Now more than ever, companies are integrating sustainability practices across their business plans. Most would agree that going green is imperative for their future success and the strength of their bottom line.
As an administrator of Energize Connecticut programs, The United Illuminating Company (UI) helps commercial and industrial customers with sustainability solutions by identifying specific cost-saving energy upgrades for unique business needs. With a complementary focus on cultural and behavioral changes, UI guides companies through the necessary steps to improve how they perform financially and environmentally, and to attain long lasting energy savings. UI also provides customers with technical insight on implementing identified solutions and assists in securing financial rebates, incentives or low interest financing through the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund.
Energize Connecticut's initiative to provide fundamental energy efficiency know-how and practical guidance on energy-saving strategies has been utilized expansively by educational and medical facilities throughout Connecticut. In just the past few years, UI has partnered with educational institution pillars including Fairfield University, Quinnipiac University, University of New Haven, Gateway Community College and Stone Academy to bring more sustainability practices to their facilities.
"Educational institutions are leading the way with their efforts to advance sustainability and environmental stewardship across their campuses. As a result of their ongoing efforts they are empowered to turn energy into an asset, recognizing the increasing value of energy efficiency," said Roy Haller, UI director of commercial and industrial energy service programs. "By taking advantage of the various Energize Connecticut programs, companies and institutions are very interested in implementing energy-efficient measures and learning ways to achieve their goals, maximizing the fullest savings potential."
Quinnipiac University recently completed a large-scale building renovation on the North Haven Campus - now home to the Center for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and the new Frank H. Netter School of Medicine. By using the state's Energy Conscious Blueprint Program, the university was able to secure $87,000 in financial assistance to cover some energy efficiency upgrades, including high-efficiency CFL and LED lights and a supplementary 10-ton chiller. Together, these upgrades will result in savings of $61,700 annually.
The United Illuminating Company also supported a comprehensive lighting project with Stone Academy. Participating in the Small Business Energy Advantage program, the career training school was able to update all interior and exterior lighting, and install motion sensors at their three campuses in East Hartford, Waterbury and West Haven. Together, these upgrades result in a 24% energy decrease, or an estimated $17,000 saved on energy costs annually. Funded by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, the program allowed Stone Academy to make the upgrades with no upfront costs. The school not only received a $21,800 incentive payment for completing the project, but also benefited from 0% financing opportunities.
The momentum behind the growing number of educational facilities embracing energy efficiency is also evident in the state's healthcare facilities and private medical practices, with Yale New Haven Healthcare, Bridgeport Hospital, Griffin Hospital and Whitney Center all recently participating in Energize Connecticut programs.
Organizations call upon UI at the initial planning stages to effectively integrate sustainability practices in to their project. Well-known Connecticut healthcare facilities Bridgeport Hospital and Mary Wade Home, Inc., brought UI advisors in from the start to provide direction on how the facilities could improve their equipment, conserve energy and ultimately save money.
With their primary goal to repair and retrofit the current building systems, Bridgeport Hospital, a top employer in the city, implemented the Energy Opportunities and Operations & Maintenance Service programs. Energy efficient upgrades implemented through these programs included new lighting sensors, an energy management system, variable speed drives, and two new 600-horsepower boilers, resulting in a lifetime energy savings of $5 million for the hospital.
Mary Wade's $11 million expansion of their adult day center and skilled nursing facility was best suited for the Energy Conscious Blueprint program, specifically geared towards planning new construction and major renovations. With guidance from UI, Wade installed energy-saving fluorescent lighting, an energy-efficient chiller unit and a new condensed boiler and variable drives that better control heating and cooling operations.
As an energy authority, UI hopes that more healthcare facilities and educational organizations will proactively pursue energy efficiency and explore the wide-ranging opportunities available to them through the Energize Connecticut programs.
Information on Connecticut's energy efficiency programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com.