Hamptons Luxury Homes (HLXH.PK) today announced its subsidiary, Telemark Service and Maintenance, has been approved as a contractor to participate in the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program. This follows Telemark’s meeting requirements to become a participating contractor for the 2011 Long Island Power Authority’s (LIPA) Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program last month. Telemark Service and Maintenance is the only firm of its kind on Long Island’s Hamptons area east of the Shinnecock Canal offering these services.

“This is one more step in our commitment to sustainable green building,” said Frank Dalene, Vice President of Hamptons Luxury Homes and President of the Telemark subsidiaries. “We believe very strongly that our customers look for companies who can bring about savings to them while at the same time saving our environment.”

NYSERDA’s and LIPA’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program is a network of independent home builders and contractors that are accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI). BPI is a national resource for building science technology that sets standards for assessing and improving the energy performance, as well as the health and safety of homes.

As part of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program, the Telemark Service and maintenance performs a Comprehensive Home Assessment (CHA), which normally lasts one to three hours, after which Telemark contractors provide a cost estimate to do the recommended improvements. Valuable information such as the following is considered in the assessment and recommendations:

  • Carbon Monoxide levels and/or moisture problems
  • Air infiltration rates/insulation levels
  • Heating/cooling/hot water system efficiency
  • Central air conditioning efficiency - if applicable
  • Distribution system (ductwork) - if applicable
  • Lighting and major appliances

Some benefits to Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program recipients include:

  • Energy audits - The program provides homeowners with a way of having an energy audit done at low or no cost. Households with income less than $207,200 with homes less than 3500 square feet qualify for a FREE Energy audit, a value of $250.00. For homes over 3500 square feet the state will pay $400. There is sliding scale for higher income households earning up to $414,400.
  • Reduced cost financing - The state offers a way to finance up to 100% of the cost to complete the recommended energy saving improvements for rates as low as 3.49% . For those with lower incomes, NYSERDA with subsidies up to 50% of the upgrade costs.
  • The LIPA rebate - Homeowners receive a 75% rebate for electric heat. Homeowners with oil or propane heat and central AC receive a 25% rebate. These rebates provided by LIPA are for qualified improvements that are recommended by the energy audit.
  • Supplemental rebate - LIPA will also pay the homeowner for items such as windows , storm windows, wiring upgrades, replacement of electric hot water heaters, etc.

Dalene added that “the rebates provided by the LIPA for homeowners who take the steps to institute recommendations from the audit have very liberal caps, thereby allowing owners to see almost immediate savings and benefits from the program.”

Hamptons Luxury Homes and its subsidiaries are national leaders in the construction industry by becoming carbon neutral two consecutive years with a commitment to continue doing so in the future. As a result of this and awards received for green building projects, including the HGA House on Long island, the company is at the forefront of green building in the New York area. The company demonstrated this commitment to sustainable building more than three years ago when it founded the Hamptons Green Alliance (www.hamptonsgreenalliance.org) a consortium of contractors and tradesmen in the Hamptons committed to “green” building practices.

About Hamptons Luxury Homes

Hamptons Luxury Homes (www.hlxhomes.com) is a regional construction services company that builds and maintains custom homes, luxury vacation homes and ultra-luxury estate homes throughout the eastern end of Long Island, New York, with its principal offices located in Bridgehampton, New York. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Telemark Inc., is a nationally-recognized and award-winning ultra-luxury homebuilder. The Company maintains an industry leading reputation for construction of luxury vacation homes from foundation to completion, with values ranging up to $60 million. Hamptons Luxury Homes combines ultra-high quality materials with old-world craftsmanship to create the ultimate in luxury homes with outstanding aesthetic appeal. The Company’s other wholly-owned subsidiaries include: Telemark Service and Maintenance, Inc., which provides ongoing property management, maintenance and services; Bridgehampton Millwork, Inc., which manufactures and installs custom millwork, custom cabinetry, custom built-ins and furniture.