IN THIS ISSUE

An ally in solar innovation
A.C. recycling program
Walkway gets a boost
Red Hook goes green
Nonprofit recognition
Customers win prizes

$350-$700

Natural gas boilers

For natural gas customers on a new, energy efficient boiler. Good for water and steam boilers.

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Up to $600

Duct & air sealing

Leaky windows, doors and ducts can reduce energy efficiency by as much as 20 percent. Central Hudson offers rebates of up to $600 for using a BPI-certified SavingsCentral Trade Ally to professionally seal your home.

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$140-$420

Natural gas furnaces

If you are a natural gas customer, let us give you a rebate of between $140 and $420 on a new, energy-efficient hot air furnace. The higher the efficiency rating, the higher the rebate.

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$400

Electric heat pump water heaters

Is your water heater unreliable or costly to operate? Central Hudson has a $400 rebate for energy efficient heat pump water heaters.

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$210

Indirect hot water heaters

If you are installing a new, energy-efficient natural gas boiler, you can include an indirect water heater to heat your water instead of using a separate water heater.

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$200

Furnace blower fans

A furnace fan blows the air from your cooling or heating system throughout your home. If you replace your existing furnace blower fan with a new, electronically commutated furnace blower fan, you are eligible for a rebate of $200.

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$70

Boiler reset controls

A boiler reset control automatically adjusts the hot water set point in your boiler based on the outside temperature. It saves energy by reducing the heating demand of the boiler in hot weather.

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$18-$25

Programmable thermostats

If you install a programmable thermostat with a new, energy efficient cooling or heating system, we will give you a rebate of between $18 and $25. A correctly programmed thermostat can save you up to $150 per year in energy costs.

HOW TO GET YOUR REBATE

1. Find a list of qualified SavingsCentral Trade Allies at SavingsCentral.com

2. Choose the energy-efficient equipment best for your home and budget.

3. Obtain a rebate application from your Trade Ally or download a copy at SavingsCentral.

Central Hudson an ally in solar innovation

Prism’s Holographic Planar Concentrator film acts as an extremely low-cost concentrator, increasing the energy seen by solar cells by as much as 300%.

Central Hudson and Prism Solar Technologies of Highland, N.Y. are collaborating in a three-year, $190,000 research and development project to test the effectiveness of solar panels using Prism Solar’s patented holographic film. The two companies will install, monitor and compare three solar systems. Prism Solar’s holographic film replaces most of the silicon cells required in a solar module to result in a module that is about half the cost of a conventional one.

Holographic modules can produce 20 to 40 percent more energy per watt by selecting the most useful wavelengths of light and concentrating them onto solar cells. Holographic modules also allow cells to operate near peak efficiency in low light conditions, which is especially important in regions like the Northeast.

“Central Hudson is studying this technology to gain a better understanding of the characteristics and electric generating capabilities of solar installations using holographic film,” said James P. Laurito, President of Central Hudson. From an economic development perspective, we also want to promote a local firm involved in manufacturing and marketing a product that has the potential to expand the use of renewable energy.”

“As an early-stage company, this opportunity to partner with Central Hudson comes at a critical point for Prism Solar to meet its manufacturing goals and bring this game-changing new technology into the photovoltaic market,” says Rick Lewandowski, Prism Solar’s President and CEO. “We applaud Central Hudson’s continued leadership in advancing the solar industry in New York state.”

The three 2.5 kilowatt solar systems will be installed at Central Hudson’s Coldenham substation in Orange County, N.Y. A weather monitoring station will also be installed to measure sun and cloud conditions, sun angle and other factors that can influence electric generation. Electrical output and weather data will be transmitted to Prism and used to analyze the relative effectiveness of the three panels. This information will be used by Prism to refine and market their product, and performance reports will be provided to Central Hudson. The electricity generated by the three systems will be delivered over the local electric distribution system for use by Central Hudson customers.

To view a video on the benefits of holographic film and to learn more about Prism Solar Technologies, log onto www.PrismSolar.com. For information on Central Hudson’s net metering program for solar and wind generation systems, log onto www.CentralHudson.com/dg.

Central Hudson Asst. Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Economic Development Anthony Campagiorni, left, discusses holographic film with a Prism representative at Prism’s Highland, N.Y. manufacturing plant.

Our air conditioner recycling program saves 46.3 metric tons of carbon dioxide

Central Hudson offered rebates of $50-$100 when customers turned in their old air conditioners and upgraded to new, energy efficient models during the summer of 2010. The program ended on Sept. 15 and we are proud to announce that this partnership with our customers sent 1,499 air conditioning units to be recycled, rather than placed in landfills. This effort also prevented 46.3 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. That amount of carbon dioxide is the equivalent of:
• 5,207 gallons of gasoline.
• Carbon used by 1,187 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
• Carbon used annually by 9.9 acres of pine forests.

Visit Savings Central to learn about similar Central Hudson programs.

Walkway elevator project proceeds
thanks to Central Hudson donation

Central Hudson continues to help improve access to the Walkway Over the Hudson. We recently donated a parcel of land, on the east side of the Hudson River, that makes the elevator and staircase projects possible. The elevator and staircase will be accessible from Water Street and within walking distance from the Poughkeepsie Train Station. Walkway officials expect the project to be completed next year.

