NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research & Development Authority) has nominated Halco for the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Housing Innovation Award. According to the DOE, these kinds of awards “recognize the very best in innovation on the path to zero net-energy ready homes.”
Many new net zero homes are being built, but Halco is one of the only contractors in the area that is retrofitting existing homes to net zero. A zero net-energy ready home is one that generates its own energy, doesn’t consume any from the power grid, and emits zero carbon.
In nominating Halco, NYSERDA Program Manager John Ahearn wrote, “Hal Smith of Halco became a champion of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® from the day Halco joined the program, making large investments in training through BPI (Building Performance Institute) and other credentialing organizations supporting the ‘Whole-house’ approach. It’s evident that Halco puts the customer first in all customer interactions.”
Smith says, “We believe Halco’s success in the home performance business is because we are ‘all in.’ When someone calls in for a furnace or air conditioner replacement estimate, we turn it into an energy audit. When they call in for a duct cleaning estimate, we also turn it into an energy audit. Our entire business model revolves around Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®.”
Through funding from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Halco’s home energy audits are free for most New Yorkers. NYSERDA also provides help in paying for the energy improvements through cash-back incentives and low-cost financing.
In 2012, Halco performed more energy audits than any other contractor in the state, according to NYSERDA. So far this year, the company has performed almost two-thirds as many as it performed for all of last year.
Established in 1984, Halco provides residential and commercial property owners throughout the Finger Lakes and Central New York regions with complete energy audits, as well as heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and renewable energy systems and service.
