Buildings in New York City can connect to the largest district steam system in the United States to save money and protect the environment. With Con Edison steam, buildings can cut onsite emissions to zero, eliminate the storage of combustible fuels onsite, free up space from fuel burning equipment and save on maintenance costs, all while enjoying enhanced reliability and direct supply. The U.S. Green Building Council in cooperation with the International District Energy Association and Con Edison created the District Energy Guide in 2008 with the goal to reward building projects connected to efficient district energy systems such as Con Edison’s Steam System.
Con Edison uses combined heat and power (CHP) to produce steam. The system produces electricity and steam simultaneously, resulting in an overall system efficiency of about 64 percent in comparison to a 51 percent overall system efficiency of a conventional natural gas-fired generation plant. Con Edison’s steam travels under the streets of Manhattan from the Battery to 96th Street on the West Side and from downtown to 89th Street on the East Side to heat, cool, and power New York City landmark and high-rise buildings.
Steam also enables buildings to earn additional LEED points by freeing up space to create green uses like bicycle racks, showers, lockers, or a green space. Buildings can use condensate to pre-heat domestic hot water through a heat exchanger to offset steam consumption, making the building more energy efficient.
Taking advantage of these opportunities can improve the ability of Con Edison steam customers to reach LEED certification without having to apply additional expensive energy-saving measures. For a more detailed explanation of the District Energy Guide and its application to your LEED efforts, visit Con Edison.com/steam and the U.S. Green Building Council.
By: Paulina Marinkovic´–Analyst at Con Edison’s Steam Services department.
