Andrew M. Cuomo - Governor

http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/10212014-energy-management-network

Albany, New York (October 7, 2014)

New Energy Monitoring Hub to Reduce Energy Use and Costs, Create Jobs Photo Renderings Available Here; Video Rendering Available Here

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today the launch of the State’s first energy management network operations center, which will provide public facilities across New York State with real-time data on their energy use, allowing them to improve building energy performance and lower the State’s utility bills. Dubbed the NY Energy Manager (NYEM), the center is located at the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany.

The NY Energy Manager was developed and is being deployed and managed by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to provide up-to-the-moment energy use information and trending in state government facilities and other entities such as the City University of New York. The center will accelerate efforts to continuously improve energy management and operations of state facilities, thereby driving down operating expenses and saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over the coming years. Additionally, the center will further empower the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs in the emerging green economy.

“The NY Energy Manager leverages the very best in smart technology to help the State save millions of dollars a year on energy costs,” Governor Cuomo said. “This facility serves as a statewide energy monitoring hub that will allow us to lower utility expenses, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and continue fostering a robust clean energy economy. I am pleased to see this partnership between NYPA and the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at SUNY Polytechnic Institute officially opened, because it is another integral part of our approach to creating a cleaner, greener state for all New Yorkers.”

NYEM provides secure, comprehensive energy management reporting for more than 3,000 public buildings, accounting for hundreds of millions of square feet of space, with the potential to expand to all public facilities and other NYPA customers. NYEM integrates energy data from facility sub-meters and from meters of local utilities, enabling building engineers to rapidly diagnose equipment problems and take appropriate actions to reduce energy consumption in a timely manner. With Big Data analytics provided by NYEM, government building operators will be better informed when planning for future energy use needs. NYEM energy experts will also provide technical expertise and ongoing training to participating organizations for managing their facilities.

The tools provided by NYEM will allow energy managers to implement innovative, energy use strategies that will assist in driving down the cost of energy in state buildings, saving taxpayers millions of dollars annually. Integrated energy management, resulting from NYEM, will also enable facilities to participate in statewide electric energy demand management and response programs. These programs provide financial incentives to entities when they voluntarily reduce energy consumption during periods of high electric usage or emergencies.

It is anticipated that NYEM technology will be applicable for use in the private sector in the future. As NYEM continues to grow, its location at CNSE, home to the Incubators for Collaborating & Leveraging Energy and Nanotechnology (iCLEAN), will help accelerate the transfer of NYEM technology for entrepreneurial and commercial-based opportunities.

NYEM is one of several initiatives that support Governor Cuomo’s BuildSmart NY program, a comprehensive plan to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent in state government facilities by 2020. NYPA has been designated to coordinate these efforts under BuildSmart NY.

Energy and Finance Chairman for New York Richard Kauffman, said, “Across New York State, buildings are directly responsible for a significant amount of our inefficient use of energy. With this pioneering management tool, New York becomes a leader in the development of new technologies aimed to promote better energy efficiency, economic development and ensure cost-savings. By demonstrating good, cost-effective energy management and practices in the public sector, we hope others will soon follow in adopting similar tools and practices.”

NYPA President and CEO Gil C. Quiniones said, “New York State fully recognizes that the electric power industry is undergoing a sea change largely driven by unprecedented advances in technology. NYEM will be a fundamental building block in this transformation. With robust energy solutions and the expertise of New York’s science and engineering communities, New York will continue to lead the nation in energy innovation.”

CNSE is one of the nation’s showcase energy efficient campuses. Its central location, fully redundant utilities, and the ability for NYEM engineers to consult and collaborate with CNSE scientists conducting ground breaking energy research, were among the many factors in the site selection process for the energy management center. In addition, CNSE’s partnership with the state to consolidate and house almost 50 state datacenters is fully aligned with the needs and goals of NYEM.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute CEO Dr. Alain Kaloyeros said, “Governor Andrew Cuomo has created the innovation capital of the world right here in New York State, and through CNSE’s partnership with NYPA, we will further advance the Governor’s vision to be the leader in developing next generation energy technologies. As energy demands continue to grow, we must make a significant commitment to increasing efficiencies. This partnership will deliver game changing advances in energy management, and we welcome NYPA and its NYEM team to the world-class Albany NanoTech complex.”

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO John B. Rhodes said, “The state’s building stock offers a great opportunity to see real reductions in energy consumption and provide the state with considerable cost savings. NYEM is a great example of the innovative clean energy technology New York State, under Governor Cuomo, is utilizing to manage power usage, protect the environment and create jobs.”

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher, said, “NY Energy Manager will build upon the positive momentum of BuildSmart NY, which has already led to significant energy savings and improved efficiency at public facilities across the state. SUNY is proud to host this data-driven solution in continued partnership with Governor Cuomo and the New York Power Authority to collectively reduce New York’s carbon footprint.”

Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito said, “By implementing NY Energy Manager, Governor Cuomo continues to deploy programs that will reduce the cost of government for taxpayers. We are eager to share what OGS has learned by monitoring our own buildings with the NYEM to help the state move closer to meeting the goals of EO88. OGS has always taken a proactive approach to energy reduction and currently saves almost $10 million annually with programs we partner with NYPA on and have established a dedicated energy management unit that has resulted in 11 of our buildings becoming Energy Star-rated.”

NYEM provides an important set of tools to support a fundamental shift in the utility business envisioned by Governor Cuomo’s Reforming Energy Vision (REV), which seeks to make building energy efficiency economically favorable for utilities and customers by changing utility regulations. Under REV, reduced energy demand in buildings will be a valuable commodity to be bought and sold, and NYEM will provide the precise insight building operators need to take advantage of those opportunities.

Congressman Paul Tonko said, “Today represents a big step forward in the way we use and conserve energy in New York State. I applaud Governor Cuomo, NYPA and CNSE for their commitment to reducing energy consumption and demonstrating to the private sector how we all win when we make energy efficiency our fuel of choice. I look forward to continuing my work in Washington with both parties to ensure initiatives like these are promoted nationwide.”

Senator Neil D. Breslin said, “Making our state's public facilities more energy efficient is a smart investment for us to make. Not only will we save taxpayers money, it will also considerably reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I applaud Governor Cuomo for advancing the BuildSmart NY initiative directing state agencies to increase energy efficiency in state buildings by 20 percent over the next seven years.”

Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy said, “I commend Governor Cuomo for addressing climate change by setting a goal for state facilities to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by the year 2020. The creation of the NY Energy Manager by the New York Power Authority and its location at SUNY CNSE go a long way toward achieving the Governor’s goal. It represents the type of public and private partnership needed to address climate change, and I look forward to future initiatives to aggressively tackle this very serious environmental issue.”

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, “I commend Governor Cuomo for putting forth strategies to reduce energy consumption and find ways to share this data with the public. By working together, we can reduce energy use and greenhouse gases. It is my hope that local governments will soon be able to use the NY Energy Manager to determine how we can leverage savings for county residents.”

City of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “Albany has enjoyed working with NYPA to create a cost-saving energy master plan. And the NY Energy Manager center is another great example of NYPA promoting cutting-edge practices in energy management.”

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