Bright Power’s energy benchmarking software, EnergyScoreCards, is selected as one of four technologies launched in the pilot Municipal Entrepreneurial Testing System (METS), an opportunity for green companies to pilot new technologies in New York City. METS is a partnership between New York City Council members, NYCHA, and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).
Read “Quinn looks to tech firms to cut city energy use” by Tina Moore, New York Daily News, (April 27, 2012)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 27, 2012
The program will connect private companies with city agencies to beta test new environmental technology and support New York City’s clean tech industry
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK – OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
CITY HALL, NEW YORK, NY 10007
Contact: 212-788-7116
Release # 070-2012
City Hall, NY— Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Council Member Michael Nelson, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today announced six green technologies to be tested in city-owned buildings.
The Municipal Entrepreneurial Testing System (METS) is an opportunity for green companies to pilot new technologies in New York City at zero cost to the City.
METS, a partnership first proposed in Speaker Quinn’s 2010 State of the City address, will support tech start-ups and promote job creation in New York City.
“METS will help companies get to the market faster, so that they can start creating jobs for New Yorkers who manufacture, sell and install new technology,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “The projects chosen by the METS advisory board are exciting and innovative proposals that will make our City greener and ensure our place as the new tech capital of the world.”
“The availability of city owned property for testing products under real world conditions will improve the environmental performance in buildings and will provide a new source of jobs for New Yorkers outside the traditional financial sector, and contribute to the growth of new companies and industries in New York City,” said Council Member Michael Nelson. “I commend Speaker Quinn for her dedicated leadership on this most innovative initiative providing the potential for so many economic and environmental benefits.”
“In answering Speaker Quinn’s call to test-pilot innovative green technology in City buildings, DCAS brought the exceptional talent of its Energy team to make this initiative a reality,” saidDCAS Commissioner Edna Wells Handy. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the City to build on Mayor Bloomberg’s sustainability and energy efficiency goals through innovation and hard work. We look forward to seeing the environmental performance results, and energy cost savings.”
Six technologies were selected by the METS Advisory Board, led by Robert Catell and including experts and green industry leaders, for testing at city sites. Each technology was chosen for its potential to improve environmental performance in buildings and will gives companies the opportunity to test new technologies in real world environments.
“I’m proud to serve as the METS Advisory Chair and lead the team charged with identifying innovations to make New York City greener,” said Robert Catell, Chair of the Advanced Energy Technology Center at Stonybrook and the METS Advisory Board. “The technologies chosen were carefully selected by the committee for their potential to make meaningful, environmentally sound improvements in City buildings, and I applaud Speaker Quinn and the City Council for their efforts to support the clean technology industry and bring new jobs to New York City.”
“The New York City Housing Authority is continuously seeking ways to collaborate with other city entities to find best practices for energy efficiency,” said NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea. “The METS program is offering one key opportunity for partnerships that will provide useful tools in identifying ways to reduce energy usage. NYCHA spends approximately $500 million a year on energy costs, and any reduction in those costs releases funds that could be used elsewhere.”
Four pilots are ready for placement in City buildings:
- Residential Energy Tracking and Benchmarking
Bright Power: New York, New York
NYCHA
The first technology selected by the committee is a residential energy tracking program to monitor energy and water usage in NYCHA buildings. Developed by Bright Power, the EnergyScoreCards program will help identify inefficiencies in NYCHA facilities and pin point locations need of upgrades.NYCHA will begin testing Bright Power in 25 NYCHA buildings immediately. - Wireless Occupancy Sensors
Illumra: Orem, Utah
School Construction Authority (SCA), Flushing Meadows Corona Park Pool and Rink, Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and Department of Correction (DOC)
The second technology to be tested will turn off lights when they are not in use. Wireless occupancy sensors will be placed in the training, break and locker rooms at four city sites, where they will save energy by turning off lights in unoccupied rooms. Occupancy status will be sent from a solar powered transmitter, avoiding the need to change batteries or run new wiring in areas where lighting is not required 24 hours per day. - Wireless Steam Valves
Illumra: Orem, Utah
Department of Citywide Administrative Services and City Center
Illumra will also pilot a steam control system designed for steam-heated buildings at DCAS and the City Center facilities. Their wireless valves replace manual valves which can be inefficient, and result in overheating. This technology will wirelessly connect an electronic thermostat to an automatic control on the steam valve of the radiator to control building temperature.
- Cooling Coil Coating
Ener.co: New York, New York
Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Correction (DOC)
Ener.co will test its heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) coil coating system on select installations of the Department of Parks and Recreation, OEM and the DOC. Developed in New York City, the carbon nano coating is applied to heat exchanger coils within HVAC systems to increase cooling capacity, reduce power demand, prevent corrosion, and extend equipment life.
The City Council and DCAS are also seeking placement on two additional projects to reduce waste and fuel consumption:
- On-Site Composting
Global Enviro: Selfie, Norway (Offices in New York City)
The Advisory Committee recommended composting solution to reduce organic waste. Created by Global Enviro, the model that will be piloted would handle 50 tons of waste per year and produce a product 1/10 of its initial waste volume. - Building Energy Management
US Energy: Queens, New York
An energy management system to prevent overheating will also be piloted in a New York City building. US Energy Group’s Building Energy Management system will reduce fuel consumption for buildings through a web based reporting system that will allow property owners to monitor and regulate temperature performance.
The METS Advisory Committee is led by Robert Catell, Chair of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University. The Committee is composed of industry leaders who reviewed and recommended technologies for testing in New York City.
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