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by David Pospisil, Manager of Con Edison's Commercial & Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs
Oct-19-2012
Buildings account for 80 percent of the energy consumed in New York City and 85 percent of the buildings that will be part of our urban landscape in 2030 are already in place. That’s why increasing the energy efficiency of buildings – especially existing ones – has become an urgent priority for New York City. Transforming commercial and industrial buildings enhances the quality of life of all of us who work and live in the world’s greatest city. It combats climate change, guarantees cleaner air and water, and fosters innovation that produces jobs, strengthening our economy. Con Edison, which has been recognized by a number of agencies for its environmental stewardship, is at the vanguard of New York City’s quest for more energy-efficient buildings and is eager to help owners make improvements that will save them money. The Con Edison Green Team’s Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Energy Efficiency Program ( conEd.com/energysavings) offers rebates and incentives for high-efficiency electric and gas equipment including lighting and lighting controls, HVAC systems, boilers/furnaces, motors, and variable frequency drives through the C&I Equipment Rebate Program. Rebates for LED retrofit projects, for example, are a popular option through this program. LED lighting technology has matured quickly the past several years while LED prices have dropped. Many C&I customers in the program realize a significant energy savings, plus the rebates help them save on installation costs. While lighting projects offer significant savings for a lower capital investment, it’s important for an owner to examine whether more extensive work might produce even more lucrative savings. If you are planning a complex project, such as upgrading a chiller and/or refrigeration system, industrial process or compressed air system, Con Edison’s Custom Program may be a great help. The Custom Program provides incentives for cost-effective, energy-efficient technologies not included in the Equipment Rebate Program. The Custom Program focuses on total energy savings per project, rather than rebates for specific equipment upgrades. Con Edison’s C&I Energy Efficiency Program also offers payment of up to 50 percent of costs, with a cap of $67,000, for an energy audit. More than 600 reputable, experienced and knowledgeable energy experts participate in the Con Edison C&I Energy Efficiency Program’s Market Partner network. Our Market Partners provide technical support to commercial and industrial customers for the installation of energy-efficient equipment and can help with the application process. The further good news is that the push for high-performance buildings has spawned a market flush with innovations in building technology. Building technologies such as high-efficiency replacement motors, variable frequency drives (VFDs), lighting and controls for heating and cooling equipment are rapidly improving. The technological advances, along with the bounty of incentives and rebates that are available, provide businesses with a prime opportunity to reduce their energy costs and improve their service through energy efficiency. With an affordable investment, a building owner can take advantage of fast-evolving technology to provide comfortable temperature and humidity levels, proper lighting, and generally pleasant working conditions. That means more productive employees, energy savings that can be invested elsewhere in the business, and a building with more lease or sale value. To participate in the Con Edison C&I Energy Efficiency Program, your business must be a commercial or industrial electric or gas customer of Con Edison and pay the systems benefit charge (SBC) on its utility bill. Projects must be located in the Con Edison service territory, and must not have received an incentive from other sources. For the New York metro area and Westchester County, contact the C&I Energy Efficiency Program to assist with your energy efficiency needs. For more information, visit conEd.com/energysavings or call 1-877-797-6347. Join the discussion on LinkedIn (Con-Edison-Commercial-Industrial), Facebook (ConEd Green Team C&I), Twitter (ConEd Green Team C&I) and YouTube (ConEd Green Team C&I). The Con Edison Green Team has an energy efficiency program available for almost everyone. To find out which program is right for you, call 1-877-860-6118 or visit www.conEd.com/greenteam.
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