NYSERDA awards funding to organizations in Syracuse, Pulaski

Organizations in Syracuse and Pulaski will use state funding to explore new technologies to make buildings more energy efficient.

The New York Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) on Tuesday awarded a total of nearly $5 million in funding for projects statewide, including the local awards.

The announcement is the second of six rounds of funding under NYSERDA’s advanced-buildings program, which will provide a total of $25 million over the next three years.

NYSERDA is partnering with manufacturers, research scientists, building owners and property managers interested in developing and applying new and emerging energy-efficient technologies that offer improved energy and environmental performance, the governor’s office said in a news release.

NYSERDA awarded Ephesus Lighting Inc. of Syracuse a grant of more than $300,000 for its plans to develop a “high-intensity” light-emitting diode (LED) stadium-light fixture that will replace the metal-halide fixtures in place at many professional sports stadiums, including those of Major League Baseball and the National Football League.

The energy-efficient, “low-maintenance” fixture will incorporate LEDs, lensing technology, and “rugged” design to meet the demands of professional-stadium lighting, the authority said.

The authority also awarded Fulton Heating Solutions, Inc. of Pulaski a grant of $500,000 as it works in collaboration with Synex Controls to construct a dual-fuel boiler (gas and oil) with the capability of condensing on oil while maintaining the ability to heat larger building capacities.

This new style of condensing boiler is intended to “improve the efficiency of gas and oil boilers and increase energy savings,” NYSERDA said.

In addition, Fulton will also use a grant of $100,000 to develop a low-cost, corrosion-resistant heat exchanger for a high-efficiency steam boiler.

The heat exchanger will recover heat otherwise lost from boiler flue gas and preheat incoming air, which is intended to “increase efficiency” of steam systems and lower overall costs, the authority said.

NYSERDA also awarded the Research Foundation for the State University New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry a grant of $100,000 as it researches the development of the cross-laminated timber (CLT) panel industry in New York.

The technique uses lower grades of wood and processes them for efficient use in CLT panels that intended for use in construction projects.

The research will test the structural performance of these panels and examine the cost of production and manufacturing for the CLT industry in New York, according to NYSERDA.

In addition, NYSERDA awarded the Gas Technology Institute, a nonprofit research institute a grant of more than $280,000.

It is working with utilities, including National Grid, NYSEG and National Fuel Gas Co., and Auburn University to demonstrate a hybrid heat-pump hydronic water-heater system intended to provide heating, cooling and hot water at “optimal” efficiencies, the authority said.

The “integrated” system will have “benefits in the form of reduced energy consumption and cost reduction,” NYSERDA said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com