ALBANY - Governor David Paterson Sunday announced that the Legislature has agreed to pass one of his signature initiatives – legislation that will encourage the construction of new homes and the renovation of existing homes to meet “green building” standards. The bill authorizes the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to create a program that will provide financial incentives to New Yorkers who “go green.”

Energy and water use in residential buildings have significant impacts on the environment, making incentives a worthy investment for New Yorkers. Nationwide, residential buildings account for about 22 percent of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and 74 percent of water use. Homeowners and builders who take advantage of these new incentives will help reduce the energy, carbon and environmental footprints of homes.

The amount of the grants will be based on a number of considerations, including the size and type of the residential structure. While New York has incentives in place to promote green buildings in the commercial sector, this is the first program that will provide these incentives for the residential sector.

NYSERDA will develop program guidelines, such as standards and criteria for eligibility, application procedures, awards and award levels, inspection procedures, documentation and compliance requirements, and training and qualification procedures for builders and technicians.

The program will include incentives aimed such things as:

- Sustainability measures relating to energy conservation and efficiency
- Water conservation
- Indoor air quality
- Use of nontoxic and renewable building products
- Natural resources conservation