Tompkins Weekly      5-10-23

By Holly Hutchinson

As someone who lives in a mobile home in Tompkins County, I have a feeling for what my fellow mobile home dwellers here experience. Our homes are affordable and may be the only home ownership option for us in the county.  They are often attractive inside and homey.  They can use up less land space than the average single-family home. And if we are in a mobile home park, we have a community of neighbors. On the other hand, our homes may be older or not built with as much concern for energy efficiency. Just sitting above the ground, as mobile homes do, opens the door (so to speak) for plenty of heating or cooling leakage if we do not have proper insulation. Overall, it is common for our utility costs to drive our housing cost up significantly.  In some cases, utility bills are higher than monthly mortgage payments or lot rent.

In my first year in a mobile home in Tompkins County, the propane furnace died. In November. That precipitated a scramble to figure out a quick and hopefully cost-effective, energy-efficient solution. Being new to the area, I was not sure what the options were. Understanding all the funding opportunities and incentives out there is daunting, not to mention knowing which group administers the funds or what the best equipment is for your home energy needs. If you live in a mobile home in Tompkins County, have an aging heating system, and have low-to-moderate income, right now your best bet is to turn to the Sustainable Finger Lakes Mobile Home Pilot Project.

Holly Hutchinson. Photo provided.

That’s because the Mobile Home Pilot Project is designed to connect mobile home owners with a Project Coordinator (that’s me) who can explain project details and guide you through the process. And we work with certified Clean Heat Contractors who are familiar with the available incentives (our program and other funding sources) and can guide you in stacking incentives for maximum affordability of the upgrade.  The Sustainable Finger Lakes Mobile Home Pilot Project provides funding towards air source heat pump systems and electric panel upgrades. Additional funding from NYSERDA can help many families cover the cost of air sealing and insulation, which is required for this project. On top of this, there are significant utility rebates and new federal tax credits to lower your upfront costs of switching to a heat pump system.

Here’s how it works:

• Contact the Project Coordinator to find out if you meet eligibility requirements: calendly.com/sflx.
• Receive a list of certified Clean Heat Contractors who are participating in this program.
• Call the contractor you choose from the list and schedule a home energy audit.
• The contractor will conduct the energy audit and provide you with a proposed work plan and cost, including the incentives (funding) available to you.  These contractors are knowledgeable about the current incentives and can come up with a financial package that is most affordable.
• You decide if you would like to move ahead with the work.
• Get the home energy upgrade done and enjoy the consistent temperatures, improved safety and air quality, and the long-term affordability of your home. (Did you know heat pumps also cool a home?  It is an awesome feature of this technology!)

Here are the requirements for the mobile home owner:

• You must live in Tompkins County, own your mobile home, and live there as your primary residence.
• You must bring your home up to a minimum insulation standard. This will ensure that the heat pump is properly sized and no energy is wasted in your new upgraded home!
• You must meet federal low-to-moderate income guidelines for your household size.
• You agree to respond to a survey from a member of our team before and after the upgrade, so we can know how it has impacted your utility bills and your comfort.

As part of your participation in the project, we ask that you share your story in a brief interview, to inspire others to join you on the path to becoming more energy efficient and lowering their carbon footprints. Did you know that 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State come from buildings? There are over 4,000 mobile homes in Tompkins County, and mobile home owners have an important role to play in taking action to protect the climate!

The Mobile Home Pilot Project is funded in part by the Tompkins Community Recovery Fund (TCRF). The TCRF was established by the Tompkins County Legislature and will distribute $6.53m of American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) funding to communities and organizations for the benefit of Tompkins County residents. Sustainable Finger Lakes was awarded a TCRF grant to upgrade 50 mobile homes in Tompkins County. We hope a successful pilot project will lead to other grant opportunities to expand the program in the future.

Holly Hutchinson is the Coordinator of the Finger Lakes Climate Fund at Sustainable Finger Lakes and the Project Coordinator for the Mobile Home Pilot Project. She can be reached at holly@sustainablefingerlakes.org or 607-272-1720