CHENANGO COUNTY - The Chenango County Planning Department is taking steps to promote clean energy county-wide by partnering with a regional network to bolster home energy efficiency.

Shane Butler, director of the Chenango County Planning Department, said a partnership with Network for Sustainable Tomorrow (NEST) will give local homeowners financial incentives to re-evaluate their home’s energy needs.

NEST, a community-based network of programs whose focus is to expand clean energy in the southern tier region, says its Heat Smart initiative educates Chenango County homeowners about clean energy technologies, connects them with the right contractors, and points them to available financing.

“They’ll come in to make sure your house is tight and talk to you about the incentive of installing the right units,” Butler said. “There’s a lot of hope to become more efficient, even for old houses.”