sure your home is properly air sealed and insulated.
“When your home isn’t properly air sealed, cool air can escape through cracks, gaps and spaces,” says Tom Brown, an Energy Savings Consultant with BrightHome Energy Solutions. “Heat can seep into your home the same way. That means your air conditioner has to work that much harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.” And we all know that the harder your air conditioner works, the higher your electricity bills will be.
But how do you keep from spending a fortune air conditioning your home if your cool air is slipping through the cracks? Brown recommends having your home’s envelope inspected to detect problem areas. BrightHome has a variety of tests available, including a blower door test and infrared thermal imaging.
Once your problem spots have been identified, you can have professionals like the certified energy experts at BrightHome seal and insulate your home to keep cool air in, hot air out and your electricity bills down. BrightHome technicians use smart, effective, affordable materials that do the most work for the best price, including closed-cell foam, foam board and loose blown cellulose insulation.
Bob from Valhalla, New York can attest to the benefits of sealing and insulation. “Best decision I ever made with regards to the house,” he says. “Plus, the house is much more comfortable…and I sleep easier knowing my house isn't wasting energy like it used to.”
Theses changes won’t just work for you during the summer months either. The same air sealing and insulation that keeps heat out and cool in during the summer will keep heat in and cold out during the winter months. Do the work now and you won’t have to worry about cold spots, drafts and high heating bills when winter rolls around. You’ll feel the benefits all year long.
And finally, let’s not forget the air conditioning unit itself. Air conditioners require regular maintenance to keep them running at peak condition. Having your air conditioner serviced by a company like BrightHome can create a noticeable increase in its performance and in turn a noticeable decrease in your electricity bills. And if it turns out that your air conditioner is in bad enough shape, or that it’s just too inefficient even at peak performance, BrightHome can install a high efficiency air conditioning unit that could reduce your cooling costs by up to 30%.
There’s no need to sweat high electricity bills any longer. It’s time to maximize your energy efficiency dollars and minimize your energy costs.
BrightHome can help you take advantage of Con Edison rebates, Federal Tax Credits or up to $3,000 in New York Home Performance with Energy Star® cash incentives and financing as low as 3.49%.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
How To Make Sure Winter Drafts Don't Become Summer Hot Spots
“What many people don’t realize is that the same problem areas that make your home cold and drafty in the winter will make your home hot and uncomfortable in the summer,” says Tom Brown, an Energy Savings Consultant with BrightHome Energy Solutions. “Heat enters your home in the same way that cold does, making your air conditioner work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature, which ultimately costs you money on your energy bills.”
Brown recommends checking your home’s airtightness to identify problem areas. BrightHome has a variety of tests available, including the blower door test, where a calibrated fan in a door-panel unit is used to measure how much air your home is leaking, and a thermal imaging test, which uses a camera to detect changes in temperature and create a map of your home’s problem areas. But knowing where your problem spots are isn’t much use unless you know what to do about them.
Brown explains what comes next, “Once we identify the places in your home that need insulation and air sealing, we create a set of custom recommendations designed to save you energy in the most cost efficient manner. Together with your input we develop the best plan for your needs and budget to properly insulate and air seal your home.”
Many BrightHome customers have identified their windows as a problem area and were concerned that they needed to replace their windows. In many cases, properly air sealing and insulating the walls around the windows actually proved more cost effective at reducing energy costs and making the house more comfortable.
Sometimes, however, new windows are necessary or desired. Argon insulated windows and windows with low-emittance coatings can reduce heat gain during summer months, with the added benefit of reducing heat loss in the winter. Replacing windows is a fine art though. BrightHome technicians who install energy efficient windows are also experienced carpenters who know how to install your windows for maximum airtightness and match your new windows to the style of your home for seamless design integration.
To keep winter drafts from becoming your sweltering summer indoor hotspots and raising your energy bills, give BrightHome a call. A BrightHome certified home energy efficiency consultant can check out your home and give you custom recommendations to help you get the biggest bang for your energy efficiency buck. At BrightHome our mission is to help you use less energy, save money and be more comfortable.
BrightHome can help you take advantage of up to $3,500 in New York Home Performance with Energy Star® cash incentives and Federal Tax Credits and financing as low as 3.49%.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
White Plains Earth Day Event - $50 per Audit for Tornado Victims
For every audit that we sign up today at the White Plains event or over the week end on our website, BrightHome will contribute $50 to the American Red Cross tornado efforts.
