Energy improvements cut costs, reduce emissions at Metro-North rail yard

New York Power Authority has completed a $2.1 million energy-efficiency project at MTA Metro-North Railroad's North White Plains train yard, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday.

Completed under the BuildSmart NY program, the project was designed to cut energy costs by more than $328,000 and remove 1,280 tons of greenhouse gases annually, according to a press release issued by Cuomo’s office.

The project, which began in fall 2014, involved improvements at four major buildings in the yard. The work included the replacement of several air-handling systems and installation of a new boiler, electric smart meters and a building energy monitoring and management system. The system will enable the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to better track and curtail energy use, as well as cut operation and maintenance costs.

The power authority, which oversaw the project from an initial energy audit through its completion, provided upfront funding. The energy savings resulting from the project will offset the MTA’s payments back to the authority.

The authority is partnering with MTA to improve energy efficiency across multiple facilities. When completed, the projects will save more than 50,000 megawatt hours of electricity and nearly 103,000 gallons of fuel a year, as well as eliminate nearly 31,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, officials said.

Launched in 2012, BuildSmart NY calls for an increase in energy efficiency in state government buildings by 20 percent by 2020.