Aviator Sports & Recreation Receives Incentives for Operating Energy-Efficient Facility

February 28, 2008

Brooklyn, NY – Today, Aviator Sports & Recreation, joined by officials from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), National Grid (formerly KeySpan), and the City and State of New York announced the state-of- the art sports complex located at Floyd Bennett Field, has been awarded more than $800,000 in financial incentives in recognition of the facility’s highly effective energy-efficiency measures. Investments made towards reducing the facilities peak electrical demand, high efficiency lighting, building management system, and on-site power generation were also recognized.

"By working with NYSERDA, National Grid, and Energy Spectrum, the Aviator facility uses 50% less energy than other buildings of comparable size,”said Kevin McCabe, Aviator’s Chief Executive Officer.“We hope to serve as a model of how public-private commitment can reap multi-faceted benefits. To date, Aviator continues to use less energy than an equivalent New York state compliant facility, during a time when New York City's electricity usage continues to increase."

Through NYSERDA’s Peak Load Reduction and New Construction Programs, $730,000 in financial incentives were provided towards the purchase of innovative energy components of the Aviator facility. Day lighting controls, occupancy based ice temperature controls, and occupancy sensors are just an example of the sophisticated systems installed at Aviator that will help to manage the facility's energy costs economically, while also reducing the amount of electricity needed to power the site by 600kW.

Paul D. Tonko, President and CEO of NYSERDA, said, “I commend Aviator Sports & Recreation for their achievements in energy efficiency improvements to their sports complex. By utilizing NYSERDA’s technical assistance and financial incentives, Aviator Sports & Recreation is now operating a facility that integrates the most up to date energy efficient lighting and building systems that will reduce energy costs without sacrificing comfort to those using the complex.”

National Grid provides its customers with opportunities and incentives to be more energy efficient; saving them energy and money, ultimately helping the environment. Aviator is the first National Grid commercial customer in New York City to receive an incentive under the company’s new Energy Efficiency Program. Aviator has been awarded $157,000 in incentives and facility upgrades from National Grid.

Our technical staff worked with Aviator to evaluate their energy needs and found more than 100,000 therms in energy savings; enough energy to heat over 100 homes for a year,” said Joe Rende, Vice President Energy Solution Services for National Grid.  “In addition to saving money, Aviator is reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 600 tons, equivalent to taking over 100 cars off the road each year.  We are happy to present this incentive award to Aviator for using clean burning natural gas to produce cost-effective, environmentally friendly and comfortable energy for their facility.”

When Aviator was in need of a restoration in 2003, Energy Spectrum, New York’s premier specialized energy consulting group, piloted the facility towards becoming an on-site, on-grid power generation system that produces its own electricity, cooling, and heating. 
Since its 2007 installation, Aviator's natural gas cogeneration system allows the building to reduce its use of grid power which helps avoid brownouts, lowers energy costs and air emissions, and ultimately helps the community. Thanks to Energy Spectrum, Aviator has take advantage of federal, state and local energy opportunities to reduce their energy consumption and deliver reliable, on-site energy at a reasonable price. 

"This is how we honor the values of our national parks: preservation, exploration, and openness,” said Congressman Anthony Weiner. “And what better way to honor parkland, especially right in the center of New York’s urban landscape, than to encourage environmentally-friendly technology. Aviator is a leading example of modern recreation that helps a green park to grow greener.”

According to Senator Martin J. Golden, “As one who continues to be amazed at all the Aviator Sports & Recreation facility offers to Brooklyn and New York City, I applaud both NYSERDA’s and National Grid’s programs which reward Aviator for their effective energy-efficiency measures. It is public-private partnerships such as this that keep costs down and allow such a complex to grow stronger and more vibrant. I fully support this incentive program that comes at the right time, as we in New York look for newer, more effective ways to save energy.”

"Aviator Sports & Recreation is growing smart and growing green,” said Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz. “By utilizing energy-efficient systems to produce their own electricity, cooling and heating, this forward-thinking company proves that when it comes to leading the way in big city environmental innovations, no one does it better than Brooklyn. Brooklyn—how green it is!”

About Aviator Sports & Recreation
Located at Floyd Bennett Field (FBF) in Brooklyn, Aviator is a premier mega-sports complex that opened to the public in September 2006. FBF was NYC’s first municipal airport and is part of Gateway National Recreation Area. Aviator Sports has refurbished four historic aircraft hangars and surrounding grounds, in partnership with the National Park Service. The area includes the 170,000 square foot sports and recreation complex and adjoining outdoor turf fields. The company offers membership programs to enthusiasts who would like access to the fitness center as well as participate in leagues and other programming at a discounted rate. Aviator Sports provides a wide variety of sports leagues and activities, including hockey, ice skating, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, soccer, football and much more, to the unique and diverse neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens.  

