October 31, 2025
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Fishers Island Fund was established in 2023 as a 501©3 (tax deductible) fund to benefit life on Fishers. Our first priority was to make Fishers more affordable to year-rounders by helping them save on the cost of energy. We focused initially on encouraging the installation of heat pumps, because of their efficiency – they produce 3 x more BTUs (energy) than they use, lowering heating bills substantially and providing air conditioning as a fringe benefit.
We are pleased to report that, with financial support of the Fund, coupled with subsidies from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and other agencies, we have just completed upgrading the first two year-round houses with heat pump air-circulating systems. (See “Energy Efficiency for Year-Rounders,” on FishersIsland.net October 2025.)
Building on this momentum, the Fund is now extending its efforts to year-round home owners whether or not they qualify for State subsidies. This time, we are focusing in on heat pump water heaters, which cost far less to operate, while producing important savings in the use of dishwashers, clothes washers, baths and showers because of their great energy efficiency. The Fishers Island Fund is now offering a $1,000 subsidy to resident home owners wishing to convert from traditional hot water installations to heat pump water heaters. (Though we do not qualify for the year-round subsidy, this includes Lois and George de Menil.) Homeowners wishing to apply should contact Julie Liu, the NYSERDA-certified contractor who is by now well known on the Island, at (929) 757-2330. We will also continue to support applications for full heat pump air circulating systems.
We currently have sufficient funding for a few applicants. We hope to expand this opportunity by appealing to your generosity. Please assist us in aiding more year-rounders. Our fundraising goal this year is $50,000.
Thank you for joining in our common effort to meet Island needs. Gifts large and small are appreciated. All gifts qualify for a tax deduction. Please be generous! Details on giving are included below.
Happy Holidays!
George de Menil, President
Jim Ingram, Treasurer
Susan Lusker, Secretary
John McGillian
Michael Roberts, Esq.
