Crown Plaza Times Square received $13,200 in cash and $130,000-plus annual savings in electricity costs when it became the first business to receive a rebate from Consolidated Edison (Con Edison), for an energy-saving initiative under the utility s new Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Program.
The hotel was rewarded for replacing 3,300, 40W, incandescent lightbulbs of its 80 x 20 ft. Crowne Plaza Times Square sign with 8W CFL bulbs. The new bulbs will require more than 700,000 less kilowatt hours for their 24/7 participation in the Times Square light show. Plus, because the CFL bulbs will glow for an estimated 25,000 hours (almost three years), as opposed to the seven-month run of their predecessors, the Crowne Plaza Times Square will also realize at least another $20,000 annual savings in the labor costs associated with the three-day, bulb-changing process. The total annual savings of more than $140,000 generated by the bulb replacement will be realized as the result of an initial investment of $40,000 — just $26,800 after the Con Edison rebate.
"As part of an ongoing commitment to increasing the hotel s environmental responsibility quotient, we had been exploring various energy saving initiatives, including the replacement of the sign bulbs when the buildings management company, Grubb & Ellis, brought Con Edison s new program to our attention," notes Gerry Hughes, director of operations, who oversaw the project. "Grubb & Ellis and ConEd worked with us to calculate the savings and identify the best, most efficient product for our needs, moving the sign to the top of our eco-friendly projects list. The rebate is a most appreciated bonus and being the first business in New York City to receive one is a great source of pride!"
Rolled out in March, Con Edison s Commercial and Industrial Program is designed for large businesses with an average, peak demand of more than 100kW to encourage them to undertake energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling upgrades with rebates and incentives available for most energy saving technologies.
In the Crowne Plaza Times Square s case, the rebate was calculated on a per bulb replaced basis at $4 each.
In addition to the new energy-efficiency of its signage, the Crowne Plaza Times Square also recently instituted other eco-friendly practices, especially in relation to its food and beverage operation. All paper goods are made from recycled materials, the cleaning products boast high green ratings and the kitchen has inaugurated a composting system.