Coca-Cola Refreshments USA Inc. expects to produce more than one-third of its heating and electrical on-site at its Elmsford bottling plant with the recent installation of two fuel cells.
UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. company in South Windsor, Conn., installed, owns and operates the fuel cell systems, which generate 35 percent of the Elmsford production facility”™s electricity and heat. The fuel cells can operate independent of the Consolidated Edison power grid and will allow select operations to continue at the plant during utility power outages.
Virtually pollution-free, the cells use a phosphoric acid-based technology to produce electricity, heat and water through an electrochemical process, UTC officials said. At the Elmsford site, their use will prevent greenhouse gas emissions totaling more than 2,600 metric tons by replacing power generation at non-baseload utility power plants.
“Coca-Cola is focusing on implementing green innovations and initiatives to reduce our company”™s overall environmental footprint at each step of our operations,” John Lacey, sales center manager, said at a recent ceremony in Elmsford commissioning the fuel cells. The company recently signed a contract to install two more UTC Power fuel cells at its bottling plant in East Hartford, Conn.
Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, which provided financial support for the project, said the agency hopes Coca-Cola”™s use of the innovative technologies “will serve as a model for industries and manufacturers all across New York state.”
Rooftop power in Chappaqua
Two businesses in Chappaqua expect to save on electrical costs with the first commercial rooftop solar power system installed in the town of New Castle community.
Sunrise Solar Solutions L.L.C., of Briarcliff Manor, this fall installed the 8.74-kilowatt system at 6 and 10 S. Greeley Ave. The generating system, which includes 38 solar panels with microinverters, will be used by business owners Phil Altman of Healthy Choice Apothecary and Abe Abdalla of Chappaqua Restaurant & Café.
Sunrise Solar Solutions LLC is the sister company of 25-year-old Sunrise Building and Remodeling of Briarcliff Manor. It designs and installs solar energy systems for the tri-state commercial and residential markets.
College testing Sheldrake River
This fall, biology and chemistry students from The College of New Rochelle”™s School of Arts & Sciences are testing the health of the Sheldrake River in Larchmont.
Wading into the river from the point of the Sheldrake Environmental Center, the women measure its pH, temperature, conductivity, alkalinity, salinity, nitrate and phosphate content, turbidity, flow rate and dissolved oxygen.
“In addition,” CNR chemistry professor Elvira Longordo says, “physical and environmental parameters that may be correlated to the results of the chemical tests and which affect the health of the river plant and animal life will be observed and recorded.”
Susan Darling, associate environmental planner for the Westchester County Department of Planning, adds that the studies “are an important part of the county”™s comprehensive water quality protection program.”
Landlord, tenant practices discussed
Landlords and tenants who want to address environmental concerns as well as the bottom line are invited to join in Westchester”™s County”™s next Green Business Challenge event on Nov. 4.
“Mastering the Green Business Challenge: Landlord & Tenant Best Green Practices” will be held 8-9:30 a.m. at Reckson/SL Green headquarters at 350 Hamilton Ave. in White Plains. The program will feature a panel discussion by landlords and tenants who are successfully addressing sustainability issues in their businesses and buildings.
The green business challenge, sponsored by Consolidated Edison, is a joint initiative of the county and The Business Council of Westchester. More information can be found at HYPERLINK “http://www.westchestergov.com/greenchallenge”www.westchestergov.com/greenchallenge.
MerrittView gets Energy Star
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency bestowed the Energy Star certification on MerrittView, a multi-tenant office building in Norwalk owned by Malkin Properties.
To earn the Energy Star designation, properties must meet strict energy performance standards set by EPA covering energy use, expenses, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Malkin Properties”™ strategies include energy-efficient fixtures and appliances; reduced water use; recycling; green cleaning and pest control solutions; and environmentally friendly carpeting and wall coverings.
Malkin Properties is based in New York City and owns several office buildings in Fairfield County and Westchester County, N.Y.
PCB violations brings fine
The owner of an inoperative Bridgeport, Conn., brass facility is paying $52,000 to settle a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigation into PCB violations.
The Fairfield-based Connecticut Transfer and Recycling Co. L.L.C. (CTC) owns the former Bridgeport Brass Co. facility in Bridgeport. In 2008, CTC hired a waste transporter to pump out waste oil from an electrical transformer and two 55-gallon drums located at the facility. CTC”™s waste oil was not initially identified as containing PCBs and was mixed with waste oil from other companies by the waste transporter and sent off to be recycled. PCBs, however, were discovered in the combined waste and eventually traced back to the waste oil from CTC”™s facility.
Three GreenCircle awards go to area businesses
Fairfield County companies received three of 28 “GreenCircle” environmental awards bestowed by the state of Connecticut, which since 1998 have recognized volunteer efforts.
Local recipients included Efficient Lighting & Maintenance Inc. of Brookfield, Conn.; Branson Ultrasonics Corp. in Danbury, Conn.; and EMSAR based in Stratford, Conn.
Efficient Lighting & Maintenance helped customers recycle spent mercury-added lamps, thermostats, batteries and ballasts containing PCBs, helping their customers save an estimated 5.7 million kilowatt hours of energy.
Branson hired an outside auditor to identify energy conservation opportunities, cutting $60,000 from its annual bill.
EMSAR, a maker of spray pumps and dispensers, partnered with A Greener Solution to recycle all secondary materials, cutting its trash generation by two thirds.
Workplace graduates green class
More than 15 Bridgeport, Conn., residents completed the four-week Green-Up Bridgeport Training program, offered by The Workplace Inc. under a $4 million federal grant.
The U.S. Department of Labor awarded the grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The program trained participants for careers in green construction, building energy systems, resource management and transportation.
Training at Environmental Management Geological Consultants Inc., students trained for licenses covering weatherization, asbestos removal, lead safety, construction safety and other topics.
Studies also included a “green survey 101” class offered at the University of Bridgeport helping them understand the additional training needed to move up the career ladder.
