Olivia Kalm
• Mount Holyoke College, Class of 2017
• Environmental Studies concentrating in Natural History
• Experience the business side of environmental work
Single Family Residential Intern, Erik Gilbert
Addressing The Low-Rise Market
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Research Goals
1. Define the low-rise market
2. Identify barriers
3. Identify gaps in the research
4. Identify market actors and their current
processes
5. Opportunities for market intervention
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1. Defining Low-Rise Buildings
Multiunit Buildings that act as 1-4 Family Homes rather than larger commercial-style residences (i.e. Brownstones, Condominiums, Co-ops).
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2. Barriers Identified
Lack of market intervention
Split Incentives
Significant upfront costs for contractors and customers
• Competing Programs
• Building owners may not have access to financing
tools needed to complete a larger scale project.
• Contractor proposed equipment may not qualify.
• Renovations completed on an “as-needed” basis
• Challenge identifying ownership of property
• Challenge predicting savings for the customer
• Low-rise eligible complexes tend to target for the
cheapest replacement equipment possible,
regardless of savings.
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3. The Gap in the Research
• Challenge identifying actual housing stock
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4a. The Low-Rise Market Actors
• Lack of awareness of the benefits of energy upgrades
• Split Incentives
• High upfront costs
Property Owners and tenants:
• Challenge distinguishing from Multifamily Program and lack of knowledge of low-rise opportunities.
• High upfront costsContractors:
• Responsible for prioritizing needs of the people in the region, energy upgrades may not be a priority. Municipalities:
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4b. The Low-Rise Market Actors: Addressing The Barriers
•Ability for tenants and owners to track energy consumption could address the issue of split incentives.
•Education
Property Owners and tenants:
•Mentorship program to educate contractors on opportunities and logistics of the low-rise market. Contractors should be provided with the appropriate tools to enter the market.
Contractors:
•Partner with municipalities for information about housing stock.
•Recognize the municipality as a leader in energy efficiency market.
Municipalities:
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5. Opportunities for Market Intervention
Financing
• Goal for NYSERDA could be to create a financing option that reduces upfront costs.
Outreach and Education
• Customer-friendly webpage that encourages engagement with interactive components.
• Community Workshops
• Survey both customers and contractors about energy efficiency upgrades
Demonstration Projects
• Information about case studies that demonstrate the benefits of making energy efficiency upgrades and the possible savings for low-rise property owners and tenants.
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Suggested Next Steps for NYSERDA:
• Partner with municipalities and utilities to obtain information about low-rise housing stock and their energy consumption data.
Closing the Research Gap:
• Adopt a program like PACE financing that allows payment attached to property taxes to reduce upfront costs for customers.
Financing
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My Next Steps:
•Energy Saving Toolkits
• Inexpensive way for NYSERDA to provide basic information about energy efficiency and the simple changes that can be made to reduce consumption and save customers money.
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Thank you!
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