Westchester Homeowners Can Cut Bills Through New Weatherization Audits
State and local programs offer free energy assessments and heat pump incentives to reduce utility costs and improve comfort in colder months.
By Natalia Costa ·
Homeowners and apartment building operators in Westchester County can now access a free energy audit program designed to reduce utility bills and improve indoor comfort. The initiative, available through the Westchester Community Opportunity Program and the New York State Energy Hubs, helps residents identify air leaks and install cost-saving upgrades.
To participate, applicants must verify their identity, address, income, and Social Security number with WestCOP. Once qualified, an approved contractor and auditor inspect the structure. They use infrared cameras to map thermal gaps and pinpoint where warm air escapes. Marvin Church, vice president and co-founder of Comrie Enterprises, an approved sub-contractor for the New York State Energy and Research Authority, explained that these tools reveal exactly where air is leaking out.
Church noted that roofs and wall cavities are common sources of energy loss. He described a poorly insulated home as a sieve that allows cold air in during winter and heat in during summer. This forces heating and cooling systems to run continuously, which drives up monthly bills. Sealing these gaps creates a tighter building envelope, directly lowering energy costs.
The program also addresses lighting and heating systems. Contractors may install motion-sensor lighting to eliminate wasted power. They also evaluate the benefits of switching to heat pumps. These systems use no oil, propane, or gas, making them generally cheaper to operate than fossil fuels. Comrie Enterprises has worked with the Urban League of Westchester to educate homeowners and landlords about these options through a program called Adopt Clean Energy.
Church cited a specific example of a homeowner with an 8,000-square-foot house. That resident installed air-source and geothermal heat pumps along with a solar system. The monthly utility bill dropped from $8,000 to approximately $1,500. The state offers rebates through the NYSERDA Comfort Home program for materials used in these upgrades, although federal tax incentives for energy efficiency expired in 2025.
Church and his business partner, Diana Williams, also lead Environmental Leaders of Color, a nonprofit organization. The group recently won a grant from the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund to expand its cooking oil collection program. The initiative has prevented 600 gallons of grease from entering local waterways. The program is expanding from Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and Port Chester to Tuckahoe, Mamaroneck, and parts of Pelham and Eastchester.
The organization is also launching a green jobs training program for young adults ages 17 to 24 in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and New Rochelle. Participants will receive training in geothermal heat pump installation and leadership skills. Additionally, ELOC is running a free Saturday computer science academy at Westchester Community College's Mount Vernon campus, focusing on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
Comrie Enterprises is exploring a proposal for a 12-story apartment building on the site of the old YMCA on South Second Avenue in Mount Vernon. The project aims to house essential workers and college students alongside a green energy park. Church stated that the team is actively seeking state funding support to cover construction costs amid rising interest rates.
