At our regular meeting on Wednesday, February 1st, Katie Costanzo spoke of “PowerUp Communities,” a green energy program servicing Nassau and Suffolk Counties, that helps homeowners make their homes energy efficient and more comfortable, while generating good paying jobs and community revitalization.
 
Katie is on the Homeowner Support staff of the PowerUp Communities Program. The program began in 2011 under direction of the Long Island Progressive Coalition, a community-based, non-profit,  organization. PowerUp Communities is contracted through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Green Jobs Green New York (GJGNY) initiative.
 
The program connects homeowners with government funds and provides one-on-one support with NYS- certified, home improvement contractors.  They also emphasize community revitalization with each energy-saving project – stimulating job and business opportunities in the local community, with all contractors agreeing to fair wage/employment practices.
 
To proceed with a project, Homeowner Support representatives explain, and pre-qualify, your household for all of the financing options, rebates and discounts for which you are eligible. They then schedule a free energy assessment, resulting in a report of your home’s efficiency and of recommended energy-saving and home comfort improvements.
 
Once work is begun, PowerUp Communities acts as the homeowner’s advocate through every step of the project and beyond. Katie claims that, following project completion, cost savings for the typical homeowner run from $800 to $3000 per year.

Homeowner testimonials were reinforced by a BRC member who took advantage of the service a couple of years ago, giving a very enthusiastic endorsement of the program.
 
Katie is shown above with Babylon Rotary Vice President Nancy Iglesias-Gillen.