Mayor Bloomberg unveils plan to reduce municipal energy consumption

Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently unveiled the long-term action plan to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the city's municipal buildings and operations by 30% by 2017, as promised in PlaNYC. The long-term plan is a comprehensive guide to reducing the city's carbon footprint, through making city buildings more efficient, improving preventative maintenance, capturing energy potential at wastewater treatment plants, and more. The plan was developed by the Energy Conservation Steering Committee created by an Executive Order signed by mayor Bloomberg in October, 2007 and chaired by deputy mayor for operations Edward Skyler. The mayor was joined by Skyler, Ashok Gupta, air and energy program director of the Natural Resource Defense Council; and Gil Quiniones, acting COO of the New York Power Authority at St. Mary's Recreation Center in the Bronx, a Parks Dept. facility that, under the plan, will receive energy-saving retrofits. "Our long-term plan will cut city government's annual output of greenhouse gases by nearly 1.7 million metric tons, which also will greatly improve air quality, and take a 220-megawatt bite out of peak demand for electricity," said mayor Bloomberg. "We can achieve these results by using cost-effective existing technologies. The city is doing its part, I hope the private sector follows our example and finds conservation savings of their own."  City government accounts for 6.5% of the city's total energy usage and 10% of its peak electricity demand. To meet its 30% reduction goal by 2017, the city must produce 1.68 million fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) annually versus 2006 levels. This will be achieved through a capital improvement program for the city's facilities. One of the largest single opportunities for reductions, 57% of the total, is through upgrades to existing buildings. There are other savings to be found in the way buildings are operated, including developing and implementing preventive practices in buildings that consume large amounts of energy. Energy-saving projects at wastewater treatment plants account for the second largest opportunity for greenhouse gas reductions, 17% of the total. Wastewater treatment processes generate significant amounts of methane gas, one of the strongest greenhouse gas emissions sources. Projects in this group include fixing methane gas leaks, using recaptured methane to power electric generation equipment, and making general efficiency improvements to other specialized equipment. Further reductions will be achieved through accelerating the purchase of more energy efficient vehicles, adopting best practices to economize vehicle miles traveled, and improving vehicular management programs. Also, 250- and 150-watt street lighting fixtures will be replaced with models that maintain equal lighting levels, but use one-third less wattage. The city will also expand on-site electricity generation at city facilities.  Leading examples of this technology include solar panels and combined heat and power systems known as cogeneration. The city will also adopt energy-efficient technologies in new building construction and explore the use of new technology.