NYSERDA Press Releases

City of Binghamton Cuts Costs with
Energy Efficiency Upgrades
City to Recognize an Annual Savings
of More Than $200,000

NYSERDA Supplies More Than $215,000 For Improvements

Binghamton, NY– The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has partnered with the City of Binghamton and Siemens Buildings Technologies, Inc. in a $2.5 million dollar project to improve the City's energy efficiency. As a result of the improvements, the City is expected to save more than $200,000 in annual energy costs.

"This project demonstrates that municipalities across New York State can save hundreds of thousands through simple energy improvements," said NYSERDA President William M. Flynn. "By reducing it's energy use, the City of Binghamton will save taxpayer's dollars. This is a cost-effective strategy that both NYSERDA and Governor Pataki are encouraging more municipalities to implement."

"Our energy efficiency efforts will provide cost-saving benefits to the City of Binghamton and its residents for many years to come, and will reduce our annual electricity use by approximately 1.9 million kilowatt hours or enough electricity to power more than 320 homes for a year. I am proud to have partnered with NYSERDA and Siemens Building Technologies in this cost-savings initiative,"stated Mayor Richard A Bucci.

"During a time when local governments are working to cut costs, Governor Pataki and NYSERDA are doing their part to help Binghamton make their lighting more energy efficient, resulting in significant savings in annual energy costs," noted Senator Thomas Libous.

"I applaud the City of Binghamton to seek out NYSERDA's services and take the initiative to reduce their energy costs," said Assemblyman Robert Warner. "This project is a smart investment and will help to further control future energy costs for the City of Binghamton."

"Siemens Building Technologies, in partnership with NYSERDA, is a provider of
performance solutions for Commercial and Industrial customers," said Siemens spokesperson Bert Spaeth. "Our objective is to provide a unique performance solution making the customer energy efficient and environmentally compliant. Our trained sales engineers, energy engineers and technicians ensure that the customer achieves the savings over the guaranteed length of the contract. Incentives from various sources including NYSERDA are passed on to our customers, less an administrative fee. We are pleased to play a part in helping the city of Binghamton with their energy needs."

NYSERDA is providing $216,827 to the City of Binghamton and Siemens for the installation of new lighting, energy management systems, premium-efficiency motors and LED (light-emitting diode) traffic lighting.

This project was funded through NYSERDA's Commercial/Industrial Performance Program, which provides financial incentives to energy service companies and engineering firms that work with municipal, industrial, and commercial utility customers to identify and implement energy-saving strategies. The incentives, combined with the energy savings, help to pay for the capital improvements. The level of incentives that NYSERDA provides depends on the level of energy savings achieved in a given project as well as the types of efficiency measures implemented.

Since 1998, NYSERDA has provided more than $3.1 million to support more nearly 75 projects in Broome County. Combined with co-funding from NYSERDA's partners, the value of these projects is more than $6.2 million. Among some of the other customers NYSERDA is working with in the Southern Tier are: SUNY Binghamton, Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum of Elmira, City of Binghamton City School District, Fennel Industries, National Pipe and Plastics, Inc and Willow Run Foods, Inc.

Funding for this project came from NYSERDA's New York Energy $mart^SM 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. All New York Energy $mart^SM 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. Additional information about these programs can be obtained at www.nyserda.org or 1-866-NYSERDA.

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