We also made possible access to the Walkway on the Ulster County side by previously donating a 1.1 acre parcel in the Town of Lloyd that is used as a parking area and visitors’ center. An additional easement comprising 2.2 acres was also granted to the Town of Lloyd to provide pedestrian access to a rail trail leading to the Walkway.

Just prior to the Walkway’s opening in 2009, Fred Schaeffer, then-Chairman of Walkway Over the Hudson said “Walkway is extremely grateful to Central Hudson, not only for the land and easement donations, but for Central Hudson’s ongoing cooperation to allow access to the bridge over Central Hudson’s properties before and during construction of the Walkway. Without Central Hudson’s neighborly cooperation, the Walkway would never have gotten off the ground.”

Helping Red Hook go green

Central Hudson has partnered with Sustainable Hudson Valley to initiate the Ten Percent Challenge — an ambitious, grassroots energy conservation program — in the Town and Village of Red Hook. “Central Hudson,” said Melissa Everett, Ph.D., Executive Director of Sustainable Hudson Valley, “has provided seed funding for this important initiative, as well as targeting outreach for their home and business energy efficiency programs in Red Hook, making them a natural partner. Central Hudson is one of the leading utilities nationally in its support for solar energy, as well as continuously expanding its energy efficiency programs.”

The Ten Percent Challenge challenges communities, businesses, institutions and households to reduce their fossil fuels use by 10 percent and also motivate 10 percent of their citizens, employees, members or social contacts to get involved. Red Hook became the first community to adopt the program, which kicked off in August.

“We’re excited to participate in this region-wide initiative, to help our customers reduce their energy use and save money, protect the region’s unique environment and improve our communities,” said James P. Laurito, President of Central Hudson. “We encourage our residential and business customers to take advantage of our energy efficiency programs and to learn as much as they can about energy conservation through the Ten Percent Challenge.”

For more information about the Ten Percent Challenge, visit Sustainable Hudson Valley’s website. For energy efficiency tips from Central Hudson, visit SavingsCentral.

Dutchess Outreach, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley honor Central Hudson

Two local nonprofits recently recognized Central Hudson and its employees for their support and involvement.

Dutchess Outreach, the Poughkeepsie-based agency whose mission includes meeting “the temporary, basic needs of individuals and families when no other resources are readily available to them,” honored Central Hudson as a “Community Partner.” The Chair of Dutchess Outreach’s Board of Directors wrote: “...since our founding, Central Hudson has offered Dutchess Outreach a tremendous range of support including permitting a senior staff member to serve on our Board of Directors for most of that time. You have provided financial support as Annual Brunch sponsors for the past three years and donated shelving used in our Food Pantry. On your Employee Community Service Day, Central Hudson staff have cleaned, painted and organized our Children’s Clothes Closet, painted storage cabinets in the office, hung wall plaques, and more. You have provided Thanksgiving Food baskets and food donations, items to be given out at our Volunteer Recognition reception, and above all, worked closely with our caseworkers to keep utility service on for our community’s neediest neighbors.”

The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, a member of the national Feeding America network, which works in partnership with the food industry and collects large donations of food and distributes it to more than 360 charitable member agencies (Dutchess Outreach among them) feeding hungry people in six counties of the Hudson Valley also recognized Central Hudson’s long-time support. At a celebration of its 20th Anniversary, Food Bank named Central Hudson as well as Central Hudson Director of Corporate Communications Paul Tesoro, a Food Bank board member and volunteer, “Founders of The Food Bank” for being among those organizations and individuals who have been instrumental in its history.
For more information about these important charitable organizations that serve so many of our neediest neighbors, check out their web sites: www.foodbankofhudsonvalley.org and www.dutchessoutreach.org

Customers win with Central Hudson

Central Hudson customer Carissa Parise, left, receives her Apple iPad at her home from Central Hudson Director of Corporate Communications Paul Tesoro. Patricia Runne, right, poses for a picture with her new Amazon Kindle outside Central Hudson’s Poughkeepsie headquarters.

In September, Central Hudson conducted an online customer communications survey designed to learn how we can best provide you with important information. Customers who answered the survey were entered in a drawing for three prizes: an Apple iPad, an Amazon Kindle and an Apple iPod Nano. More than 9,400 customers responded.

The prize winners were Carissa Parise (iPad) of Highland; Patricia Runne (Kindle) of Hyde Park; and Colette Cann (iPod Nano) of Poughkeepsie. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who responded. Your answers will help us improve our communication efforts and our ability to serve you.

New Yorkers set all-time, single month electricity usage record

New Yorkers set an all-time energy use record in July. Increased demand statewide drove up the cost of energy use as a result. Greater demand means that market prices for electricity rise and then so does the electric supply charge portion of your bill. Electricity prices in the summer of 2010 rose about 20 percent higher than those of the summer of 2009.

Customers should be aware that since New York deregulated the electricity industry, Central Hudson only delivers electricity (and natural gas). Aside from a few, small hydro-electric plants, we do not generate electricity. The energy supply costs you pay to Central Hudson pass through us and on to the companies that generate electricity. Want to know how to better manage your energy bills? Check out our SavingsCentral site for conservation tips and the Payment Assistance section of our website.

Produced by the Corporate Communications Division
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.
284 South Avenue
Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601
www.CentralHudson.com