PSEG Long Island joined nearly a thousand organizations, companies, and individuals across the nation in recognition of National Energy Efficiency Day (EE Day) by announcing it has helped customers save more than 2.1 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity since Jan. 1, 2014. That is enough to power nearly 216,000 Long Island homes for an entire year.

Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) is one of many examples of organizations and businesses on Long Island and in the Rockaways that have taken advantage of the various rebates and incentives available for PSEG Long Island customers. Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) participated in the PSEG Long Island Commercial Efficiency Program, receiving more than $85,000 in rebates for upgrading to efficient indoor and outdoor lighting. This has saved the organization an estimated 460,000 kWh in electricity and more than $73,500 per year. In addition, HKNC received a $38,995 rebate for installing a high efficiency “magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller,” used to provide comfort cooling to the facilities throughout the campus.

Headquartered in Sands Point, HKNC provides comprehensive vocational and independent living training to youths and adults who are DeafBlind. It offers support and learning opportunities to professionals and family members, and maintains a National Registry of Persons who are DeafBlind. The outdoor LED lighting design not only saves energy, it helps enhance lighting levels for the vision impaired to better navigate the campus.

“We applaud the Helen Keller National Center for carefully assessing energy usage and adopting energy-efficient upgrades,” said Michael Voltz, PSEG Long Island’s director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables. “PSEG Long Island and its Commercial Efficiency Program are helping to reduce the facilities’ operating costs, freeing up capital that can be directed towards the students.”

“Any savings we can redirect to the people we work with every day is a good thing,” said Sue Ruzenski, CEO of Helen Keller Services. “This program from PSEG Long Island has gone a long way toward not just helping us in providing services, but also in being a more responsible consumer of energy.”

Commercial and residential customers are saving energy and money by purchasing ENERGY STAR-certified products. From Jan. 1, 2014 to Aug. 31, 2021, residential customers purchased more than 28 million ENERGY STAR light bulbs and fixtures with the help of PSEG Long Island incentives. Compared to incandescent lighting, a single LED bulb will save a household approximately $230 over the lifetime of each bulb. By installing just five ENERGY STAR-certified LED bulbs in the most frequently used lighting fixtures in a home, it’s possible to save 9% on energy costs annually.

With PSEG Long Island’s help, residential customers have taken advantage of more than 158,844 rebates on ENERGY STAR-certified washers, dryers, refrigerators, dehumidifiers and more. They have also recycled more than 26,000 appliances, including old working refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

Small, medium and large businesses on Long Island and in the Rockaways have qualified for rebates on more than 26,000 completed energy efficiency projects, which include upgrading lighting fixtures and bulbs to more energy efficient LEDs.

Independent annual evaluations have found PSEG Long Island’s energy efficiency programs generate energy savings that are cost-effective. In its evaluation for 2020, Demand Side Analytics found that the PSEG Long Island programs generated $1.55 in benefits to the utility and its customers for every $1 in costs to operate the program, including rebates.

For more information on PSEG Long Island’s available residential and commercial rebates and incentives, as well as energy saving tips, click here. Customers are also encouraged to join the “EE Day” conversation on social media using the hashtag: #EEDay2021.