The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded St. John's University a High Performance Building Plaque for designing and constructing its new student/university center with features that cut energy costs by nearly $245,000 annually. The university's D'Angelo Center, which opened in 2009, received more than $480,000 in support from NYSERDA which leveraged nearly $1.5 million in private investment. The facility's many green features include advanced lighting systems, demand-control ventilation, district cooling and high-efficiency displacement heating ventilation and air-conditioning. These energy efficiency measures enhance comfort and efficiency by minimizing energy consumption and demand on the grid. NYSERDA awards High Performance Building Plaques to hospitals, colleges and universities, schools, businesses and other organizations that construct or substantially renovate buildings that perform at least 30% above the state's Energy Conservation Construction Code. The D'Angelo Center is rated to perform 43% above code. The five-story, 127,000 s/f D'Angelo Center is a hub of campus activity. The building includes high-tech classrooms, student meeting and social spaces, multipurpose rooms, a cafeteria and a boardroom. "It is a pleasure to work with the NYSERDA staff and their technical assistance providers," said Brij Anand, VP for campus facilities and services at St. John's. "Their professional services and wide breadth of knowledge have helped St. John's University increase its energy efficiency and achieve its carbon emissions reduction goal (PlaNYC - Mayor Bloomberg Challenge) of 30% by year 2017." The challenge to design for energy efficiency was met with smart engineering by AKF Group LLC. Their work will help the university to cut its annual energy consumption by an estimated 1,092,274 kilowatt hours, equal to the amount of electricity consumed by 159 single-family homes in one year. "Energy efficiency improvements to the D'Angelo Center at St. John's will have a far-reaching effect on sustainability," said Francis Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA. "This award recognizes the university's commitment to reducing energy use and, thereby, positively impacting the environment." NYSERDA's New Construction Program assists organizations with incorporating energy efficiency measures and sustainable building practices into the design, construction and operation of new or renovated buildings. Green building incentives also are available to customers pursuing LEED certification. These measures are designed to save energy through reduced electricity demand and operating costs. For existing facilities, NYSERDA incentives can be used for lighting retrofits, upgrades to motors systems, energy management systems, heating and cooling systems and other operations. Assistance also is available for energy audits to help identify cost-effective opportunities to increase energy efficiency, develop greenhouse gas emission inventories and more. For more information, visit http://nyserda.ny.gov. NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect our environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York since 1975.