couple with baby in kitchen of home

Contact our trained Energy Advisers for help saving money and energy!

two pairs of feet wearing colorful socks, before a fireplace

Home heat is the biggest energy cost for NY families at $800-$2000 per year.

solar panels on the roof of a home

Learn about available tax credits for installed or community solar options.

dairy cows being milked electronically

NYSERDA offers eligible farms a free energy audit .

apartment buildings on a street

Multi-family building owners can qualify for special NYSERDA programs.

energy efficient light bulbs

NYSEG offers a free assessment and discounts on business lighting upgrades.

Smart Energy Choices: Regional Clean Energy Hub for the Southern Tier

Smart Energy Choices is a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension that provides free energy advising to residents, small commercial, non-profit and multifamily building owners and managers to help them reduce their energy use, switch to renewable energy, save money, and improve the comfort of their homes and buildings.

New York State is embarking on a transition to an inclusive clean energy powered economy. All residents, businesses and communities across the State will have access to new opportunities to benefit from this transition including clean energy careers, home improvements, even rebates for businesses and personal transportation. But there’s a lot of information out there, and people may not know where to start.

To help New Yorkers access and navigate these opportunities, NYSERDA created the Regional Clean Energy Hubs. Clean Energy Hubs connect people to the clean energy economy.

Smart Energy Choices is the Southern Tier's Regional Clean Energy Hub. It is funded by a grant from the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). This grant has been awarded to Cornell Cooperative Extension associations in four of ten regions throughout the state: Long Island, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, and Southern Tier. In addition, Cornell Cooperative Extension serves in a prominent role in the Capital Region.

Contact a trained Community Energy Advisor who can help you learn about ways to save energy and money, and connect to resources, financial incentives, and local contractors.

  • Capital District: Serving Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington counties
  • Long Island: Serving Nassau and Suffolk counties. 
  • Mid-Hudson: Serving Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties.
  • Mohawk Valley: Serving Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego, and Schoharie counties
  • Southern Tier: Serving Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins counties.

Get in touch with the contact listed below for your county to learn how the Smart Energy Choices program can help you reduce your energy use, save money, and improve the comfort of your home or commercial building,

Contact

Erica Herman (She/Her)
Smart Energy Choices Community Energy Advisor
eh649@cornell.edu
607-535-7161 x3223

Last updated January 12, 2024