Energy efficiency help for Islip residents

Islip Town residents now have a storefront to go to for one-stop services that can help them save money on utility bills and make their homes more energy efficient.

The Bay Shore office, which opened Friday, was two years in the making and is the first of its kind on Long Island. It stems from Islip's involvement with six other towns -- Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown, Brookhaven, Southampton and North Hempstead -- in an effort to make it easier for Long Islanders to access utility, state and federal funding for efficiency measures around their homes.

Islip worked with the Community Development Corp. of Long Island to secure New York State Energy Research and Development Agency grant money that will fund advertising, promotional materials and the salary of the office staff member, Kathleen Williams.

Residents can stop in at the "LI Green Homes in Islip" office (111 West Main St.) to apply for an energy audit from a specially accredited contractor who performs a range of tests on a home to evaluate heating, drafts, insulation and appliance and lighting efficiency. The contractor provides a report with recommended improvements, their costs, and estimated energy and cost savings.

Up to $13,000 can be financed through loans with interest rates as low as 3.49 percent from the research agency provided estimated savings exceed repayment costs.

Many of the improvements are also eligible for rebates or other financial incentives from LIPA, National Grid and the research agency; part of Williams' role at the storefront is to assist residents with the applications.

After work is completed, the contractor reruns the earlier tests to verify improvements. The audit is free for families with annual incomes below $200,000.

"Our job is to market this to residents and reach out to everybody to make sure they know about it," said Councilman John Edwards, who had a key role in forming the program.

Williams said she'd use town mailings and reach out to local groups -- such as chambers of commerce, PTAs and Lions Clubs -- to get the word out.

"Our goal is to conduct 6,500 audits across the seven towns and have 4,500 of those homeowners make the energy efficiency improvements over the next two years," CDC president Marianne Garvin said. "My hope is all 13 towns will be part of the initiative."

Islip residents can stop by the office, or call 631-245-6918 for information or to arrange for an appointment.