We hope to see you in downtown White Plains! Mike Brown
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Eco-Ed's Tips for Earth Day
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Eight Easy Earth Day Tips
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Celebrate Earth Day with BrightHome!
May 15 - 21st Annual Shad Festival & Hudson River Celebration, Garrison, NY
Friday, April 1, 2011
New York Green Job Heroes
I was at Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx). They work with the South Bronx and other under-served urban communities to help transform themselves into great sustainable places to live. They do this by providing a collaborative model that addresses environmental, economic and social concerns through policy change, green job training, environmental education and community greening programs.
The centerpiece of Sustainable South Bronx's workforce development is the Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training (BEST) Academy which honored their partners in achievement and success. Miquela Craytor, Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx, stated, "Today's honorees have been pillars of program and our community, distinguished by their flexibility, commitment and inventiveness in supporting our trainees."
There were five honorees including BrightHome Energy Solutions, but I want to share the stories of the other four that set me soaring the rest of this week.
Million Trees NYC, New York City has a goal to plant one million (1,000,000) trees. That's one new tree for every eight residents of NYC. Additionally, they educate the residents about the positive benefits to the environment and our daily lives. The BEST program has provided trained landscape team members and supervisors for the program who are able to hone their landscaping skills and make New York City greener.
Bronx River Alliance, they are bit by bit cleaning up the Bronx River and making it once again a source of pride. What started out as mission of few has become a full fledged attempt, and they are winning, to make the Bronx River a place where people enjoy a peaceful walk or place to read. Again, the BEST program has trained unemployed South Bronx residents to understand what skills and work it takes to create a greener and cleaner Bronx River.
Central Park Conservancy, operates Central Park in New York City. The park has over twenty-five million visitors each year and needs lots of people to maintain and improve its beauty. And again, the BEST program has been up to the challenge of recruiting, training providing the workers who refine their landscaping skills daily. BEST workers in the park have in the past taken their skills and opened their own landscaping business. This is win win for everyone, a clean park, job training and future job creators!
Finally, the Association of Energy Affordability, Inc. Their mission is to use the principle of energy efficiency to keep housing affordable and livable for low and moderate income residents in New York City. One of their programs is to weatherize multifamily homes to reduce energy costs and make them more comfortable. Through BEST training programs the unemployed receive training in insulating, air sealing and auditing becoming part of the green movement and helping their neighbors save money.
Congratulations to Sustainable South Bronx and the other four honorees! It was great day to hear about heroes on the front line making our lives better!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Your Money May be Slipping Through the Cracks
Have you felt a draft lately? Does your house have cold and hot spots? Do your heating and cooling bills seem higher than they should be? If so, your home may have a problem with air sealing and insulation.
Tom Brown, an Energy Savings Consultant with BrightHome Energy Solutions explains, “An improperly sealed home means heat could be escaping through cracks and crevices and other holes drilled in your walls and floors. Cold air makes its way in, raising your heating costs and seriously affecting your family’s comfort. In the summertime these same holes allow in the heat raising your cooling costs.
It’s not only your wallet and family’s comfort that are at stake. You may also be compromising your home’s indoor air quality, exposing your family to dust and allergens from outside. Poorly sealed areas allow moisture transfer, increasing the chances of mold formation, which can lead to health risks and even structural problems.”
Mr. Brown continues, “There are several tests that BrightHome can do to measure the airtightness of your home and identify problem spots. These tests require highly specialized equipment, but will yield extremely accurate results about where your home is losing energy.”
The first test BrightHome conducts is a blower door test. A calibrated fan in a door-panel unit is used to measure the amount of air leakage in your home. The higher the number, the more your home is wasting energy and money.
Next your energy consultant will use a thermal imaging camera to identify where leakage is occurring. The camera detects changes in temperature and creates a map of your home’s problem areas.
Once problem spots are identified, BrightHome will use spray foam, caulk, foam board, and cellulose insulation as required addressing the cracks and holes in your home’s walls, attic and basement.
A home that is properly air sealed and insulated by BrightHome has numerous benefits. Your home will be more comfortable by reducing cold and hot spots and drafts. Your indoor air quality will improve by keeping pollutants and allergens out. You and your family will breathe cleaner and healthier air. You will reduce moisture transfer, protecting yourself from the health and structural risks of mold.
Because they don’t have to work as hard, you will extend the life of your heating and air conditioning systems. And most importantly, you will reduce your energy usage and save money.
