About BUILD SMART NY State Building Initiative
Governor Cuomo has set an ambitious, yet achievable, goal of improving energy efficiency in state buildings 20% by 2020. BUILD SMART NY is a state initiative that aims to accomplish this goal in a strategic, coordinated, cost-effective, and data-driven manner.
Over the next seven years, BUILD SMART NY will benchmark the energy usage of state buildings, and execute energy master plans at the most energy intensive campuses. Based on the findings of the benchmarking data and energy master plans, BUILD SMART NY will target retrofits in the largest and most inefficient buildings, accelerating efforts to improve the efficiency of state buildings. BUILD SMART NY will also implement best practices for building operations and maintenance to ensure efficiency improvements are sustained. The BUILD SMART NY team will be located at the New York Power Authority
In addition to our immediate goal of reducing energy waste, costs, and greenhouse gas emissions, we have a longer term objective of catalyzing investment in energy efficiency by demonstrating the economic, social, and environmental benefits of building energy efficiency. One way we will do this is through the BUILD SMART NY website.
About BUILD SMART NY Website
With this site we are pioneering the use of big data and social networking technologies to increase transparency, accelerate projects, and drive innovation in buildings throughout New York State. The website will include progress reports, case studies, energy savings, project costs, greenhouse gas emission reductions, and other information. This level of transparency will enable greater accountability on government spending and performance, more information sharing among agencies and energy efficiency implementers, and a larger pool of information from which stakeholders can learn and build.
This site will serve as the one-stop-shop for information on building energy efficiency projects connected to New York State. Meaning, it will not only host information on state buildings, but it will also include details on buildings that receive energy efficiency support from the New York Power Authority or the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Currently the website includes projects initiated in state buildings over the last few years. More recent projects will be added shortly and uploads will continue on a regular basis.
In the end, we hope that by sharing information we will encourage local governments, private sector companies, and non-profit institutions to follow New York’s lead and to make an investment in buildings that will benefit institutional bottom lines, the economy, and the environment.
Who is Involved?
NYS Office of General Services (OGS)
The Office of General Services manages a variety of programs on behalf of New York State. Among its core functions, OGS is responsible for the administration and daily operations of all OGS-owned and managed state office buildings. They provide a full range of core real estate services on behalf of other New York State agencies including identifying and negotiating public or private space for agency use, providing space planning and construction oversight, and managing the sale of state surplus lands and properties.
The New York Power Authority (NYPA)
NYPA is the country's largest state public power organization, producing some of the cheapest electricity in North America. It owns 17 generating facilities fueled by flowing water or natural gas and/or low-sulfur oil. Together, they provide up to one-quarter of New York’s electricity. With over 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines, NYPA produces the power to help sustain more than 380,000 jobs statewide. It is a national leader in promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable-fuel and clean-energy technologies. The BUILD SMART NY team will be located at the New York Power Authority.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
NYSERDA’s aim is to help New York meet its energy goals: reducing energy consumption, promoting the use of renewable energy sources, and protecting the environment. Through collaborations with businesses, academia, the federal government, the environmental community and other parties, NYSERDA seeks to develop a diversified energy supply portfolio, improve market mechanisms, and facilitate the introduction and adoption of advanced technologies.
How to use the BUIILD SMART NY website?
How does the BUILD SMART NY Platform work?
The BUILD SMART NY Platform is essentially a visual database of all the energy efficiency projects happening in New York State’s buildings. It has several key characteristics and functionality:
- It is searchable by building, project, location, and agency
- Users can add content in the form of pictures and additional information
- It is a highly graphic platform, which helps make the somewhat abstract topic of energy efficiency more tangible
How Do I Use the Building Directory?
The Building Directory will allow you to quickly discover information about state owned buildings throughout the state of NY. Begin by clicking on the Building icon located in the main navigation on the top of your screen. Once you are in the Building Directory, narrow your search by entering in a building location, city & state, or use the drop down to select buildings managed by a specific agency. Note that buildings are only added once they undergo energy efficiency audits, energy master plans, or retrofits.
How do I use the Project Directory?
The Project Directory will allow you to quickly discover successful energy efficiency projects completed or underway in buildings owned by the State of New York. Begin by clicking on the Projects icon located in the main navigation on the top of your screen. Once you are in the Projects Directory, narrow your search by entering in a location, city & state, or use the drop down to select buildings managed by a specific agency.
What is a Building Profile?
Each Building Profile provides a variety of valuable information including building features, certifications, available space, photos, projects, etc.
What is a Project Profile?
Creating a Project Profile is a way to showcase energy efficiency projects, which can include audits, energy master plans, retrocommissioning, retrofits, or other no or low cost efforts. A project page allows you to upload photos, write a description, and include relevant attachments. A Building can have more than one Project Profile.
How do I add a Project?
Adding a project is quick and easy. Simply follow the 3 steps below.
- Click on the “Projects” button located in the Project Directory. To get to the project directory click "projects" in the main navigation on the top of your screen.
- Once you are on the projects directory page click on the “add project” button located on the top right hand side of the directory.
- After clicking the “add project” button, you will be prompted to start adding your project.
- After completing the project form your project will be submitted for approval by a member of the BUILD SMART NY team.
Where does the information on this website come from?
The information found on building and project profiles comes directly from the BUILD SMART NY Team, relevant New York State agencies, and the contractors providing energy efficiency services in these facilities.
Definitions
Retro Commissioning: A systematic, documented process that functionally tests and adjusts building system controls and operation to ensure building systems operate in accordance with the original design intentions of, or best practices for, the building’s current function. Through the Retro Commissioning process, experts optimize building system performance through the identification and implementation of low / no cost system improvements. Often capital intensive facility improvement measures are recommended to ensure continued building system performance.
Energy Audit: A process by which a building or facility’s energy use is identified and analyzed in order to recommend system improvements to increase energy efficiency and thereby reduce energy consumption.
Energy Conservation Measures (ECM): An action that can be applied to improve energy efficiency. An Energy Conservation Measures could include any combination of replacing equipment, modifying equipment or operation or installing new equipment that improves system efficiency.
kW: Acronym for Kilowatt. An instantaneous measure of electrical power equal to 1,000 watts. For example, ten, 100-watt light bulbs operating at the same time uses one Kilowatt.
kWh: Acronym for Kilowatt-hour. A measure of energy, usually electrical, that represents the amount of work that a Kilowatt provides over an hour period of time.
MMBtu: Abbreviation for one million Btus. Btu is an Acronym for British Thermal Units, which are commonly used in the United States to express heat or fossil fuel energy. A Btu is the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. A million Btus is energy content of about 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 8.75 gallons of gasoline or 293 Kilowatt-hours.
