NEW YORK—Thanks to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), hotels throughout the state of New York can receive low cost building energy audits, and incentives on kitchen equipment ranging from reach-in solid door refrigerators to insulated holding cabinets. Incentives run as high as $500 for freezers and ice makers and as low as $30 for pre-rinse spray valves. The services are paid through the System Benefits Charge that many owners and operators in the hospitality industry cover through their electric utility bills. According to Ed Smyth, manager of the Troy, N.Y. office of RLW Analytics, a NYSERDA contractor that facilitates the NYSERDA Focus on Hospitality Initiative, the Systems Benefits Charge was recently extended through June 30, 2011.
For hotels with annual electricity bills less than $75,000, NYSERDA, through RLW, will provide free energy audits to help hoteliers make informed electrical energy decisions and implement energy-efficiency strategies. Audits help identify economically viable improvements that yield substantial annual energy savings. In addition, the Energy Audit program provides technical justification to help customers obtain reduced interest rates through New York Energy Smart Loans and helps with the application process for NYSERDA programs.
“An energy audit provides a snapshot of where opportunities are for improvement,” Smyth says.
For hotels with annual electricity bills greater than $75,000, NYSERDA offers a program called FlexTech (Flexible Technical Assistance). Unlike the Energy Audit Program, which has no cost requirement, FlexTech does require the hotel owner to share the cost. With the assistance of companies like RLW, the following types of programs are offered: engineering feasibility and technical assistance studies; detailed analysis of specific energy-efficiency projects; process improvement; rate analysis, load shapes, and energy service aggregation; engineering in support of project-financing proposals; development of long term capital budget strategies for the upgrade or replacement of energy-consuming equipment; and retro-commissioning of energy-efficiency measures.
New York Marriott Marquis Saves
Smyth says the New York Marriott Marquis took advantage of NYSERDA’s FlexTech program and is saving more than $100,000 annually. A Technical Assistance Study was conducted at the hotel and the following was recommended: variable frequency drives on all pumps; and insulation blankets on miscellaneous piping segments throughout the building. The improvements cost $91,000, which resulted in a payback of less than one year.
NYSERDA recently completed a pilot initiative to increase the energy efficiency of commercial kitchens. The four categories for which the organization offers incentives include: commercial refrigerators and freezers; commercial ice makers; low-flow pre-rinse spray valves; and electric fryers, electric steamers, and electric holding cabinets. Those interested in obtaining the most current list of commercial kitchen equipment available for rebates should contact the Focus on Hospitality hotline at (866) 904-8027, or by e-mail at hospitality@nyserda.org.
To access the NYSERDA Focus on Hospitality website home page, click here. The page includes access to lists of practices and technologies one can employ to reduce energy consumption in a commercial kitchen.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
