Volume XXVI, Number 5439
Monday, Jun 27, 2011
Sustainable Parks Spotlight: Energy Efficiency At Parks
autoria e fonte: http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/daily_plants/daily_plant_main.php?id=22449
Senior Stationary Engineer Scott Cunningham honored by DCAS
Parks usually measures its assets in terms of land and acreage, but the agency also looks after numerous buildings, including 5 major stadia, 32 recreation centers, six ice rinks, and three administrative facilities larger than 50,000 square feet. According to PlaNYC, buildings account for 94% percent of the city’s electricity use. Increasing our energy efficiency can substantially decrease Parks’ annual electricity bills, which cost more than $11 million each year.
The Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ Division of Energy Management (DEM) has been guiding Parks in planning, financing, and implementing energy efficiency actions. Our efforts to reduce the financial and environmental costs of electricity will help the City achieve its goal of 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2017.
At its annual energy awards ceremony in May, DCAS recognized Scott Cunningham from Parks for his efforts at conserving energy in Parks facilities. Scott is a Senior Stationary Engineer at 5-Boro Technical Services. He supervises 40 stationary engineers and is responsible for many HVAC systems, six ice skating rinks, the Queens Museum of Art, and Flushing Meadows Corona Park Pool and Ice Rink. Scott also oversees a computerized HVAC system for Gracie Mansion.
He has made significant efforts to reduce energy consumption through the installation of energy-efficient chillers, lighting fixtures, lighting controls, and Energy Star rated appliances over the years. He always encourages his engineers to run their facilities with energy efficiency in mind. Forward thinking and proactive, Scott has already had a couple of his facilities approved by DCAS DEM for various PlaNYC Energy efficient retrofits, as part of the city effort to promote and finance for energy efficiency in building.
What is Peak Load Management?
In an effort to reduce its energy consumption during the summer, Parks has embarked on a Peak Load Management Program (PLM). Under the program, participating facilities reduce energy usage when called upon, earning a cash award for saved energy - each kilowatt saved through the PLM program awards participating facilities $25. Awards are then used in energy efficiency related projects such as expanding green and white roofs, as well as replacing lighting equipment.
According to Omer Cabuk, Energy Liaison at 5-Boro Technical Services, “If we don’t want to have another blackout like in 2003, it’s important to reduce the demand on hot days. When everybody turns on the air conditioning at the same time, there’s a great surge in electricity usage.”
On peak load days, Parks takes a few steps to reduce this surge in electricity usage. 5-boro, Flushing Meadows Corona Park Pool and Garage switch to generators to reduce demand. At six more pool sites as well as at the Unisphere, Omer makes sure that operators shut off half of the pumps between 11:45 am and 6 pm. Other than that, Omer says there are simple steps we can all take in order to reduce demand. “We can keep the air conditioning on until noon, and then turn it off, maintaining the temperature by making sure our rooms are closed, shaded, and insulated.”
Submitted by Amit Ashkenazy, Sustainability Intern
