The air you breathe is hazardous to your health. It’s a sobering thought, but it’s one we’ve gotten accustomed to over the years, doing the best we can to cut down on smog and stop using ozone-harming chemicals. But while most people are aware of the health dangers of outdoor air pollution, you may not realize that air pollution in homes, offices, and schools also can have significant health effects. Read the full story

Ever walk by a strange closet in your office building, and hear a humming sound? Thought maybe there is a monster in the closet? Most likely the closet contained a transformer.

Transformers are the beasts that make sure that the electricity that gets to the outlet is of proper strength. Assume that lots of power comes into a building from the street, and transformers ‘transform’ the electricity into usable quantities. Read the full story

Please find below summaries we’ve written about various NJ and NY government incentive programs focused on energy efficiency.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the full document, please contact us!

• NJ Solar Incentive Summary
• NY State Incentives Summary for Purchasing Energy Efficient Commercial Equipment
• NY State Incentives Summary for Purchasing Energy Efficient Commercial Kitchen Equipment
• Energy Efficient Lighting Summary

NJ Solar Incentive Summary

New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program offers a Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) Program for financing solar energy systems. This program is designed to compensate individuals and businesses for generating and using clean energy.

SREC program issues credit certificates. Here is how it works:

It allots 1 credit for every 1000kw of energy generated through the installed solar system.

• Credits are allotted for energy produced in one program year which runs from June 1 through May 31.
• The owner of the credits can trade in the market, voluntary or compliance, through August 31 of that year.
• Solar Renewable Energy Certificates are anticipated to compensate
  New Jersey solar generators at an average rate of $0.20 per kWh
  generated with a rate impact to individual ratepayers estimated to be $0.00002 per kWh.

NY State Incentives Summary for Purchasing Energy Efficient Commercial Equipment

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers various incentives for businesses that
purchase energy efficient equipment such as energy efficient lighting, chiller upgrades or replacements, and solar panels.

Here is information about some of their programs aimed at improving the reliability of New York’s electric grid while helping businesses reduce operating costs.

• The Peak-Load Reduction Program – if your company has a large electric load on summer afternoons then you may be eligible for incentives to offset the costs of up to 65% of energy saving capital improvements.
• The program is divided into two categories: Permanent Demand Reduction and Demand Response.
• Demand Response is defined as any action taken in response to an emergency signal that temporarily limits electric demand.
• Demand Response is an effective way to guard New Yorkers against grid events, reduce dependence on oil, lower peak electric prices, and increase revenue.
• NYSERDA provides businesses with low cost comprehensive energy audits and an excellent loan program offering highly reduced interest rates.

NY State Incentives Summary for Purchasing Energy Efficient Commercial Kitchen Equipment

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers various incentives for businesses that purchase energy efficient equipment, including commercial kitchen equipment such as:

• Electric Steamers
• Ovens
• Fryers
• Pre-rinse spray valves and holding cabinets
• Boilers, furnaces, unit heaters and storage hot water heaters.
• Demand freezer and ice makers
• Unitary HVAC
• Commercial Clothes Washers
• NYSERDA’s incentive programs vary according to the type of energy efficient project and the needs of the customer.
• NYSERDA has organized their incentives into three separate programs, referred to as Tiers. For a given energy efficiency measure, NYSERDA will provide an incentive under only one tier of the applicant’s choice.
• NYSERDA provides participating businesses with excellent resources such as low-cost energy audits and a fantastic loan program offering highly reduced interest rates.

Energy Efficient Lighting Summary

The 2005 Energy Policy Act regulates and mandates energy-efficient lighting systems. It provides accelerated tax deduction incentives to commercial building owners for energy savings achieved through energy-efficient interior lighting upgrades. The lighting upgrade projects must be completed from 2006 through 2008.

Through lighting upgrades to energy efficient systems a commercial building owner can claim up to 45% tax deductions along with 25%-40% energy cost savings with a payback period of less than 3 years.

Here are some details and highlights of the program:

• It reduces the overall taxable income.
• For example, suppose your total taxable income is $10,000 and the lighting tax deduction incentive available to you is $1000. After taking advantage of the incentive your total taxable income becomes $9000. So you now pay tax on $9000.
• This tax deduction allows a company to write off a significant portion – up to 60 cents per square foot – of a capital investment in an energy efficient lighting system in the year it was installed. (Capital Investment refers to money used by a business to purchase fixed assets, such as land, machinery, or buildings.)
• The energy requirement for efficient lighting system is related to the savings in energy in terms of Lighting Power Density.
• The Lighting Power Density is calculated as watts-per-square-foot. For a given space with multiple lighting systems, the Lighting Power Density is calculated as the total wattage of all the lighting systems present in that space (square foot).
• To qualify for the tax deduction incentives, the Lighting Power Density savings of a commercial building after lighting upgrades must be of 25%-40% below the energy standards set in energy efficiency code ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2001.
• To clarify, this tax deduction incentive is in the range of $0.30 to $0.60 per square foot proportional to Lighting Power Density savings of 25%-40% below ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2001.

