NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital establishes first co-generation plant in Manhattan

Nov 5 2009

Demonstrating its commitment to clean energy and cost savings, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has switched on the first hospital-based co-generation plant in Manhattan. Located at 70th St. and York Ave. and unveiled today in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the plant promises to reduce the emission of 20,000 tons of pollutants each year, the equivalent of taking 3,600 automobiles off the road, while adding millions of dollars in annual cost savings.

With the addition of the power from the new plant, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center will generate between 60 percent and 100 percent of its own electricity, meaning less consumption of other "dirtier" forms of energy such as nuclear and coal-fired power plants.

"Co-generation is a win for patients, a win for the environment and a win for our Hospital's bottom line," says Dr. Steven J. Corwin, executive vice president and COO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. "Cleaner air means healthier communities, and the dollars saved by using this technology can be redirected to patient care. By showing that co-generation is possible even given the challenges of a complex, urban environment, we hope to provide a model for other hospitals across the country to do the same."

The 7.5-megawatt, combined heat-and-power system burns natural gas in a turbine to generate electricity continuously 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Heat from the turbine, which is usually wasted as exhaust gas, is captured and reused to generate steam for heating and cooling. The system is slightly larger than a tractor-trailer, with working parts that resemble an oversized jet engine.

"This plant will also provide a completely redundant source of power for inpatient areas. In the event of a widespread power outage, like the Northeast Blackout of 2003, its critical backup power will sustain our critical functions and safeguard patients," says Fritz Reuter, senior vice president of facilities development and real estate at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

A $1.1 million New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant helped offset the cost of the equipment.

As part of its strategic plan, the Hospital anticipates installing a second, larger co-generation plant at its NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center campus in the coming years.

PlaNYC, NYPgreen and Beyond
Co-generation is a central component of NewYork-Presbyterian's longstanding commitment to energy savings and environmental conservation. In particular, the technology will help the Hospital fulfill its pledge to decrease its carbon dioxide emissions 30 percent by 2018 as part of the PlaNYC Challenge -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's sustainability initiative.

NewYork-Presbyterian's employee-directed environmental program -- NYPgreen -- has supported and spearheaded a variety of improvements, including the introduction of a mixed recycling program across all sites, composting, added bicycle racks and hybrid vehicles, and the construction of buildings certified to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

In recognition of wide-ranging energy-saving upgrades, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored NewYork-Presbyterian with its ENERGY STAR award four times -- the most of any hospital in the nation. This year, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center received an "Environmental Excellence Award" from Practice Greenhealth, recognizing its sustainable practices and efforts to improve the environment. Hospital representatives participated in a panel discussion on business's role in sustainability at the "Greener New York Summit" sponsored by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. On a separate occasion, they led an online seminar offering tips on launching a successful hospital composting program.

Source: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital