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Case Studies and Testimonials

Many New York City buildings have already converted from heavy oil to cleaner fuels.  In fact, in 2011 nearly 300 buildings underwent a fuel conversion and 90% of them went from heavy oil to one of the cleanest fuels.  

Case Studies 

This 320-unit building invested $325,000 to complete the conversion from No. 6 oil to natural gas.  By committing to firm gas for three years, they avoided any costs associated with extending a gas line to the building. Since the switch, savings have run between $20,000 and $30,000 per month and the board of managers expects to recoup their initial investment within two years.
 
910 Park Avenue, Manhattan
This 25-unit Upper East Side co-op started burning ultra-low sulfur 2 oil (ULS 2) in October 2010. Even though the 2010/2011 winter had more heating degree days, the building burned only 24,500 gallons of ULS 2, compared to 27,000 gallons of No. 6 oil burned during the 2009/2010 winter.  The building reduced its fuel despite ULS 2 containing fewer BTUs per gallon than No. 6 oil.  Experts believe that fuel consumption was reduced because ULS 2 burns much cleaner which increases heat transfer and therefore fewer gallons of oil are needed to make the same amount of steam.
 
This 214-unit building replaced No. 6 burning boilers and burners and started burning natural gas in July 2009. After taking advantage of a National Grid incentive program, capital costs totaled $346,500, but the total heating bill fell by almost $100,000 the following year. When combined with the electricity savings associated with no longer preheating and circulating No. 6 oil, the investment is expected to pay for itself in just over three years.
 
Gravesend Co-op, Brooklyn
This 120-unit building’s conversion from No. 6 oil to natural gas required only $39,000 in upfront investment since it had relatively new equipment. Since the switch, the building’s heating bills have averaged $146,000 per year, leading to a savings of nearly $30,000.
 
This 426-unit condo took advantage of $375,000 in incentives from National Grid when replacing its boilers and switching from No. 6 oil to natural gas in October 2008. The building covered the remaining $238,500 in capital costs, but immediately saw its heating bill drop by $190,000 in the year following the conversion. 
 

Testimonials

More and more buildings are committing to cleaner fuels. Below are stories from building residents and managers that are converting to the cleanest fuels.   

New York City Housing Authority

New York City Housing Authority residents consumed more than 120 million gallons of No. 6 and No. 4 oil each year forty years ago in the 1970s.  NYCHA no longer uses No. 6 and No. 4 oil. By taking the initiative to convert from No. 6 and No. 4 oil to cleaner alternatives like natural gas and No.2 oil, NYCHA now burns less than 8-million gallons per year. Here at NYCHA, we take our commitment to a cleaner New York City and the environment as a whole very seriously.  Accordingly, NYCHA has developed a Green Agenda that will inform additional proactive measures in the future as additional evidence of this commitment.

Rory Christian
Director of Energy Finance and Sustainability, New York City Housing Authority

176 Broadway

"I’m not proud that my building is in the percent of city buildings that creates more than 85 percent of the heating oil soot pollution that New Yorkers, including my two kids, breathe in every day. This is why we are committed to converting to natural gas this year."

Paul J. Proulx
Resident and Director of 176 Broadway Owner’s Corporation

The Beresford, 211 Central Park West

"The health and business advantages of switching to clean heating fuel are compelling. Getting neighboring buildings involved not only lowers the cost of converting to natural gas, but also expedites the entire conversion process. We're thrilled that the Beresford and 15 West 81st Street are doing their part for the environment of New York City."

John Phufas
Vice President, the Beresford

Eastchester Heights

“At Eastchester Heights apartments, one of the City's largest consumers of No. 6 fuel oil, the conversion to cleaner-burning natural gas was a clear win-win. The ability to improve the environment at the same time as our bottom line is an opportunity that Taconic Investment Partners could not forgo.  With the help of the Mayor's office and the team at Con Edison we are proud to be at the forefront of this worthy initiative.”

Dan McInerney
Taconic Investment Partners LLC

Columbia University

“Columbia University recently began converting residential buildings on our Morningside campus from No. 6 and No. 4 oil to cleaner natural gas. This transition will cut the University’s greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, save money, and result in a more efficient heating infrastructure in these buildings. This project supports our commitment to sustainability and we are thrilled to be working with the City and Con Edison as one of the first partners in the NYC Clean Heat program.”

Frank Martino
Vice President of Operations, Columbia University Facilities

St. Barnabas Hospital

“Our recent partnership with Green Campus Partners to build a Combined Heat and Power Plant shows St. Barnabas Hospital's commitment, as an essential provider of health services in the Bronx, to improve the air quality and reduce the carbon footprint in our community.  For nearly 50 years, we have operated oil-fired boilers that use No. 6 fuel oil.  While these boilers continue to operate, they do so with incredible inefficiency, adversely affect the air quality of the neighborhood, and create a steep financial burden as a result of constant repairs and escalating prices.  This new plant will eliminate the need for using No. 6 fuel oil and will provide over $2 million in annual savings."

Len Walsh
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, St. Barnabas Hospital

To find out more about who is using cleaner fuels, try out our “Spot the Soot” tool.