Lighting technologies

Many technologies can be used to achieve the efficiency targets, such as:

1. T8 lamps + Super T8 lamps
2. High-efficiency electronic ballasts
3. Indirect lighting
4. High-efficiency fixtures
5. Low-wattage metal halide lamps
6. Compact fluorescent
7. T8 and T5HO hi-bay fixtures
8. Occupancy sensors
9. Lighting automation panels
10. Building automation systems
11. Photo-sensors (bi-level switching)
12. Manual switches (bi-level switching)

Energy Star for buildings is a rating system for evaluating the energy performance of the building. On a scale of 1-100, commercial and industrial facilities having an energy performance score of 75 or above are labeled Energy Star.

Energy Star labeled buildings on average use 35% less energy and emit one-third less carbon dioxide.

The Energy Star Labels for Buildings is jointly led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE).

Eligibility for Energy Star

The following types of buildings and facilities are eligible for Energy Star labels:

• offices
• bank branches
• financial centers
• retailers
• courthouses
• hospitals
• hotels
• K-12 schools
• Medical offices
• Dormitories
• Warehouses

Definition of Green Procurement

Green procurement is also known as environmentally responsible procurement. It involves the selection of products and services that minimize the negative impact on the environment as well as human health. Focus of green procurement is on the impact of sourcing of the raw materials, manufacturing, transporting, storing, handling and disposal of the product.

Purchasing in green procurement is based on various criteria including the need to purchase in the first place and the alternatives for disposal.

Green Procurement Methods

Green procurement involves integrating environmental and human health factors into its policies typically in the following way:

• While considering environmental impact, other factors such as product safety, performance and availability should be a part of the process
• Reducing toxic air and water pollution from the start of the process based on the item purchased
• Looks at the purchase in terms of the overall cost of product ownership, spread over the lifecycle of the product. This would account for cost of disposal for example.
• Emphasizes materials that are sustainable and recyclable and that minimize water and energy use. These benefits should be made clear in the lifecycle pricing model that drives the purchase decision.

The quality of air inside our homes or offices is prone to pollution. Indoor air pollutants include chemicals used in furniture, cleaning supplies and personal care, asbestos in insulation material, microbial pollutants such as mold, pet dander and plant pollen. Carpets, drapes and other fabrics absorb some of these pollutants. Poor ventilation or improper circulation of outside air promotes microbial growth.

Health effects

Some immediate effects of indoor air pollution are irritation of eyes, nose and throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. Indoor air pollutants may trigger symptoms of certain diseases such as asthma, hypersensitivity, pneumonitis, and humidifier fever.

After several years of exposure to indoor air pollutants some health effects can occur such as respiratory diseases, heart diseases, and cancer.

Indoor Air Quality Facts

• According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is about 2 to 10 times more hazardous than outdoor air.
• One report cited by EPA says up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may prompt excessive complaints related to lousy indoor air quality.
• As per EPA estimation, over 1.4 million buildings in the United States suffer from indoor air pollution.
• As per the EPA, one out of four new or renovated indoor buildings in the U.S. may be classified as “sick buildings.”
• The cost of improving office climate saves 8 to 17 times more than the costs of making those improvements.

Definition

Carbon footprint is the measure of units of carbon dioxide emitted by human activities such as driving a car, heating homes with oil, etc. Carbon footprint is measured over a period of a year. For example, for each gallon of gasoline used, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted is 8.7kgs. Carbon dioxide is a major component of the greenhouse gas (GHG) responsible for global warming. Other GHGs include methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, etc. Carbon footprint gives a fair understanding of personal contributions to global warming.

How is Carbon Footprint calculated?

There are different ways of calculating carbon footprint. In the first method, called Life Cycle Assessment, the amount of carbon emissions is calculated over the entire life cycle of the product. For example, carbon emissions of a car would take into account the emissions from building the car, driving the car and disposing it off. At a country level, the carbon emissions are calculated top-down. In this method total emissions from the country are divided by the population or number of residents.

To find out your personal impact on the environment, use the online carbon footprint calculators at  TerraPass and ClimateCrisis.

Carbon Footprint Facts

The U.S. accounts for more than 20% of the global total greenhouse gas emissions. An average American emits 22 tons of carbon each year. Approximately 40% of U.S. emissions come from home energy use and transportation. Every three bulbs replaced with energy efficient fluorescent bulbs in each American household would help to eliminate about a trillion pounds of CO2 a year.

How to reduce Carbon Footprint

There are several ways to reduce individual carbon footprint ranging from bulbs to biomass energy.

