NYSERDA Press Releases

Durst Organization Reduces Electricity Use
With Off-Peak Cooling
NYSERDA Provides $280,000 for Innovative Solution to High Energy Prices

New York, NY - The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recently partnered with the Durst Organization, a major Manhattan commercial property owner, to install 28 ice storage tanks as a way to reduce peak electric demand and cooling costs for their 41-story building on the Avenue of Americas. As part of the New York Energy $mart^SM Peak Load Reduction Program, the Durst Organization received $280,000 in cash incentives for removing 600 kilowatts from the building's on-peak electric demand.

"The Durst Organization is doing its part to help energy conservation efforts in New York City," said NYSERDA President William M. Flynn. "By reducing their cooling load, Durst is not only providing extra capacity to the electricity grid, but they're also avoiding high electric price spikes. This project will save them thousands."

With the help of Calmac Manufacturing Corp. from Englewood, NJ, the Durst Organization installed Calmac's specially designed Icebank® thermal energy storage tanks. The ice tanks are equipped to handle an additional 350 tons of cooling, without consuming anymore electricity than is needed to run a few circulation pumps.
Employing a method called "Off-Peak-Cooling" (OPC), the ice tanks use the inexpensive nighttime electricity rates to produce ice and then uses the ice in the storage tanks to cool the building the next day. As compared to conventional air conditioning systems that use substantial amounts of "on-peak" electricity, the ice tanks are much more cost-effective.

"Beyond the cost-saving aspect of Off-Peak-Cooling, we selected this technology because it reduces peak electrical load on the grid. This, in turn, lowers the need for building new power plants with the siting issues that accompany them and reduces the need for utilities to bring a dirty, peak-shaving plant on line," said Jody Durst, co-president of the Durst Organization.

To ensure reliable and affordable electricity, the New York Energy $mart^SM Peak Load Reduction Program provides commercial customers with significant cash incentives to reduce their electricity use during peak times. This improves the State's electricity grid by providing additional capacity and reduces the risk of brownout and blackouts.

Funding for this project, and the preliminary engineering studies to evaluate cost effectiveness, is provided through NYSERDA's New York Energy $mart^SM initiative, 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. 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.

Since 1998, NYSERDA has provided more than $177 million to support more than 671 projects in New York City. Among some of the other customers NYSERDA is working with in New York City are: New York University, Manhattan Theater Club, Waldorf Astoria, St. Vincent's Hospital, Amalgamated Bank of New York, and the Museum of Modern Art.

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