New York Power Authority (NYPA) President and Chief Executive Officer Eugene W. Zeltmann joined Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) President Dr. Shirley Robinson Pippins and Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Chairman Richard Kessel at ceremonies Wednesday to mark the completion of a US$4 million energy efficiency project for the college's three campuses.

"Under the leadership of Governor George E. Pataki, the New York Power Authority has completed 50 energy-efficiency projects at SUNY campuses across the state, producing annual savings of nearly $11 million. Yearly savings from the SCCC project are conservatively estimated at $320,000, but will be even greater if fuel prices continue to trend upward," said Zeltmann.

Electricity use at the college will be reduced by about 3.6 million kWh a year, eliminating about 2200 tons of greenhouse gases annually.

"Many institutions are implementing resource-efficiency programs with an eye toward reducing the organization's utility budget. At Suffolk County Community College, we recognize that our operations and facilities impact the environment and that we have a responsibility as a good community citizen to improve our energy resource management. Through this program, we have been able to team up with NYPA and LIPA to benefit the college, save taxpayer dollars and reduce harmful emissions," said, Dr. Robinson Pippins.

LIPA has provided $157,000 in Clean Energy Initiatives (CEI) rebates for the energy-saving project under its Commercial Construction Program.

"LIPA is committed to reducing Long Island's dependence on fossil fuels through conservation, energy efficiency and the application of renewable energy resources," said LIPA Chairman Kessel. "LIPA urges Long Island agencies large or small, public or private, to consider what they can do to become more efficient energy consumers to protect Long Island's environmental and economic future."

The centerpiece of the NYPA energy-saving project is an integrated computerized energy management control system for the college's three campuses at Selden, Brentwood and Riverhead.

The system links all elements of the college's heating, ventilation and air conditioning infrastructure. Using the energy management system, facility engineers will be able to schedule, select and automatically pre-set the times when major heating or air-conditioning units are activated.

In case of an emergency, the control system will enable maintenance staff to remotely shut down boilers, while also activating ventilation and exhaust fans. Space occupancy control lighting sensors and other ancillary equipment have also been installed.

Additional equipment includes variable speed drive motors on heating and hot water pumps, new premium-efficiency motors, variable volume air handlers and two-speed constant volume air handlers.

The New York Power Authority is committed to investing up to $100 million annually on energy efficiency to help educational institutions, local governments and state agencies lower their energy bills. To date, these efforts have resulted in savings to taxpayers of more than $90 million a year, with reduction in peak electricity demand of over 189,000 kW and lowering of greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 666,000 tons a year.

Through its various conservation, energy efficiency and load reduction programs, LIPA's CEI, developed at the direction of Governor Pataki, has produced total energy savings of nearly one million megawatt hours during its first six years, which is enough electricity to power 105,000 average-sized Long Island homes for one year.

LIPA's CEI programs have also helped reduce the use of fossil fuels, which, in turn, has reduced emissions of harmful pollutants. Approximately 5,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, 1,900 tons of nitrogen oxides and 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide were not released into the air as a result of these efforts.