New York (NY) -  New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that New York City plans to spend $2.3 billion in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from municipal buildings and operations by 30% in 30 years.

The city has plans to cut 1.68 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents a year from the levels measured at 2006 by the year 2017. Heating and cooling systems will be improved, methane leaks at water treatment plants repaired and the use of natural gas to aid in operating electric generation equipment will be implemented. The enhanced heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in the buildings of the city will be utilized to accomplish about 57% of the total reductions, Bloomberg said.

“The city is doing its part, I hope the private sector follows our example and finds conservation savings of their own”, he stated. The city government is believed to consume about 6.5% of the total energy flowing into the city and about 10% of the city’s peak electricity demand.

Bloomberg feels that the city is capable of achieving these results utilizing only existing technology. He stated that the city should break even on its investments, on an annual cash flow basis, by the year 2013.

"By 2015, we project we will have saved more on our energy bills than we will have spent on all our planned investments to that point," Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler said.

The firehouses, offices, court houses, police departments and sanitation garages will have their emissions reduced through repairs to items such as leaky pipes, broken windows and inefficient pumps. Additionally wasteful systems will be corrected and repaired.

City officials said they will also begin to purchase work vehicles that get better gas mileage and streetlight bulbs will be replaced with ones that are more energy efficient.
Answering the question what he would be able to accomplish before his term ends in 542 days Bloomberg said: "You'll be living here, you'll be breathing the air, and it'll be your children who will suffer. If you believe this is the right way to go, you'll have to pressure whoever so they continue on."

Efficiency = energy crisis solution

Jul 10, 2008 12:31     

Totally logical and applicable to everyone. Want energy independence? Eliminate waste and consume less. You don't have to spend a fortune on solar panels or a hybrid. Fix leaks, add insulation, and if you have to buy, choose more efficient options--even if it's more expensive, it'll probably be cheaper in the long-run.
Noel report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +5

Greenhouse gases = Hoax

Jul 10, 2008 15:45     

This whole environmental hoax that is going around is starting to put a stress on the economy. Now it's spending tax dollars. Why can't people figure out that if CO2 was really a 'Greenhouse gas' then the earth tempature would have been steadily going up since the early 1900's. But if you measure the tempature since 1998, the earth has actually been cooling(about .1 degree C). Mother nature is more powerful than us. Wasn't in in the 1970's they were worried that the Earth was possibly going into an Ice Age. All these crazy environmentists are always trying to put fear into anybody. Sciencitists have not agreed about Global Warming or Greenhouse gases. I'm all for getting renewable resources because fossil fuels will not be around forever. But I hate when people assume things.

Headward report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -2

Hoax...

Jul 10, 2008 23:48     

Just google the BBC production "The Great Global Warming Swindle". Very educational. (Hard to find sometimes though).
Dozer42 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

What are the likes of Gore and these other alarmist...

Jul 11, 2008 05:48     

What are the likes of Gore and these other alarmists going to do in another 5 or 10 years when the temperatures dip AGAIN? Are they going to claim we're headed into another ice age caused by CO2 like they did back in the 70s? Will we be able to sue them? I think not! Does New York city have billions of dollars laying around to spend on this hoax? What about educatuion, police protection and some of the real environmental problems facing the city?

Tom EE report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -2

Forget about the global warming argument

Jul 11, 2008 10:31     

Forget about the global warming argument, NYC is doing this for efficiency. As the article stated, they plan on breaking even by 2013, and actually saving money by 2015 by implementing this plan. Spending billions of dollars on this "hoax" is a good idea in the long run, regardless of the validity of global warming. Quit spreading FUD.
Jason report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +2

Title of the Article is Misleading

Jul 11, 2008 14:03     

If they are truely doing for budget, why don't they state that?
Headward report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0