TRC in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and local utility companies has delivered an efficiency program that will save the Archdiocese of New York more than $3.3 million in energy costs and a reduction of more than 7,000 tons in carbon emissions.
2021 Stars of Energy Efficiency Award Winner
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York is one of four recipients to receive a Star of Energy Efficiency Award from the Alliance to Save Energy in 2021. The program, initiated in 2015 identified nearly 300 parishes including church buildings, schools, rectories and other buildings which could benefit from projects to improve building performance and reduce energy costs.
TRC is honored to be to be part of the team recognized for our efficiency achievements with the Archdiocese of New York. This program is part of our larger portfolio of programs that deliver advanced energy, decarbonization and resiliency solutions to helping our clients achieve a clean and equitable energy future for the communities they serve.
The Alliance to Save Energy is a bipartisan, nonprofit coalition of business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders advocating to advance federal energy efficiency policy.
Our solutions included:
- Established an in-house ADNY Energy Department with three full-time employees
- Completed 102 energy audits, covering 6.2M square feet of space at 308 buildings
- Generated energy conservation projects projected to save over $1.2M in annual energy costs
- Completed LED upgrades at 55 sites through utility direct install programs, with more projects pending
- Trained >150 personnel at energy efficiency Building Operator Training courses
- Initiated Portfolio Manager training sessions, training over 40 parish business personnel
- Launched a steam trap initiative, with initial surveys projecting an average 12-month payback on trap repairs
- Established energy procurement programs to improve purchasing of electricity, natural gas, and fuel oil, with savings from initial contracts exceeding $275,000 annually
- Conducted 200+ in-person meetings with parishes about energy efficiency opportunities
- Launched a Solar PV pilot program. PPA for seven systems (1.4 MW total) are in the final stages of authorization
Building and Implementing an Energy Master Plan
The Archdiocese of New York (ADNY) established an energy conservation initiative to reduce energy use, manage energy costs and decrease the environmental impact of its 1,800 buildings located throughout ten counties in New York City and the Hudson Valley. ADNY wanted to maximize the use of financial resources to implement cost effective energy upgrades and guide, motivate, and support parishes and schools to take an active role in energy conservation at their facilities.
ADNY selected TRC to provide technical and consulting services for the launch of this new program. TRC conducted energy audits at ADNY buildings to investigate energy use issues and to identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. In collaboration with stakeholders throughout ADNY, TRC developed an initial Energy Master Plan. This established a roadmap for the Energy Program with initiatives related to energy efficiency, procurement, renewable energy, data management, and training.
With funding from NYSERDA as cost share for energy audits, the Energy Master Plan and building operator training, the Energy Program quickly gained momentum.
TRC supports ADNY’s implementation of the Energy Master Plan by providing auditing and engineering expertise, energy management consulting and outreach to parishes and schools about the energy conservation and renewable energy initiatives. TRC also led the first update to the plan, outlining an updated roadmap for the Energy Program through 2022.