| FOR RELEASE: Immediately March 12, 2003
CONTACT: Peter Sigurdson (NYSERDA) (716) 842-1522 ext 3006
Shea's Performing Arts Center, NYSERDA and Erie County
Undertake Innovative Energy-Saving Performance
Arts Center will save more than $20,000 annually
Shea's Performing Arts Center took the lead role in an energy efficiency
performance by partnering with the New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Erie County to replace more
than 3,000 incandescent light bulbs lighting its Marquees with LED
(light-emitting diode) lamps, which will save the cultural landmark
more than $20,000 annually.
"Our work with Shea's Performing Arts Center represents another
'win-win' partnership with a New York State business. By taking advantage
of incentives offered by NYSERDA, Shea's, with financial assistance
from Erie County, was able to replace 3,012 incandescent lights in
its Marquees with LED lamps. The savings that Shea's will realize
will be significant," said NYSERDA Acting President Peter R Smith.
"The benefit for Shea's in undertaking this project with NYSERDA
and Erie County is two-fold. Firstly, we will reduce our overall energy
consumption and save more than $20,115 annually. Secondly, because
of the long life associated with the LED lamps, we will save man-hours
and costs associated with our maintenance personnel having to spend
countless hours changing burned out incandescent bulbs," said
Shea's President Anthony Conte.
"Erie County was pleased to have helped make this project a
reality. It was a relatively small investment to help make one of
our county and region's cultural assets more financially competitive
and aesthetically pleasing. The new LED lamps will look great,"
said Erie County Executive Joel Giambra.
The total project cost is $129,516 with NYSERDA providing $90,661
in financial incentives through its New Construction program. Erie
County provided $38,855 financial assistance for the portion of the
costs normally assigned to the project initiator, in this instance
Shea's. NYSERDA's New Construction Program is designed to change the
way new construction and renovations are undertaken by providing financial
incentives to encourage the most energy-efficient building practices.
Presently, three thousand twelve (3,012) 11-watt incandescent bulbs
are operating in both of Shea's Main Street and Pearl Street Marquees.
Of these lights, 2,112 (Main Street) operate approximately 7,360 hours
per year and the remaining 890 lamps (Pearl Street) operate approximately
1,490 hours per year. It is anticipated that Shea's will save more
than 169,440 kilowatt hours and more than 30.12 kilowatts in electrical
energy annually, yielding an energy savings of more than $20,115 annually.
The project involved the replacement of the 3,012 11-watt incandescent
bulbs with 1-watt LED lamps. The LED is a solid state device with
a rated life over 20 years.
All New York Energy $martSM programs are funded
by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) paid by electric distribution customers
of Central Hudson, Con Edison, NYSEG, Niagara Mohawk, Orange and Rockland,
and Rochester Gas and Electric. NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation
established by law in 1975, administers SBC funds and programs under
an agreement with the Public Service Commission.
New York Energy $martSM programs are designed to
lower electricity costs by encouraging energy efficiency as the State's
electric utilities move to competition. The programs are available
to electric distribution customers (residential, commercial, institutional,
and industrial) who pay into the System Benefits Charge (SBC).
Since 1998, NYSERDA has provided more than $26 million to support
more than 500 projects in Erie and Niagara Counties. Combined with
co-funding from NYSERDA's partners, the value of these projects is
more than $65 million. Among some of the other customers NYSERDA is
working with in Erie and Niagara Counties, are: State University of
New York at Buffalo, Veridian Engineering, Inc., Quebecor, Kreher's
Poultry Farm, HSBC Bank USA and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
For more information about NYSERDA, visit www.nyserda.org or call
toll-free (866)-NYSERDA. |
