New York is one of the most energy efficient cities in the United States. The city's mass transit system, multifamily housing, mixed neighborhoods, and the fact that developments no longer go up on virgin land make building in New York very energy efficient. While New York City has a larger population than all but eleven states, if it were granted statehood it would rank 51st in per-capita energy use. The average New Yorker consumes less than half of the electricity of someone who lives in San Francisco and nearly one-quarter the electricity consumed by someone who lives in Dallas.
Still, there's room for improvement. Many New Yorkers are striving for greater energy efficiency in their homes. A recent article in the New York Times cites several examples of residential buildings and developments that have achieved significant reductions in energy consumption through plans drawn up by energy auditing companies. Examples range from the basic (saving 7 percent on common-area energy costs replacing incandescents with fluorescents) to the more involved. One co-op in Manhattan installed heat sensors and upgraded the computer that regulates the heat. These changes, which cost about $8,000, saved the building $8,500, or almost 16 percent, on fuel bills, from December 2006 to April 2007, despite a spike in heating oil prices. Other changes commonly suggested include replacing old boilers with more efficient units (old boilers can account for more tan 85 percent of a building's energy waste), installing double-paned windows, insulating the roof, and installing motion sensors to common-area lights.
Such efficiency increases have been credited with delaying or offsetting maintenance-fee increases. In addition, much of this type of work can be financed through below-market loans subsidized by the state. Solar panels often qualify for subsidies and tax breaks offered by the state and federal governments, and Mayor Bloomberg has proposed an additional subsidy for installing solar panels on buildings in New York City.
Companies that perform residential energy audits include:
Power Concepts: (212) 419-1900
Association for Energy Affordability
Steven Winter Associates
Still, there's room for improvement. Many New Yorkers are striving for greater energy efficiency in their homes. A recent article in the New York Times cites several examples of residential buildings and developments that have achieved significant reductions in energy consumption through plans drawn up by energy auditing companies. Examples range from the basic (saving 7 percent on common-area energy costs replacing incandescents with fluorescents) to the more involved. One co-op in Manhattan installed heat sensors and upgraded the computer that regulates the heat. These changes, which cost about $8,000, saved the building $8,500, or almost 16 percent, on fuel bills, from December 2006 to April 2007, despite a spike in heating oil prices. Other changes commonly suggested include replacing old boilers with more efficient units (old boilers can account for more tan 85 percent of a building's energy waste), installing double-paned windows, insulating the roof, and installing motion sensors to common-area lights.
Such efficiency increases have been credited with delaying or offsetting maintenance-fee increases. In addition, much of this type of work can be financed through below-market loans subsidized by the state. Solar panels often qualify for subsidies and tax breaks offered by the state and federal governments, and Mayor Bloomberg has proposed an additional subsidy for installing solar panels on buildings in New York City.
Companies that perform residential energy audits include:
Power Concepts: (212) 419-1900
Association for Energy Affordability
Steven Winter Associates
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