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FAIRFIELD, CT – Representatives from ISO New England Inc., the
operator of the region’s bulk power system and wholesale electricity
markets, presented Fairfield University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx,
S.J. and First Selectman Ken Flatto with 2004 Demand Response Achievement
Awards on Wednesday, March 30. The awards recognize these entities’
participation and performance in ISO New England’s Demand Response Program.
Representatives from EnerNOC, a Boston-based firm under contract with
ISO New England to recruit and work with commercial electricity users for
the Demand Response Program, were also present.
"When the power grid is most stressed, we assist by reducing our
electricity use," said Ric Taylor, associate vice president for
campus planning and operations, noting that the program dovetails with a
number of initiatives the University has undertaken to be as energy efficient
as possible. "A small sacrifice in our shedding load can help improve
overall power system reliability. Environmentally, the energy-producing plants
are less stressed, thereby avoiding additional emissions. By participating
in the program, the University also benefits from a new revenue stream that
helps to balance ever-rising utility costs."
The Town of Fairfield, the first Connecticut municipality to participate
in the program, is also pleased with the opportunity to help improve the
region’s electrical reliability.
The Town’s Director of Public Works, Richard White,
remarked, "We combine the resources of several Town facilities to
maximize our contribution to maintaining reliability within the region without
compromising our day-to-day operations. It’s exciting to know that we are
helping keep the power flowing to our community."
Residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout
Connecticut and New England are participating in ISO New England’s
Demand Response Program. The program requires customers to respond to
capacity deficiency events by quickly decreasing their energy consumption
from the electrical grid in exchange for recurring payments. The Demand
Response Program allows ISO New England to help maintain reliability by
calling on these customers to reduce power consumption during times of
stress on the region’s bulk power grid.
"Fairfield University and the Town of Fairfield have proven to be
dependable and valuable partners in the ISO New England Real-Time
Demand Response Program and should be proud of their contributions to
maintaining the reliability of the electrical grid in Southwest Connecticut,"
said Robert Laurita, ISO New England’s senior program administrator.
In an unscheduled test last summer (which neither participant nor
EnerNOC knew was a test), Fairfield University dropped 2.3 megawatts of
energy within 15 minutes, enough to power 1,600 to 2,300 homes in Fairfield
County, and vastly more than the University had pledged. The Town dropped
several hundred kilowatts across several facilities, including the Town Hall
and Water Pollution Control Facility.
"Fairfield University and the Town of Fairfield have been an
integral part of making the electrical grid more reliable through
their participation in the Demand Response Program," said David
Brewster, President and Chief Operating Officer of EnerNOC. "The
level of performance that EnerNOC and its clients achieved during this
event is getting national recognition, giving demand response credibility
as a real and verifiable resource.
"This is a critical program to make the electrical grid more
reliable and Fairfield University and the Town of Fairfield are shining
examples of how end-use customers can really participate in the electricity
markets in meaningful ways – and make money while doing so."
The University was able to respond so quickly thanks to automated
notification from EnerNOC and a computerized energy management system that
enables officials to control more than three-quarters of the University’s
energy usage from two centralized locations.
EnerNOC also has the ability to automatically turn on the emergency
generators at participating sites across the University’s campus and
Town upon ISO New England’s request. Fairfield’s generators can
handle about 20 percent of the University’s usual energy usage of 3 to
3.5 megawatts. Fairfield’s peak usage rises to about 5 megawatts on hot
summer days due to air conditioning. The new technology has allowed Fairfield
to monitor its energy consumption 24 hours a day. "You can pick up problems
before they become a major crash," Taylor said.
Participation in the demand response program is among several initiatives
the University has undertaken over the last ten years following a study it
conducted with United Technologies Carrier in 1998 to examine its energy usage
and look for ways to control and reduce electricity consumption. These efforts
have produced tremendous payback for the University, cutting its kilowatt-hour
usage by 11 percent per square foot, and thus saving money and helping the environment.
Among the specific changes the University made were:
Replaced 880 exit signs that used incandescent light with LED displays
that use a fraction of the electricity. Replaced 7,700 older fluorescent fixtures with energy-saving T-8 lamps and
electronic ballasts. Changed exterior lights from those with mercury to those using high-pressure sodium. Installed occupancy sensors that turn off the lights if the room is empty. Installed low-flow showerheads and toilets, which not only saved "a tremendous
amount" of water but reduced the sewer use bill as well. Replaced boilers and air conditioning chillers with high efficiency units.
In 2001, a grant from the Keck Foundation and SNET allowed Dr. Evangelos
Hadjimichael, dean of the School of Engineering, to spearhead the installation
of about 700 solar panels – one of the largest residential installations
in the country – on the roof of one of the University’s Townhouses.
The solar array produces 12.5 kilowatts of electricity.
Attending the award presentation were: von Arx, Flatto, Taylor,
Laurita, Brewster, White, Town of Fairfield Assistant Director of Public
Works Ed Boman, Fairfield University Vice President of Finance William J. Lucas,
Fairfield University Control Supervisor Bill Romatzick, Fairfield University
Energy Manager Bill Auger, University Electrician John Tedesco, and Director
of Campus Operations Theodore Hunyadi.
About Fairfield University:
Fairfield University is a comprehensive Jesuit university that prepares undergraduate, graduate and continuing education students for leadership and service in a constantly changing world. In the 2005 U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" Fairfield ranks third among universities with master's programs in the North and The Princeton Review named Fairfield one of the nation’s 77 "best value" undergraduate institutions in "America’s Best Value Colleges." Approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 34 states, 45 countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled at the University's six schools. The University was founded in 1942 in the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, Connecticut.
About the Town of Fairfield:
The town of Fairfield is located in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Fairfield is a town of more than 58,400 residents and is located on the coast of Long Island Sound between the cities of Bridgeport and Stamford. The town was settled in 1639 and covers an area of 30.6 square miles.
About EnerNOC:
EnerNOC, Inc. is the leading provider of demand response, price response, and demand side management solutions to the commercial and industrial markets in the United States. EnerNOC delivers immediate, profitable results to customers by leveraging its deep experience in all aspects of energy management, commercial contracting, and embedded systems technology. For more information visit www.enernoc.com. |
