New Rochelle, N.Y. January 22, 2023 – At a celebration at the New Rochelle High School Library on Wednesday, January 17, Sustainable Westchester, a leading advocate striving to make Westchester communities safer and more resilient against the threats posed by climate change, and Logical Buildings, an award-winning climate technology provider, presented the City School District of New Rochelle with a rebate check for $23,943 in recognition of its leadership in reducing energy use among school buildings.
Cooling can be a significant energy challenge for school districts, and amid a rapidly warming planet, there is increasing pressure on buildings – which account for nearly 40 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions – to improve sustainability measures. Pioneering carbon emissions and energy tracking through artificial intelligence, Logical Buildings’ SmartKit AI technology detected peak energy demand at key points during the summer of 2023, and the school district reduced energy usage at five schools by approximately 700 kW, which resulted in $23,943 in savings. New Rochelle is the first school district in New York to participate in Logical Buildings’ Demand Response Program.
City School District of New Rochelle Superintendent Dr. Corey W. Reynolds accepted the $23,943 rebate presented by Lauren Brois, director at Sustainable Westchester, and David Klatt, COO of Logical Buildings.
“Strategically curbing energy consumption during peak times aligns with our school district’s goal of managing resources efficiently and economically. It seamlessly connects with the priority of our Green Schools Committee to reduce the school district’s carbon footprint,” expressed Superintendent Dr. Corey W. Reynolds. “The acknowledgment through this rebate is a testament to our dedication to fostering an environmentally sustainable school district, ensuring a greener future for our students and community alike.”
“By partnering with Sustainable Westchester, the City School District was able to take advantage of an innovative demand response program, earn significant funds and reduce pollution,” said City of New Rochelle Council Member Sara Kaye. “I want to commend the students, the faculty and administrators for their advocacy and taking this important step toward confronting climate change.”
A total of five schools were activated on the platform: New Rochelle High School, Trinity Elementary School, William B. Ward Elementary School, Columbus Elementary School and Albert Leonard Middle School. The program was initiated by the City School District Facilities Department in support of one of the Green Schools Committee’s priorities of developing a comprehensive utility management program that maximizes conservation of natural resources. The district implemented simple measures, like shifting buildings’ cooling schedules and temperature setpoints to reduce energy at key times, and the program remarkably had limited to no impact on students and staff comfort levels. The district is currently exploring opportunities to expand its role by adding additional buildings in summer 2024.
“We have been working with Logical Buildings to bring energy technology solutions to residents, businesses, and municipalities throughout Westchester County, and we are thrilled to be involved in this partnership with the City School District of New Rochelle,” said Lauren Brois, director at Sustainable Westchester. “Enabling this type of technology can help school districts throughout Westchester not only reduce pollution in environmental justice communities, but also earn savings that can have a tremendous impact.”
“As we move towards a more electric and decarbonized world, becoming grid-interactive and using electricity smarter is both critical and valuable to the utility as well as energy users,” said David Klatt, COO of Logical Buildings. “The City School District of New Rochelle is a leader in climate innovation, showcasing the power energy users can have to collectively reduce energy when it matters the most and earning money for it.”
Sustainable Westchester regularly partners with Logical Buildings to offer technology-driven energy savings programs to Westchester County municipalities, residents, and businesses. For example, GridRewards pays consumers to lower their energy consumption during periods of extremely hot weather when people typically crank their air conditioners and electricity demand spikes. More than 4,000 residents and businesses in Westchester County have signed up for GridRewards to date, and on average, each residential user received a direct cash payment of $80, with the top commercial users earning more than $20,000. During the summer of 2022, users’ combined efforts reduced energy consumption by 7MW, enough electricity to instantaneously power 25,000 homes. Con Edison-serviced municipalities, businesses, and residents are all eligible to participate in GridRewards.
School districts interested in learning more about partnerships with Sustainable Westchester and Logical Buildings can contact Lauren Brois, Director at Sustainable Westchester. Contact: lauren@sustainablewestchester.org or 914-242-4725, ext 122.
