❄️ Prepping Your Home for Winter Energy Savings

When winter arrives in New York City, it doesn’t just bring holiday lights and cozy sweaters, it also brings higher heating bills, energy inefficiency, and compliance questions for co-op and condo boards.

The good news? A few proactive steps now can help you save energy, lower costs, and ensure your home stays warm and comfortable all season long. Whether you own a prewar co-op on the Upper West Side, a townhouse in Harlem, or a condo in Long Island City, these strategies will help you prepare efficiently for the cold months ahead.

🏠 Start With a Home Energy Checkup

Before the first snow hits, it pays to understand where your energy dollars are going.

🔍 Schedule an Energy Audit

Con Edison offers free or discounted energy audits through its Home Energy Assessment program, available for both homeowners and renters. These assessments identify drafts, insulation gaps, and outdated equipment that waste energy.

For larger properties — like multi-unit co-ops or condo associations — boards can schedule building-wide energy audits through NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), which provides cost-sharing incentives for efficiency upgrades.

💡 Pro Tip: Bring this up at your next building meeting. Under Local Law 97, buildings over 25,000 square feet must report emissions data — and an audit is often the first step toward compliance.

🪟  Seal Drafts and Improve Insulation

Older NYC homes, especially prewar buildings with original windows, can lose up to 30% of indoor heat through air leaks.

🧰 Easy Fixes for Apartments and Brownstones

  • Use weatherstripping or draft stoppers at window sashes and door frames.

  • Install thermal curtains to reduce heat loss in rooms facing the street or courtyard.

  • Add insulating film to single-pane windows (affordable DIY kits available at Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Ace).

🏢 Building-Wide Strategies

Co-op and condo boards can explore insulation upgrades, rooftop sealing, or interior wall retrofits — often subsidized by NYSERDA Multifamily Energy Efficiency Programs.

💡 Pro Tip: Buildings with better insulation qualify for higher Energy Star Portfolio scores, which can attract energy-conscious buyers and reduce long-term operating costs.

🌡️ Upgrade Heating Systems

NYC buildings are famous for overactive radiators and uneven heat distribution. If you constantly open windows in winter, your system may be wasting energy.

🔥 Tune-Up Your Boiler

For gas- or oil-heated buildings, annual tune-ups can improve efficiency by 10% or more. NYC’s Clean Heat program encourages switching from oil to natural gas or electric systems.

💨 Balance Radiators

In older co-ops and rentals, a one-pipe steam system often overheats one apartment while leaving another cold. Installing thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) or air-vent balancing systems can distribute heat evenly without increasing fuel costs.

🌿 Consider Heat Pumps

Modern electric heat pumps work even in freezing temperatures. Con Edison and NYSERDA currently offer rebates of up to $10,000 per home for installing high-efficiency units — an increasingly popular solution for brownstones, small multifamily homes, and top-floor apartments.

💡 Pro Tip: Heat pumps also qualify for federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, making 2025 a smart year to explore this upgrade.

💡 Use Smart Controls for Smarter Savings

Smart thermostats are one of the easiest ways to cut winter heating costs — and they’re now compatible with most NYC building systems.

📱 Try Con Edison’s Smart Thermostat Program

Customers can receive rebates on eligible devices like Google Nest and ecobee models, which allow you to control heating from your smartphone and automatically adjust when you’re away.

In multifamily settings, property managers can integrate these controls into central systems to optimize boiler cycles — reducing both energy costs and emissions.

💡 Pro Tip: Smart thermostats can cut heating costs by 8% or more annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

🌆 Prepare Co-op and Condo Boards for Local Law 97

Local Law 97 is reshaping how New York buildings think about energy. The law caps carbon emissions for large buildings and introduces fines starting in 2025 for noncompliance.

📊 What Boards Should Do Now

  • Review your building’s emissions profile. NYC’s DOB provides an emissions calculator for benchmarking.

  • Plan retrofits early. Projects like boiler upgrades, window replacements, and rooftop solar installations can take months of planning.

  • Budget for compliance. Many boards are spreading costs over several fiscal years to minimize maintenance spikes.

💡 Pro Tip: The Carbon Challenge and NYC Accelerator programs provide free guidance to building owners and property managers navigating these upgrades.

🧽 Simple Habits That Add Up

Even small changes in daily habits can have a big impact on energy efficiency.

🕯️ Easy Winter Wins

  • Lower thermostats slightly at night or when away.

  • Clean radiator vents and filters monthly.

  • Run ceiling fans clockwise on low to push warm air downward.

  • Use draft snakes at entryways for quick comfort gains.

  • Swap incandescent bulbs for LEDs in hallways and kitchens.

💡 Pro Tip: Renters can request radiator air vent adjustments or weatherproofing as part of standard maintenance under NYC’s heat law, which requires landlords to maintain minimum indoor temperatures during winter months.

🏙️ Why Winter Efficiency Matters More Than Ever

Energy costs in New York are projected to rise again this winter, with Con Edison forecasting a 5–10% increase in residential heating bills due to global fuel prices and demand.

At the same time, citywide decarbonization goals are pushing property owners toward more sustainable systems — meaning that energy efficiency is no longer optional.

For co-op and condo boards, better insulation and efficient systems protect budgets and resale value. For renters, it means a warmer, healthier home. And for the city as a whole, it’s another step toward resilience in a changing climate.

Don’t wait until the first freeze to start your winter prep.

✅ Check your home for drafts, schedule an energy audit, and explore rebates before demand peaks.

If you’d like a personalized checklist for your apartment or building type — from prewar co-ops to modern condos — reach out today.

📩 Contact me for your Winter Energy Readiness Guide or subscribe to my newsletter for more seasonal home insights and NYC housing updates.

📚 References and Sources