274 NYC Institutions Reduce Energy Costs by $5.5 million Annually with Support from NYSERDA

Like in Do It Yourself Home Energy Audits, my former employer , the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) did energy efficiency audits and improvements for NYC municipalities, K-12 school districts, hospitals, businesses and colleges.  They are saving in energy costs more than $5.5 million annually.

The energy savings in New York City—35.3 million kilowatt hours—is equivalent to the amount of electricity consumed by 5,100 single-family homes and will be realized by these entities every year for years to come. Payback on the measures is approximately three to five years.

Companies and institutions that made performance-based upgrades not only save energy but also improve productivity and lower equipment maintenance and operating costs.

NYSERDA’s commercial and industrial programs provided more than $6.9 million in incentives to 274 New York City businesses and institutions during the first six months of 2011. These incentives helped fund the purchase and installation of high performance lighting and controls, HVAC, high efficiency chillers and boilers, building management systems and various other energy efficiency measures.

New York City incentive recipients included:

• Fordham University had the new Rose Hill Dormitories designed to perform approximately 30 percent better than New York State Energy Code requirements. Each building is approximately 83,500 square feet with multiple stories. Together, these buildings will save 847,853 kWh per year and reduce summer peak load by 530kW, thereby reducing utility bills by more than $74,000 per year.
• National Audubon Society in Manhattan installed energy-efficient lighting, occupancy controls and daylighting technology, and incorporated sustainable building materials into its new building. The project will help reduce energy costs by approximately $6,300 annually and decrease electricity consumption by 39,000 kilowatt hours.
• Key Foods in Flushing, Queens, installed performance-based lighting and controls in its grocery store. The project will help reduce energy costs by $45,000 annually and decrease electricity consumption by nearly 262,000 kilowatt hours.
• Polytex Environmental Inks, Ltd. in the Bronx installed high-efficiency lighting fixtures. The project will help reduce energy costs by $41,000 annually and decrease electricity consumption by 209,000 kilowatt hours.