Energy Services = Economic + Environmental Benefits (cont'd)

123 Main Street: Going Greener

Our own building in White Plains is a good example of the how energy-efficiency improvements can translate into substantial savings. In 2003, we completed $3.8 million worth of energy-efficiency upgrades at our Clarence D. Rappleyea Building at 123 Main Street, reducing the building’s energy use by 50 percent. A major share of the energy savings was achieved by replacing the building's 21-year-old chilled-water plant, which produced cool air for air conditioning. In addition to mitigating the use of ozone depleting refrigerants, the new chillers lowered the building's annual electricity consumption by 2.6 million kilowatt-hours (kwh), more than half the total savings of 5 million kwh.

With those improvements under our belt, in 2006 we embarked on an ambitious program to place our building among the ranks of the healthiest, most energy-efficient and most environmentally sound buildings in the nation.  A team of NYPA energy services and facilities management professionals adapted a wide range of the U.S. Green Building Council's  Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard building alterations into the structure of our 25-year old administrative office facility. After pursuing a checklist of modifications and activities to earn certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), we were notified in late December 2006 that we were the first existing building in New York State to earn the USGBC's coveted Gold award for environmental health and energy-efficiency.

Beyond reducing energy and water use, the award signifies that we  improved storm water management and in indoor and outdoor air quality; increased use of recycled materials; are employing “green” cleaning products that are biodegradable and low in toxicity; reducing upward-directed exterior lighting to cut “light pollution;” and are encouraging the use of public transportation and car-pooling.

Installation of a new chilled water plant was part of a major energy efficiency project at NYPA's Rappleyea building in 2003. More than half of the building's energy savings came from installation of the chillers

Through experiences with our own building and training programs sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council, we are developing an expertise in meeting a broad array of LEED specifications and implementation standards.

Named for a former NYPA chairman, the 17-story Rappleyea building houses about 600 NYPA employees, plus other tenants.

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Contents:

• Introduction

• Our commitment to energy services

• Energy-efficient refrigerators

• Coal furnace replacement

• Chiller replacement

• Benefits