Multifamily Buildings

There are several programs to support energy efficiency in multifamily buildings. Some can help the whole building, while others are targeted to help units with low-income tenants.

NYSEG Affordable MultiFamily Energy Efficiency Program

This program provides incentives for the energy efficiency improvements in affordable multifamily buildings of 5 or more units. In our region, the program is administered by NYSEG. Learn more here.

NYSEG MultiFamily Energy Efficiency Program

While the above program is for housing that is qualified as affordable, this one does not have affordability requirements. This program provides FREE equipment replacement for lighting, faucet aerators, showerheads and pipe insulation, and incentives for interior and exterior common area hard wired lighting replacement, installation of occupancy sensors, and installation of air sealing and insulation for electric and heat heated buildings. Learn more and find an application here.

Multifamily Buildings Low-Carbon Pathways Program

The Multifamily Buildings Low-Carbon Pathways Program offers flexible packages of incentivized energy upgrades that bring deep energy savings to major building systems. This guided path of building upgrades can help you achieve your sustainability goals.

Flexible Technical Assistance (FlexTech) Program

The FlexTech program shares the cost to produce an objective, site-specific, and targeted study on how best to implement clean energy and/or energy efficiency technologies. A NYSERDA FlexTech Consultant can work with you to complete the energy study. Email FlexTech@nyserda.ny.gov for more information or visit NYSERDA’s FlexTech website.

New York State Affordable Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program

The New York State Affordable Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program (AMEEP) is a combined effort of the Joint Utilities of New York and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The program offers incentives for the installation of energy efficient equipment and technology to affordable multifamily buildings with five or more units.

NYS Clean Heat

NYSERDA offers free screenings to assess the potential of ground and air source heat pump and variable refrigerant flow technologies to provide heating and cooling solutions in large multifamily buildings. For rebate and financing information, please work with your electric utility. Through the NYS Clean Heat program, electric utility companies offer rebates on both air and ground source heat pumps. Utility listings can be found online at NYS Clean Heat.

Low-Income Tenant Programs

The Weatherization Assistance Program and EmPower+ programs, in addition to serving 1-4 unit homes, can also serve multifamily homes (up to 100 units in the case of EmPower+). In this case, the amount of work that can be done is determined by the number of income-eligible tenants, and income information from each tenant is required.

Multifamily Housing Programs

USDA’s Multifamily Housing assists rural property owners through loans, loan guarantees, and grants that enable owners to develop and rehabilitate properties for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals and families as well as domestic farm laborers.

Climate Friendly Homes Fund

The Climate Friendly Homes Fund (CFHF), administered by The Community Preservation Corporation, provides financing for existing, 5-50-unit buildings in New York State with a focus on replacing older and less energy-efficient systems with all-electric, high-performance heating, cooling, and hot water heating systems.

Onsite Energy Manager

Energy managers are responsible for creating efficient processes that decrease cost and waste—helping your business achieve leaner operations. You can lower operational costs, reduce maintenance time, and create comfortable, safe areas by hiring or assigning a dedicated on-site energy manager.

NYSERDA’s On-site Energy Manager (OsEM) program offers a cost-share for industrial, commercial, and multifamily facilities or buildings to hire a dedicated full-time or part time on-site energy manager. Projects may include operations and maintenance improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, water saving improvements, and more. The energy manager can be either a new permanent hire or a contractor. You may select a contractor from NYSERDA’s current list of Flexible Technical Assistance (FlexTech) Consultants or an independent service provider.

Visit NYSERDA’s OsEM website to learn more.