BrightHome can help you take advantage of up to $3,500 in New York Home Performance with Energy Star® cash incentives and Federal Tax Credits and financing as low as 3.49%.
Call BrightHome to schedule an appointment to learn how to stay warm and save money at 914-909-5300 or visit us at www.brighthome.com. Services include air sealing, insulation, windows, doors and heating and cooling systems.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Don’t Let Your Energy Costs Go Through The Roof!

Have you noticed some homes wear an undisturbed blanket of snow on their roof? While other homes have patchy or no snow and icicles hanging from the gutters?
BrightHome Energy Consultant, Tom Brown says, “The condition of the snow on your roof will give you a good idea about whether your attic is adequately insulated.”
Like wearing a hat on a cold day, a well-insulated attic ensures that the entire house stays warm and comfortable. Poor insulation causes a home to lose heat in many places, but, since hot air rises, it will naturally move up to the attic.
“Unless the heat is held back by insulation, it will rise up and melt the snow on the roof,” Mr. Brown explains. “A blanket of snow on your roof is a sign of good insulation while patchy snow melt is a sign of poor insulation.
Look at the photos in this article. They were taken on the same afternoon, four days after a recent snowstorm. If your roof looks like this one, you almost certainly have insulation issues. Notice that the escaping heat has almost entirely melted the snow.
If your roof looks like the one on the lower right, you may also have insulation issues. You’ll notice that nearly all of the snow has melted from the roof. On the roof next door, on the bottom left, plenty of snow is remaining. This is what you want to see when you check your roof. This means that there is little indoor heat escaping out the roof.”
“Our goal at BrightHome is to keep the heat you’ve paid for indoors,” said Mr. Brown. “Insulating and air sealing the home creates a more comfortable living space that costs much less to heat.”
“Scheduling a BrightHome energy audit is the first step,” said Mr. Brown. “Using our state-of-the-art assessment tools we can identify insulation deficiencies and venting problems in your home. We can make a plan specifically to meet your home’s individual needs to save you thousands of dollars in wasted energy.”
BrightHome can help you take advantage of up to $3,500 in New York Home Performance with Energy Star® cash incentives and Federal Tax Credits and financing as low as 3.49%.
Photo Credit: Kathy Boehm
Monday, February 14, 2011
February Energy Saving Tips
Monday, January 3, 2011
Seven Bright Ideas to Cut Energy Costs in 2011
Resolve to Reduce Home Energy Bills and Increase Savings and Comfort
Happy New Year! Resolution time is upon us yet again. Many homeowners are resolving to save money in 2011. One of the easiest ways to save money is to cut home energy usage.
BrightHome Energy Solutions offers seven bright ideas on how to lower home energy bills in 2011, while making the home more comfortable and energy efficient.
1. Schedule a comprehensive home energy audit
Using state-of-the-art technology, BrightHome will evaluate your entire home checking each room for efficiency and safety. BrightHome’s energy consultants will target your home’s problem areas and develop a custom plan to meet your needs and fit your budget.
2. Insulate your home
Insulation is the most effective way to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Insulating your home keeps heat in during the winter, and blocks heat out during the summer to improve comfort and save energy.
3. Clean or replace cooling & heating filters regularly
A clean filter reduces the amount of energy your HVAC system uses to achieve desired temperatures. Brighthome recommends cleaning the filter once a month for best results. If your heating system is old or outdated, it may be time to upgrade to a more efficient system. State and federal tax credits can help pay for these equipment upgrades.
4. Reduce your hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees.
For each 10-degree reduction, you can save between 3-5% in water heating costs. Reducing the water heater temperature also slows mineral build-up and increases the life of your water heater.
5. Seal leaky ducts
Air sealing will make your heating and cooling systems work more efficiently and your home more comfortable. Air sealing will improve your home’s indoor air quality by eliminating dust, airborne pollutants, unwanted drafts entering your living space.
6. Use a programmable thermostat
Establish a program that automatically reduces heating and cooling in your home when you are not there or you don’t want it.
7. Turn off electronic equipment when not in use.
Idle electrical currents still use energy and can add up to hundreds of dollars every year. When turning off electronics such as lights, televisions and computers, use a power strip to prevent stand-by mode from drawing idle currents.
This New Year resolve to lower your energy costs. These seven bright ideas are proven to reduce energy bills immediately, increase home comfort and create life-long home energy savings.