Homeowners in the North Country embraced energy efficiency projects in record numbers last year, completing 49 percent more projects through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Home Performance with Energy Star than during 2010.

The 188 projects completed in the North Country during 2011 resulted in average annual savings of more than $940 per participating household, which will impact the homeowners’ energy bills for years to come, according to NYSERDA.

The only two areas of the state with a larger percentage increase in energy efficiency projects were the Mid-Hudson Region, which more than doubled the number of its 2010 projects – from 254 to 550 and the Southern Tier, where the number of completed projects increased by 78 percent from 2010 to 2011.

“We expect to see this program grow in 2012 due to free energy assessments and low-cost financing that is available to homeowners,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA.

A recent study of 1,012 New York homeowners conducted on behalf of NYSERDA shows that 56 percent of homeowners polled plan to make home energy efficiency improvements, and 87 percent of those plan to do so within the next three years.

Home Performance with Energy Star uses

Homeowners work with contractors trained in building science and accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) in a “whole-house” comprehensive assessment approach to home energy use. The contractor looks at the entire house, not just one room or a single problem area, and recommends improvements for saving energy.

The assessment is free for most homeowners, as it funded through Green Jobs-Green New York, a program created by New York State to significantly increase the number of energy efficiency improvements in the state while creating green jobs.

To help homeowners pay for the recommended energy improvements, NYSERDA provides cash-back incentives and low-cost financing. As of January 30, on-bill recovery financing also has been available, enabling homeowners to pay for energy efficiency improvements through their utility bills, using the energy savings from the improvements to offset the cost of the work.

Homeowners with moderate to low-incomes (60 to 80 percent of the median) who participate in Assisted Home Performance with Energy Star can receive grants of up to $5,000 to cover as much as 50 percent of the cost of energy efficiency improvements.