Middle Village got an education in being green and saving cash while saving energy at a “Green Town Hall” sponsored by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley Wednesday night at P.S. 49, according to a statement from her office.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) sent a representative to teach Queens residents about rebates and incentives they can cash in on by using solar energy.
NYSERDA also offered free energy audits for homeowners, saying 57 percent of a household’s energy use is wasted. Through an audit, they can recommend ways to save energy and point out tax incentives from the federal government for installing solar panels.
Representitives from a nonprofit group, Community Environmental Center (CEC), also detailed how low- and middle- income homes can save money on energy. They presented the Solar Hot Water systems, which are solar panels that don’t produce electricity but instead heat water with the thermal energy they collect.
This makes a deep cut into the energy that gas or boiler systems consume, they said — which accounts for 18 percent of a home’s energy cost.
President of the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association, Paul Kerzner, provided a real-world example of energy savings by demoing how he reduced his energy costs by installing solar panels and energy-efficient appliances. He said in the long-run, the generally more expensive appliances paid off in energy savings.
The councilwoman said in a statement, “Local homeowners on Wednesday took the first step in learning about renewable en- ergy, saving money on utilities and protecting the environment. With our country producing nearly 30 percent of the world’s pollution and only representing four percent of the world’s population, we must do our part to keep our planet clean. Installing solar panels is a great investment both for your wallet and the environment, but even small changes in your daily life, like driving less, and using reusable bags when shopping can make a difference.”
