State Provides $300,000 to Wyoming
County Hospital for Energy Upgrades
RELEASE: October 31, 2001
CONTACT: Tom Collins, NYSERDA
(518) 862-1090, ext. 3250.
Albany, NY – The Wyoming County Community Hospital teamed up
with Gerster Trane Energy Services and the New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on a $600,000 project to improve
its energy efficiency. The project consisted of supplementing two
of the facility's electric chillers with an absorption chiller and
additional heat recovery equipment. Using funds from two different
programs, NYSERDA provided $300,000 to offset the cost of the project.
Once completed, the Wyoming County Community Hospital is expected
to save $50,000 in annual energy expenses.
"Hospitals and other institutions in New York State face
high energy bills and we can offer cost-effective solutions to help
them lower those bills," NYSERDA President William M. Flynn
said. "With the support of Governor Pataki, NYSERDA is providing
this type of assistance to hospitals, schools, businesses and other
utility customers in the same situation as Wyoming County Community
Hospital."
NYSERDA awarded $225,000 through a competitive solicitation process
to help the hospital upgrade its combined heat and power system with
heat recovery equipment. The system will help the hospital meet power
needs and ensure the reliability, quality, and availability of power,
while emphasizing energy efficiency and environmental quality. The
heat recovery equipment increases the efficiency of the hospital's
combined heat and power system by trapping lost heat and using it
in other areas of the hospital, including a 400-ton absorption chiller.
"Making smart, sound, long-term investments for our hospitals,
schools, municipalities, and businesses is essential in making our
region more competitive and economically viable," said Senator
Dale M. Volker. "NYSERDA and Governor Pataki understand that
government has a role to play in making our region conducive for
job retention, job creation, and enhanced economic development opportunities.
This funding will assist the Wyoming County Hospital in providing
continued outstanding medical and lifesaving services, but also
and just as important, continue to be a major employer in our western
New York region."
"This energy upgrade project not only improves the efficiency
at Wyoming County Hospital for years to come, it saves the hospital
thousands of dollars a year, enabling them to address other areas
where the money is greatly needed," Assemblyman Daniel Burling
said. "I commend the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority and Gerster Trane Energy Services for the continued commitment
to encouraging energy efficiency and lowering electricity costs."
The hospital had experienced difficulty running its electric chillers
under summer peak load conditions. Installing a new 400-ton absorber,
fired by waste heat from the combined heat and power system, will
substantially improve the reliability of summer cooling to critical
areas of the hospital.
The subsequent $75,000 provided by NYSERDA came through its Commercial/Industrial
Performance Program. The performance-based incentive is provided to
the hospital's contractor, Gerster Trane Energy Services. The contractor
will pass 100% of the incentive on to the hospital to further reduce
the cost of the project. The C/I Performance Program provides performance-based
incentives for electrical efficiency projects on a first-come, first-served
basis.
Gerster Trane Energy Services Manager Steve Augey said, "This
project greatly enhances the flexibility and reliability of the
hospital's energy systems. The project would not have been possible
without NYSERDA's financial support."
Funding for these projects comes from NYSERDA's New York Energy $martSM program, which is designed to lower electricity costs by encouraging
energy efficiency as the State's electric utilities move to competition.
The programs are available to all electric distribution customers
(residential, commercial, institutional and industrial) of Central
Hudson, Con Edison, NYSEG, Niagara Mohawk, Orange and Rockland, and
Rochester Gas and Electric.
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