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
was established by law in 1975 as a public benefit corporation. NYSERDA provides energy-related technical and financial packaging assistance to businesses and institutions to promote energy efficiency and economic development, as well as providing energy research and development programs that promote safe and economical energy production efficiency technologies in New York State.  NYSERDA also analyzes the effect of New York’s energy, regulatory and environmental policies on the State’s business, institutional, and residential energy consumers. 

National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority. National Grid is the largest power producer in New York State, owning 6,650 megawatts of electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers and supplies roughly a quarter of New York City’s electricity needs. It is also the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. 

Energy Spectrumis a specialized energy consulting group that develops strategies and solutions to minimize energy costs and maximize benefits.  Registered as an ESCO with NYSERDA and as a Partner in their Multifamily Performance Program, Energy Spectrum is an aggregator of electric load curtailment in the New York (NYISO), New England (NEISO), Pennsylvania Jersey Maryland (PJM) and California (CAISO) territories. Most of their clients are New York-based businesses including the Trump Organization, Newmark and Company, Silverstein Properties, Cammeby International, Stellar Management, Jones Lang LaSalle, Pfizer, Montefiore Medical Center, United States Tennis Association, Maimonides Medical Center and many more. 

Energy prices can put a strain on household budgets, especially on those with a fixed or moderate income. That is why National Grid and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) are making it more affordable to make energy-efficient home improvements.

Through NYSERDA’s Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR^® Program, upstate New York households are provided the means to make energy-efficiency improvements more obtainable. Normally, the program covers up to 50 percent of the costs associated with energy-efficiency improvements for income eligible families, up to $5,000 per household or $10,000 for a two- to four-family residence. However, now through September 30, 2008, income eligible National Grid gas customers can receive an additional 10 percent subsidy, when the installation of eligible heating equipment is included as part of the energy-efficiency home improvements, resulting in 60 percent of the work being covered. National Grid gas customers can receive up to $6,000 for a single-family home and up to $12,000 for a two- to four-family home.

The Assisted Home Performance Program is designed to make energy-efficiency home improvements easier for residents with moderate incomes.  To be eligible, families have to meet income requirements based on the number of people in the household and area of the state in which they live.  For example, a family of four in Oneida County would have to have an annual income of less than $57,744 to qualify for the subsidy.  A chart to determine income eligibility by county can be found at www.GetEnergySmart.org and clicking on ‘Single Family Homes’.

"Making energy efficiency improvements in a home helps lower energy costs, creates a healthier living environment and reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming,” said Paul D. Tonko, NYSERDA President and CEO.  “Our enhanced incentive will help National Grid Gas customers save thousands of dollars on their initial efficiency investments, while also saving hundreds each year on their energy bills.  Saving energy, being good stewards of the environment and investing in a strong societal commitment to future generations have never been a better investment.”

"Helping our customers save money by using energy wisely is always the right thing to do,” said Susan M. Crossett, National Grid’s vice president for Energy Solutions Services for upstate New York.  “Our partnership with NYSERDA makes it easy for customers to take the active step of investing in energy efficiency and manage their energy costs.”

The first step toward making a home more energy-efficient is to schedule a Comprehensive Home Assessment with a contractor participating in the Assisted Home Performance Program. Accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI), these contractors take a comprehensive approach to home energy usage that looks at the whole house, not just one room or single problem area. The contractor will measure a home’s overall energy performance – especially its insulation and air infiltration levels and the efficiency of heating equipment, appliances and lighting. Contractors also test ovens, water heaters and other equipment to make sure dangerous combustion gases like carbon monoxide are not leaking into the home.

When the assessment is complete, the contractor will identify what improvements can be made, the cost of making those improvements, and available financial incentives. The contractor will also estimate monthly savings on energy bills and length of time each improvement will take to pay for itself. You decide which improvements to make on your home.

NYSERDA uses innovation and technology to solve some of New York's most difficult energy and environmental problems in ways that improve the State's economy. For more information about Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR^® and a list of BPI Accredited contractors, and other NYSERDA program, please visit NYSERDA's Residential page or call 1-877-NY-SMART 1-877-697-6278.

NYSERDA Contact

Colleen Ryan
cqr@nyserda.ny.gov
Phone: 866-NYSERDA, Ext. 3359

Agency Contacts

Mary Ingram Schatz
mary@haggman.com

Gayle Dougherty
gayle@haggman.com