● FIRSTSERVICE RESIDENTIAL
Energy report cards issued
The New York division of FirstService Residential has issued Energy Report Cards for the fifth year to more than 400 multifamily properties in its portfolio.
Spearheaded by the company’s energy subsidiary, FS Energy, the goal is to inspire condo and co-op board members to implement efficiency measures that can collectively save nearly $18 million in energy costs annually.
FirstService Residential has found that the more informed its clients are about their building’s environmental impact, the more empowered they are to improve it.
Since forming FS Energy in 2010, the company has helped its clients save tens of millions of dollars in energy costs while dramatically reducing carbon output.
“We have a social responsibility to protect the environment by guiding our clients on the road to efficiency and our sizable portfolio presents us with a significant opportunity to effect real change,” said Dan Wurtzel, president, FirstService Residential New York.
“Providing Report Cards to our clients enables them to make informed decisions about which strategies to initiate within their buildings to become more energy efficient while also realizing cost savings.”
Provided as a no-cost, value-added benefit to FirstService Residential clients, Energy Report Cards benchmark a building’s historic energy use and costs against similar buildings.
They also chart a building’s carbon emissions and calculate potential annual savings from prospective efficiency measures.
● Helen Rosenthal
Biodiesel call for school buses
Council Member Helen Rosenthal has introduced legislation to require all New York City school buses to use fuel that is a minimum of five percent biodiesel, known as B5 biodiesel.
The bill would impact the over 9,500 school buses contracted by the City’s Department of Education.
New York City law already requires City-owned and -operated diesel vehicles to use a minimum of B5 biodiesel fuel, but as school buses are contracted, they are exempt from the law.
In 2001 the Natural Resources Defense Council found toxic diesel exhaust levels inside school buses using diesel fuel to be 23 to 46 times higher than levels considered to be a significant cancer risk.
Biodiesel has lower sulfur content and toxicity than diesel, making it more environmentally friendly and less damaging to air quality.
A 2001 Department of Energy study found that biodiesel emissions pose substantially lower health risks than diesel emissions.
Additionally, the transition to B5 biodiesel is easy: any vehicle built after 1993 requires no modifications of any kind to accept biodiesel fuel.
Over 150,000 New York City public school children ride school buses to school.
● Gove. Andrew Cuomo
Ski resorts going solar
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the three state operated ski resorts — at Belleayre, Gore and Whiteface Mountain — have committed to using solar power to operate their ski lift and snowmaking operations.
“By using renewable energy to power major operations at these world-class ski resorts, we are building upon this administration’s commitment to expand this state’s use of renewal energy, strengthen this important, job-creating economic sector, and reduce New York’s carbon footprint,” Governor Cuomo said. The 25-year power purchase agreement with Borrego Solar is the most recent environmental initiative the state and ORDA have undertaken to run its business units with increased sustainability and efficiency.
It is also in keeping with Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision’s NY-Sun initiative, a $1-billion initiative to advance the scale-up of solar and move the state closer to having a sustainable, self-sufficient solar industry as New York builds a clean, resilient and affordable energy system.
Gore Mountain is home to the most skiable terrain and largest lift infrastructure in New York State, and its massive snowmaking system, lift operations, and other electrical equipment use about 13-million kilowatt hours of power and cost approximately $1-million in utility costs each year.
The solar energy for Gore, produced at a location in Washington County, is expected to reduce Gore’s energy bill by over $213,000 during the first year.
Borrego’s projections indicate that the three ski resorts could save as much $14-million over the 25-year period, utilizing more than 10 megawatts of solar power.
The solar projects received support from NY-Sun through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which administers the initiative.
●Hess Corporation
Energy giant ranks high
in corporate sustainability
Hess Corporation released its 2014 Corporate Sustainability Report, providing a comprehensive look at the company’s strategy and performance on significant environmental, social and governance programs and initiatives.
Hess Corporation’s 18th annual sustainability report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G.3.1 sustainability reporting principles and guidance.
“Our company is committed to being a trusted energy partner that helps meet the world’s growing energy needs in a safe, environmentally responsible, socially sensitive and profitable way,” said Hess CEO John Hess. “We are proud of our progress in 2014 to build a sustainable enterprise that makes a positive impact on the world around us.”
For 2014, Hess reported progress in key initiatives aimed at driving long-term sustainable performance.
Highlights include significant progress in safety performance; Decreasing environmental impact; Improving the quality of life in local communities; Managing risk and achieving operational excellence.
