Media contacts:                                                                                     
For Release: February 28, 2008

 

Aviator, Crisytne Nicholas 212-554-4470

NYSERDA, Sal Graven 518-862-1090, ext. 3331

National Grid, Karen Young 718-403- 2503  

Energy Spectrum, April Thibeault 212-861-0990

 

Aviator Sports & Recreation Receives Incentives

for Operating Energy-Efficient Facility

 

            Brooklyn, N.Y. – Aviator Sports & Recreation, joined by officials from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), National Grid (formerly KeySpan), and the City and State of New York, today announced that the state of the arts 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 was 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 facilities’ 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. 

 

“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!”

 

“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.”

 

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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. http://www.aviatorsports.com 

 

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. http://www.nyserda.org

 

 

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. http://www.nationalgrid.com

 

 

Energy Spectrum is 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. http://www.energyspec.com