New York, NY – August 1, 2007: Who is the coolest
community in New York? When it comes down to the BE COOL Challenge
between New York City’s five boroughs and Westchester County, air
conditioners will be the deciding factor.
To make it easier for New Yorkers to save
electricity this summer, the New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York Power Authority (NYPA) and
Con Edison are launching BE COOL, a campaign that promotes the
purchase of energy efficient room air conditioners. On August 1 at 1
p.m., Borough President Helen Marshall will host a media event
outside borough hall at 120-55 Queens Boulevard to challenge all
Queens residents to turn in their old air conditioners and replace
them with ENERGY STAR® qualified models. The BE COOL Challenge
winner will be the community with the highest percentage of
residents participating in the campaign.
“I am hopeful that many of our residents will take
up the BE COOL challenge and help make Queens the ‘coolest’ borough
in New York City,” Marshall said. “Under this program, homeowners
can turn in their old air conditioner for an energy-efficient new
one, reduce electricity costs and improve air quality. This
energy-saving campaign aligns with New York City’s effort to build a
greener and greater New York. I thank NYSERDA, the New York Power
Authority and Con Ed for working together to improve our borough and
our city’s environment.”
“BE COOL represents a huge opportunity for New
Yorkers to reduce their energy use. The program is an important
component of Governor Spitzer’s comprehensive policy to reduce
carbon emissions,” said Paul D. Tonko, president and CEO of NYSERDA.
“We want to tap into that New York pride with the BE COOL Challenge
and see who will be the coolest community this summer.”
“This campaign reminds the residents of each
borough and those in Westchester County that lowering energy use
helps us all. To BE COOL this summer, shift your energy use to
evening hours and take a look at the incentives for an
energy-efficient air-conditioner,” said NYPA Chairman Frank S.
McCullough, Jr.
“I urge all New Yorkers to take advantage of these
programs to make saving energy even more cost-effective,” said Mayor
Michael R. Bloomberg. “By taking these easy steps in their homes,
New Yorkers can lower their electricity bills, help prevent
blackouts, and help prevent climate change. Helping consumers save
energy is a key component of our plaNYC effort to build a greener,
greater New York, and we are proud to be working with NYSERDA on
this program.”
Single- and multi-family residential customers of
Con Edison electric service in New York City and Westchester County
who turn in their old, working room air conditioner may earn $35
when they purchase a new window unit or $100 when they purchase a
through-the-wall unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR®.
“BE COOL is helping our customers to safely recycle and replace
inefficient air conditioners with energy-efficient and
environmentally friendly models," said Rebecca Craft, director of
energy efficiency programs for Con Edison. “As the campaign
continues throughout the summer, I encourage more customers to get
involved in this energy-saving opportunity.”
ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners use 10
to 25 percent less energy than a conventional new model or up to 40
percent less energy than a 10-year-old unit. To earn the incentive,
residents just need to bring their old unit to an authorized drop
off site or retailer location, where the units will be properly
recycled and residents will receive a mail-in application for the
incentive. Managers of multi-family buildings may contact NYSERDA
directly to complete a change-out of all the units in their
building.
“Encouraging residents to take simple actions can
have powerful results,” Tonko added. According to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, if one out of 10 families in the
United States used cooling and heating equipment that has earned the
ENERGY STAR, the change would keep more than 17 billion pounds of
pollution out of the air.
New Yorkers who are not eligible for the incentive
can beat the heat and still save energy by using timers on air
conditioners and lights; closing shades or curtains on windows that
receive direct afternoon sun; using ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent
light bulbs (CFLs) instead of heat-generating incandescent bulbs;
and always looking for the ENERGY STAR when purchasing appliances
and air conditioning products. Shifting energy-intensive tasks such
as dishwashing and clothes washing to cooler early morning or late
night hours can also help reduce mid-afternoon heat build-up and
make sure there is enough electricity for everyone during the
hottest part of the day.
Visit
www.GetEnergySmart.org or call 1-877-NY-SMART (1-877-697-6278)
for more information about BE COOL and other summer energy saving
tips.
NYSERDA uses innovation and technology to solve
some of New York's most difficult energy and environmental problems
in ways that improve the State's economy.
NYPA is the nation's largest state-owned electric
utility and provides energy-saving services and clean energy
technologies to public institutions such as schools, hospitals and
universities. Visit
www.nypa.gov to learn more about the New York Power Authority.
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