Published:
Con Edison Installs Its First Green Roof
A Collaborative Effort With Columbia University Brings an Energy-Saving Rooftop Garden to Queens
Con Edison's (NYSE: ED) first "green roof," a
new energy-saving plant system, is growing on the company's three-story
Learning Center training and conference facility in Long Island City. Con
Edison expects the green roof to improve air quality and to conserve energy
by reducing the amount of heat absorbed by conventional roofs.
ore than 21,000 plants occupy over a quarter acre of the Learning Center's
rooftop. The plants absorb heat, keeping the building cooler and reducing
the need for air conditioning. The roof is projected to save up to 30
percent of the Learning Center's peak-cooling costs.
The green roof demonstration, a collaborative effort with Columbia
University's Center for Climate Systems Research, will evaluate the
benefits of the green roof and measure energy savings, roof surface
temperatures, and air quality improvements. Columbia University scientists
will analyze the results.
The green roof also benefits the environment by absorbing and retaining
rainwater from heavy rains, known as storm water runoff. Storm water runoff
can overwhelm the City's sewer system, and potentially cause untreated
sewage to overflow into local waterways. The company anticipates the green
roof will retain 30 percent to 70 percent of storm water runoff, releasing
water slowly into the drainage system.
Though it is the first of its kind at a Con Edison facility, this is not
the company's first experience with green roofs. In 2004, a company
research and development team helped create a green roof at Silvercup
Studios in Long Island City and helped raise funds for its installation.
Con Edison also backed an educational project comparing green and cool
roofs on the American Banknote Building in the South Bronx for Sustainable
South Bronx.
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE: ED), one of
the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately
$13 billion in annual revenues and $30 billion in assets. The utility
provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers
in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional
financial, operations and customer service information, visit Con Edison's
Web site at www.conEd.com.
Copyright © 2009, MarketWire
Copyright © 2009, NewsBlaze,
Daily NewsTags: ,Energy and Utilities:AlternativeEnergy, EnergyandUtilities:Utilities, Environment:AirPollutionControl, Environment:NaturalResourceManagement, ,NYSE0001,NYSE0001,NYSE0001,NY,NEW YORK, NY
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