2004

For Release: August 4, 2004
Contact: Peter Sigurdson (NYSERDA) (716) 842-1522 ext 3006
Tom Petronio (Roch. City School Dist.) (585) 262-8373

Rochester City School District To Receive More Than $1 million for Energy-Efficiency Measures
District ranks No.2 in Nation in commitment to renewable power for schools

Rochester, NY --The Rochester City School District (RCSD) is continuing to further its reputation as an environmentally conscious district, by implementing an ongoing energy efficiency program with assistance from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The energy-efficiency program is expected to save the District more than $850,000 in annual energy costs when fully implemented.

As part of the district-wide efficiency program, the RCSD will also be the first school system in New York State to include an energy education component, as part of the contract, to provide students with hands-on experience in energy-efficiency and conservation.

"The energy-efficiency program at the Rochester schools is one of the most unique and inspiring partnerships that NYSERDA has ever entered," said NYSERDA President Peter R. Smith. A District taxpayers will benefit from the savings realized by the efficiency work, but more importantly, the students - our state and nation's future leaders -- have been given a tremendous hands-on opportunity to learn about and practice energy-efficiency in their school."

"Our energy conservation program and our commitment to renewable energy sources make sense not only environmentally but financially," said Rochester Superintendent of Schools Dr. Manuel J. Rivera. "We are proud to be recognized as an environmentally conscious school district, and the active involvement of our students makes it even more rewarding."

"The Rochester school district is committed to improving its energy efficiency through an innovative, environmentally friendly, fiscally sound energy management program," said Henry Marini, RCSD Chief Executive Officer, Business Services. "Our investment in school energy efficiency will allow us to continue reaping the benefits of good environmental stewardship for years to come."

The total price tag for the RCSD renovation work, encompassing 52 buildings, is $20.56 million, with NYSERDA providing $1,073,848 in financial incentives for energy-efficiency measures through five New York Energy $martSM programs. Funds are being made available through the Technical Assistance Program, Flexible Technical Assistance (Flex/Tech) Program, Commercial/Industrial Performance Program, Peak-Load Reduction Program, Retro-commissioning Program, and Energy $martSM Offices Program.

Energy & Education

Working with the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), a national energy organization, and Wendel Energy Services of Amherst, NY, the RCSD was able to incorporate a "Green Schools" energy education program under a performance contract, the first of its kind in New York State.

The Green Schools program was initiated by ASE to increase investment in school energy-efficiency and to educate the next generation of energy consumers. ASE correlates the Green Schools instructional materials to New York State standards of learning. At the RCSD, 20 "mentors" from the community worked with students to identify places where energy could be saved.

Approximately 50 percent of the energy dollars saved are then returned to individual schools at mid-year and end-of-school-year to be used for any education-related expenditure agreed upon by the Green School teams.

For example, RCSD's Wilson Magnet High School was recently awarded a check for $10,648 for its success at energy conservation. The award represents half the school's savings from September through December 2003.

"The agreement between the Rochester Schools and Wendel Energy Services certainly establishes a new standard for performance contracting with school districts in New York," Smith said. A NYSERDA is pleased to provide incentive funds to help make this performance contract more affordable and whole-heartedly endorses the concept of making our schools a 'living laboratory' for our children."

From Green Schools to Green Power

Smith commended district officials for not only teaching about energy-efficiency and conservation through the Green Schools program, but also for their commitment to putting those lessons into practical use by purchasing 29 percent of its total electrical energy from renewable sources. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Rochester ranks No. 2 in the nation for school districts purchasing renewable power.

" I am not aware of another public school that presently purchases such a high percentage of its electric power from green or renewable sources. The Rochester School District is practicing what they are teaching and by doing so are setting a tremendous example for their students," Smith said. "This commitment to renewable power exceeds even the goals that Governor Pataki has issued for State facilities with respect to purchasing renewable energy."

The district's 29 percent renewable energy purchase comes from a combination of wind power, hydro-electric, solar, and biomass, with the largest portion being wind power. NYSERDA, through its New York Energy $mart SM program, has supported the construction and operation of wind energy generation facilities and is working with investor-owned utilities, like Rochester Electric and Gas Corporation, to make wind power more accessible and affordable for New York homeowners, businesses and institutions.

Energy-Efficiency Measures

Working with Wendel Energy Services and its subcontractors, the project began with a district-wide facilities analysis and energy conservation audit that encompassed 52 buildings. NYSERDA provided more than $1.07 million in financial incentives that paid a portion of the energy audit costs and retro-commissioning work done on some buildings, and also provided incentives toward the cost of the efficiency upgrades that were implemented.

Although each building had different upgrades implemented, in general, the energy-efficiency measures included: high-efficiency T-8 lighting and reflectors; installation of an energy management system and HVAC upgrades; boiler and electric motor upgrades; vending machine motion sensor upgrades; water conservation measures and a heat wheel replacement.

Funding for the Commercial/Industrial Performance Program and other NYSERDA incentives are provided through the New York Energy $mart SM program, which lowers 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.

New York Energy $martSM programs are funded by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) paid by electric distribution customers of participating utilities. NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation established by law in 1975, administers SBC funds and programs under an agreement with the Public Service Commission.

Since 1998, NYSERDA has provided more than $7 million to support more than 181 projects in the Greater Rochester area. Combined with Co-funding from NYSERDA's partners, the value of these projects is nearly $13 million. Among some of the other customers NYSERDA is working with in Monroe County are: Rochester Institute of Technology, Mikron Corporation Rochester, Zweigles Inc., YMCA of Rochester, Siemens Building Technologies, and the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Additional information about these programs can be obtained at www.nyserda.org or www.getenergysmart.org , or toll-free at (877) NY-SMART.

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