de Blasio administration mobilizes $13 million in energy efficiency upgrades; Part of $39 million investment in energy efficiency projects

The de Blasio administration revealed that one third of an initial $39 million in energy efficiency investments are already underway across multiple city agencies as part of the Accelerated Conservation and Efficiency (ACE) program. ACE is competitive funding program managed by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to fast track shovel-ready energy capital projects and guarantee optimal greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and cost savings. The overall investments include energy infrastructure improvements at wastewater treatment plants, boiler upgrades and steam optimization at schools, boiler upgrades at NYPD facilities, high-efficiency rooftop units and lighting replacements at FDNY facilities, and upgrades at CUNY and FIT, among other projects. Collectively, these projects will result in an annual reduction of 13,800 MT of carbon emissions and yield avoided energy costs of $5.06 million a year. These projects are part of the much larger sustainability commitment announced last month. de Blasio has committed New York City to an 80% reduction in its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over 2005 levels by 2050, charting a long-term path for investment in renewable sources of energy and a total transition from fossil fuels. This commitment starts with the sweeping green buildings plan announced last week. 'One City, Built to Last' focuses on dramatically reducing emissions from buildings, which account for nearly three-quarters of the city's GHG emissions. de Blasio has committed to retrofitting every single city-owned building with significant energy use by 2025, including through key efficiency upgrades such as the ones revealed. Under the plan, the city will expand ACE to serve more agencies, support more projects, and collaborate with the city's construction agencies to maximize energy efficiency in capital improvements and renovations. The city will also spur private building to invest in efficiency upgrades, including by providing ambitious interim targets and incentives and implementing mandates if targets are not met. "This major investment marks yet another step forward as we work to dramatically reduce our contributions to climate change," said de Blasio. "By leading the way in retrofitting every public building with real energy use in the next 10 years, while catalyzing the private sector, we're charting a path toward an 80 percent reduction in emissions by 2050." "'One City, Built to Last' is an ambitious and necessary roadmap toward dramatically reducing our contributions to climate change, and today's investment is yet another example of that commitment," said Bill Goldstein, senior advisor to the mayor for recovery, resiliency, and infrastructure. "Buildings across the public and private sector will see many more investments like these in the coming months and years as we implement this sweeping plan." "Responding to climate change means dramatically reducing our contributions to its causes, while protecting ourselves against its risks," said Daniel Zarrilli, director of the mayor's office of recovery & resiliency and acting director of the mayor's office of long-term planning and sustainability. "This investment marks yet another major commitment by this administration to chart a long-term path away from fossil fuels." "DCAS is proud to support 'One City, Built to Last' by leading the expansion of the ACE program," said Stacey Cumberbatch, commissioner of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. "ACE is part of a diverse set of City programs that will help to advance the city's commitment to reducing GHG emissions 80 percent by 2050."