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New Pilot Program Provides Incentive to Consider Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Snug planet, Halco, and Geotherm/Aces-Energy were selected by the HeatSmart CNY Steering Committee as installers of the heat pumps as part of the program.By Ford Hatchett & Xia Lapides

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Syracuse homeowners who might have entertained the idea of switching to geothermal heating and cooling now might have the motivation they need.  Heat Smart CNY has been awarded a half million dollars by the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, or NYSERDA, to fund the program.

HeatSmart Campaign Manager Lindsay Speer says they want to bring heating into the 21st century.

“One of our major parts of this campaign is helping people learn what incentives they can leverage to make these technologies available to them. There are massive NYSERDA rebates as well as a 30% federal tax credit that can be leveraged right now.”

Speer says the program aims to modernize residential and commercial heating systems by installing air and ground source geothermal heat pumps designed for cold climates. Speer says the air source pumps were once thought not to work in cold environments, but technology advancements have made them fully functional.

“Everyone has a heat pump in their home already. It’s called a refrigerator.  So it’s that sort of same technology where it’s capturing energy and moving the energy instead of burning electricity or burning fossil fuels that allows heat pumps to work.”

Speer says they hope to start with 100 homes and grow from there.  Syracuse Common Councilor Joe Driscoll was among those who unanimously passed a resolution supporting the program last week.

“It works on so many levels. Economically it makes sense, environmentally it makes sense, socially it makes sense, and it’s that intersectionality that’s dealing with the environment, with poverty, with keeping our citizens healthy and safe.”

Funding for the program also covers workforce training.  Residents can learn more at a series of upcoming open houses and workshops, including the kick-off November 14th at 6:00 p.m. at the South Side Innovation Center.