• Get smart about energy efficiency. Move the thermostat two degrees down in winter and 2 degrees up in summer. Replace lamps with CFL bulbs. Unplug battery chargers when not in use.
• Become a locovore. Buy fruits and vegetables from local farmer’s markets.
• Carpool or use public transport.
• Purchase green power and support renewable energy generation.

Definition

Green Roofs are rooftop gardens, a sustainable roofing alternative, planted on top of a waterproofing membrane. Green roofs provide excellent energy saving potential and storm water management. They can be used in industrial facilities, residences, office buildings and other commercial properties. They are aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.

Benefits of Green Roofs

Green roofs are an attractive roofing option as well as for maintaining ecological balance. They assimilate large amounts of rainwater thereby reducing the load on sewage systems. These gardens lessen air pollution, collect airborne particulates and store carbon. They insulate the building by keeping the interior cool in summer. With less solar energy reaching the roof substrate, the life of the roof is extended as the damage caused by UV radiation and daily temperature fluctuations is reduced.

Types of Green Roofs

There are two types intensive and extensive. Intensive green roofs have a soil depth of 8 inches to 4 feet. These are designed like a park with elaborate planting. They are planted over concrete roof decks to withstand weight requirements.

Extensive green roofs are lighter in weight. Their soil depth is 3 inches to 7 inches. Extensive green roofs are installed over various roof decks.

Cost versus long-term savings

It costs about $8 per square foot to build an extensive green roof. The traditional built-up roofs cost about $1.25 to $1.5 per square foot. The high up-front cost of green roofs is attributed to the cost of material and labor. As the demand rises the costs will likely decrease. However, the savings gained through green roofs in energy costs in summer, storm water infrastructure investment and extended life of the roof far exceed the up-front costs.

Green Roof Chicago’s City Hall

The 20,300 square foot semi-extensive green roof of City of Chicago has 20,000 herbaceous plants, 40 vines and two trees. The roof drinks 60% of the dirty rainwater. The green roof saves $5,000 a year on utility bills.

Reference

Heat Island Effect

Energy Efficiency through Lighting reduces electric bills. This can be achieved by reducing the consumption of electricity by light bulbs and fixtures and/or reducing the amount of time they are in use.

The consumption of electricity can be reduced by replacing bulbs or fixtures with ones that provide same or more amount of light with reduced electricity. For example, replacing incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs.

With the help of devices such as dimmers and lighting controls, the amount of time lights are on can be reduced. Educating users to switch off lights when not in use also helps.

Energy Efficient Lighting Options

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) use two-thirds less energy than incandescent lights and have a life which is ten times longer thus reducing the emissions from power plants. They cost more, about 10 to 15 times than incandescent lights and have disposal problems due to the presence of mercury.

Next-generation Halogen bulbs use less energy and produce a bright white light. The new halogen bulbs last three times longer than incandescent. Companies like GE, Phillips and Sylvania are making new halogen bulbs that are more energy efficient.

Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights do not use energy to produce heat and thus are more efficient. They can be designed in a wide variety of colors. Commercially, they are used in dashboard indicator lights and traffic lights.

High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps are used in industries for outdoor and street lighting. In residences, they are used for lighting driveways and backyards. They have a service life 3 to 5 times than a halogen lamp and produce a larger quantity of light. HID lamp types include mercury vapor, metal halide, high and low pressure sodium lamps.

Lighting Controls

Devices that control the dimming of light or switching them on and off are called lighting controls. Dimming lights help reduce the wattage of lamps and increase their service life. Turning lamps on and off in response to natural light saves electricity consumption for example outdoor lights. Occupancy sensors respond to the presence of a person in the area and accordingly activate the lights. One example is closet light.

Reference

EERE Consumer’s Guide

Definition

When organic waste such as food scraps, paper, leaves and yard trimmings decompose naturally, compost or manure is produced. This process of facilitation of decomposition of organic matter is called composting. Decomposing organisms such as insects, worms, bacteria and fungi help in transforming matter into compost. Compost is an excellent source of nutrients for plants and is used as a fertilizer on the farms and on lawns and gardens.

Several factors affect the decomposition process: carbon to nitrogen ratio of the material, amount of surface area exposed, oxygen in the pile, moisture and temperature inside and outside the pile.

Composting can be done by the fence of your backyard or in ‘digestors’ used in the industry to decompose organic waste.

Composting facts

According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 56% of yard trimmings were composted in 2003.

When 21.3 million tons of food residuals are composted, green gas emissions are reduced – equivalent of taking more than two million cars off the road.

Advantages

• Composting is easy. It can be done at home, on farms or industrial plants.
• It helps reduce the amount of garbage going to the landfills. It is an environmentally sound practice.
• Composting is inexpensive. No equipment is required to be purchased. For a minimal cost, a composting bin can be made or purchased.
• Composting reduces your garbage disposal cost as your garbage is reduced.
• Composting produces natural fertilizer for your lawn and garden.