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New Babylon carbon law will free green-homes funds

BY CHAU LAM | chau.lam@newsday.com

August 7, 2008

Carbon is now classified as solid waste in Babylon after the town's five-member board voted yesterday to change local laws.

The move will allow Babylon officials to use a portion of an estimated $28.7-million surplus in the town's residential garbage district to finance Green Long Island Homes, a town program to reduce carbon emissions. Environmentalists and green building advocates hailed the initiative as cutting edge at a public hearing yesterday.

Babylon plans to use at least $2 million of the surplus to pay up-front costs for any homeowner in the residential district who makes such energy-efficient renovations as upgrading heating and cooling systems, officials said.

Homeowners will have up to 12 years to repay the funds, as much as $12,000 per house, at about 3 percent interest, Supervisor Steven Bellone has said.

Bellone has estimated that the initial $2 million would cover about 500 homes. There are 65,000 single-family homes in Babylon.

"This program is not only innovative and creative in allowing homeowners to retrofit their own homes and play a part in the solution, it also will be an example to communities across the country," said Vince Campogna of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Town officials said they hope the program will reduce energy use by as much as 20 percent to 40 percent.

Contractors will bill the Town of Babylon directly. Homeowners will make monthly repayments to the town approximating the sum they are expected to save on their energy bills. For those who sell their houses before they finish repaying, the new homeowners would assume the obligation.

"If you don't pay your bills, at the end of the year it can go on your taxes," town attorney Paul Margiotta said. "That's why there's no risk to the town."

Bellone said he hopes Babylon's program will be replicated in other municipalities across Long Island, the state and the nation.