How to Make Your Manhattan Home Greener
Earth Day falls on April 22nd this year. At Top Hat, every day is Earth Day, as we help Manhattan homeowners make their homes more efficient. This work is incredibly important. Single- and multi-family dwellings in New York City contribute up to two-thirds of the city’s carbon emissions.
If you’ve been thinking about doing your part to save the planet (and save money), now is an ideal time to switch over to more sustainable options. You can lower energy costs, and create a healthier environment for you and your family.
If that’s not enough motivation, New York has announced plans to be carbon-neutral by 2050. Manhattan homeowners are expected to comply with some of the new rules.
Our first step with clients is to set up a home energy assessment to determine the home’s efficiencies and identify changes that will pack the biggest environmental and economic impact. Then we’ll get our highly qualified and vetted vendors in to do the job. Here are the top areas where you can create a more passive home and save some money:
Lighting
Replacing standard bulbs is one of the quickest ways to decrease monthly costs by as much as 80%. Look for Energy Star certified LED or compact fluorescent bulbs. Not only should you change your bulbs, but you also want to change your and your family’s lighting habits. This can be as simple as making sure everyone in the house turns off the lights when they leave the room. Take it a step further by placing lights on a timer or motion sensor. The biggest trend we’re seeing in Manhattan homes is the use of smart technology. By connecting lighting to a smart system, you’ll be able to control everything from an app or a home assistant such as Alexa.
Insulation
The EPA states that insulation can lead to savings of 15 percent on your cooling and heating and 11 percent on your total energy costs. Proper insulation keeps your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the hotter seasons.
Heat gain and heat loss through windows, doors, and air ducts are responsible for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use. There’s no need to replace windows if they’re in good shape. If you feel a draft anywhere in the home, try to caulk or weatherstrip the area. You can also add a storm window, door, or outside awning to keep your home cooler in the summer.
Energy
One of our solar energy partners, Ryan O’Hara, Senior Solar Consultant at Brooklyn Solar Works, said that "solar tax incentives and sky-high electricity rates make NYC one of the best solar markets in the country.”
ConEd offers credits and rebates for New York City homeowners who switch to solar. Ryan added that “tax credits and a 4-year property tax abatement can cover up to 65% of the total installation cost.”
If that’s not enough of an incentive, Ryan shared that “a study released by Zillow found that solar can increase a home's value by 5.4% in NYC.”
If you live in a Manhattan historic or landmarked building, you can install panels, but they can’t be visible from the street.
Appliances
Home appliances—refrigerators, washer/dryers, and dishwashers especially—account for 20 percent of your total electric bill. Though initially, energy-efficient appliances might cost more (look for appliances with the Energy Star label), in the long run, you’ll save hundreds per year. Click here to find out what those Energy Star labels mean.
Heating, cooling, and water systems
Heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to air conditioners and furnaces. They use electricity to transfer heat from a cool to a warm space, making your hot spots cooler and your chilly areas warmer. You’ll save money since the pumps transfer heat rather than generate heat. If you install solar panels, you can run the pumps off those panels. Con Ed offers several rebate and incentive programs to make it more financially attractive to go green. Some of those programs include deals with vendors on heat pumps, smart thermostats, and weatherization.
We are here to help with our team of LEED-certified contractors, specially trained staff, designers, architects, and energy-efficient partner experts. One of the many benefits of working with Top Hat Home Services is that we are the only call you need to make to go green. We take care of the process from beginning to end – including selecting the most qualified vendors to manage your sustainability project.
Happy Earth Day!
Gary Mindlin is co-founder and owner of Top Hat Home Services, a full-service property care and management company. Top Hat services homes in Manhattan and are known as experts in every aspect of building management, maintenance and repair, as well as renovation and construction supervision.