NYSERDA selects home inspections By The Fulmer Group to provide home energy ratings for homebuyers in Erie County

Supports Cuomo’s ‘Green New Deal,’ state mandate for 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on Monday announced it has selected Home Inspections By The Fulmer Group to deliver home energy ratings for homebuyers in Erie County, as part of the second phase of the Home Energy Ratings Pilot. The pilot supports the state mandate for a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's “Green New Deal,” which puts New York on a path to economywide carbon neutrality.

Alicia Barton, president and CEO, NYSERDA said, “A home energy rating delivered as part of a pre-purchase inspection can provide New York families with a roadmap to energy efficiency opportunities and help reduce emissions in support of Gov. Cuomo’s aggressive climate and clean energy goals. Congratulations to Fulmer Group Inspections for being chosen to provide homebuyers in Erie County with home energy ratings that will help them improve the energy performance and comfort of their new home while lowering energy costs.”

A press release read, “Home energy ratings are similar to a ‘miles per gallon’ rating on a car, providing easy-to-understand visual reports that give the homebuyer insight into how a home performs in areas like insulation, air leakage, heating and cooling efficiency, and water heating. Energy costs can make up a large portion of monthly household expenses and, when shopping for a new home, it’s important to learn about the home’s energy performance to avoid unexpected costs after moving in. Keeping efficiency in mind can help new homeowners plan for future home improvements that will reduce energy bills and ensure a more comfortable home with year-round comfort.”

NYSERDA launched the second phase of the pilot in August seeking applications from licensed home inspectors to deliver ratings to homebuyers as part of a pre-purchase inspection to support homebuyer remodeling of a newly purchased one- to four-family home. Providing ratings as part of a home buyer’s pre-purchase inspection can help guide renovation and upgrade decisions that many new homeowners make within the first year of ownership.

Selected through a competitive process, Fulmer Group Inspections will provide Erie County homebuyers with ratings using the U.S. Department of Energy’s home energy score. Each report comes with a list of recommendations that helps the homebuyers plan upgrades to increase the efficiency and comfort of their new homes. For more information on the home energy score, and home buying with energy efficiency in mind, visit NYSERDA’s website.

Mark Fulmer, president of Fulmer Home Inspections, said, “We are proud to be selected by NYSERDA to assist homeowners in Erie County by providing home energy ratings. With the cold weather each winter, a home energy rating can help save money on utility bills, while offering an opportunity to increase the value of a home and make it more marketable and appealing in the real estate market.”

In an effort to make ratings accessible to more residents, NYSERDA expanded the pilot from the Town of Tonawanda to include all of Erie County, which is one of four New York communities along with Tompkins County, Monroe County and the borough of Queens, where homeowners and homebuyers will be eligible to receive a home energy rating at no cost. The next phase of the pilot is expected to launch in the coming months.

This pilot supports Cuomo’s “New Efficiency: New York” energy-efficiency target to reduce energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs below forecasted energy use in 2025. Meeting the target will accelerate achievement of energy efficiency in the next seven years by more than 40% over the current plan and will set the state on a path to achieve annual electric efficiency savings of 3% of investor-owned utility sales in 2025.

Funding for this program comes from the state’s 10-year, $5.3 billion Clean Energy Fund.