Grand Central Terminal upgrades will slash energy consumption, MTA says

An energy efficiency project under way at Grand Central Terminal in New York City will cut the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) annual carbon emissions by 10,000 tons, agency officials estimate.

The $22 million project, which involves installing new heating and cooling equipment, represents the largest energy efficiency project that MTA has undertaken with the New York Power Authority (NYPA), agency officials said in a prepared statement.

Developed via a partnership between the NYPA and MTA Metro-North Railroad, the project is estimated to save about $3 million a year in energy costs. The upfront costs of the equipment will be borne by NYPA and be repaid annually over about 11 years by Metro-North with money saved from reduced energy usage. Installation began this month and will be completed by the end of 2013.

“Partnerships like this one … are good for the environment, good for the state and good for the taxpayers as we continue to find ways to conserve energy and save money,” said MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota. “This particular project is especially good for Grand Central Terminal. As this great train station approaches its centennial, it is due for these kinds of system improvements.”