When it comes to preparing future residents for energy conservation, Rockland County is making a sincere effort to teach everyone well.
More than 60 businesses and nonprofits attended Greening The Bottom Line, the Rockland Business Association Green Council”™s annual seminar and information session held June 8 at Rockland Community College.
Orange & Rockland, Synergis, Siemens, United Water and Daylight Savings Co. were among the energy providers and analysts that presented ways to cut greenhouse gas, conserve water and cut electricity and gas bills for commercial and nonprofit energy users.
While company budgets may not allow for a full-scale renovation, presenters gave the audience several ideas on how to cut back on energy consumption and see rates lower; from suggestions as simple as weather-stripping to as complex as retrofitting an existing building to bring it up to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard.
While the seminar was geared toward business and nonprofits, Orange & Rockland reminded the attendees they were also consumers who could take advantage of rebates the company is offering for turning in an energy-guzzling  refrigerator, humidifier or air conditioner for an Energy Star rated replacement. O&R offers energy audits for companies looking to add to their bottom line and emit less greenhouse gas.
The same for Daylight Savings Co., which conducts energy audits in Rockland, Westchester, Orange and Bronx counties. The company, in business since 1991, is an independent contractor for NYSERDAÂ (New York State Energy Research & Development Authority.) “Why do an energy audit? Because you can”™t fix what you can”™t measure,” said Daylight Savings”™ Frank Lauricella. “We can show you how to prioritize and maximize your return on investment.”
Synergis Resource Management, based in South Salem, said cutting back on trash and increasing recycling efforts cannot just save money but make money. “The average person creates 4.3 pounds of trash a day,” said Neil Cutler. “That adds up to 243 million tons per year generated in the U.S. and creates 42 percent of the greenhouse gas.”
Cutler said companies can buy reusable items, increase recycling and see money on the bottom line. “Lockheed Martin created a diversion program for its 8,000 employees in California. It saved them over $300,000 a year. For organizations that want to qualify for LEED, one of the ways to do it is to reduce costs by reducing waste.”
Bill Tagney of Siemens told business owners that municipalities and schools are working to save dollars as their budgets shrink. Currently, he”™s working with architect Michael Shilale of New City in three school districts: North Rockland Central School District ($7.5 million); Rockland BOCES ($2.4 million) and Orange-Ulster BOCES ($3 million) to cut energy costs and create efficiencies ”“ and none of it on the taxpayer”™s dime, added Shilale, who chaired the conference.
Pat Courtney Strong, coordinator for the Mid-Hudson Energy Star Communities for NYSERDA, said projects in schools and municipalities qualify for NYSERDA funding, as well as federal and state grants.
Strong, who also acts as president of the Business Alliance of Kingston and works with The Solar Consortium, takes her NYSERDA marketing program on the road. “A lot of people know about NYSERDA,” said Strong, but don”™t know how many programs it offers. Since we are a public benefit corporation, we are independent from the state, which means there is money out there not impacted by the state”™s budget process.”
NYSERDA does cost-sharing studies and offers financial initiatives for existing facilities and new construction and has started to include natural gas efficiencies. Solar thermal incentives are also available, Strong said.
“Some companies are leasing renewable energy alternatives,” Strong said. “There is quite a lot of money out there businesses should be looking into and taking advantage of.”
In addition to its annual seminar, the RBA”™s Green Council meets monthly. To learn more about incentives available, visit rocklandbusiness.org.
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