Watts Up

Watts Up For Freeport Electric
By Hubert M. Bianco, Superintendent, Freeport Electric

NEW TECHNOLOGY SAVES ENERGY IN FREEPORT, FOR FREEPORT

Intellidyne Energy Saving Products are the latest innovation brought by Freeport Electric to both Freeport businesses and residents as well as to Village operations. The Electric Department, in cooperation with Intellidyne, is offering a series of energy saving products for our businesses and residents with central air conditioning, refrigeration or  heating systems. These new products are energy savings devices, which utilize a “smart” microcomputer and can easily be installed on central air systems and commercial refrigeration units.  The IntelliCon devices, as they are called, reduces energy consumption by analyzing the demands and operating characteristics of the entire heating, air conditioning, or refrigeration system and then dynamically modifies the burner or compressor cycle pattern.  The microcomputer then creates new operating patterns that are less frequent and more efficient energy cycles.  Unlike other products such as programmable thermostats, IntelliCon is truly a “smart” product that does not require any programming by the user and automatically compensates for load and seasonal changes.

Freeport Electric has actually installed one of the IntelliCon products on its steam boiler, which is used to heat the “jacket water” on the diesel generators. This installation was used as a test site and all data is being tracked on an hourly basis.   Initial indications are that the Utility is reducing gas consumption by 17% using this product.  The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Village and Intellidyne, together, have just completed witnessing a series of tests in the unit installed in our boiler. The official results of those tests will be released in the next few months, however initial indications are that the results are as good if not better than before.  

In addition to the information flyer already sent to all residents, further information can be found on our web site at www.freeportelectric.com/Intellidyne/Intellidyne.htm.  If you have any questions regarding Intellidyne products, please call Lester Endo, Jr., Supervisor of Electric Services, at 377-2235. 

Promoting Energy Savings Products is an effort strongly supported by Mayor Glacken and the Freeport Village.  The Mayor has often said that if any Village Department finds a product or service that could save residents or businesses money then we should make an effort to make people aware of it, leading to the Electric Department’s proactive approach with the Intellidyne products.

Hybrid Vehicles for Meter Readers is another effort by Freeport Electric to reduce energy costs within Department operations. Freeport Electric has introduced the use of Hybrid vehicles to its fleet.  Two of our employees from the meter section are now using Hybrid Honda Civics in their day-to-day activities.  The average fuel economy around town is 34 mpg. The Utility anticipates that it could save as much as 200 gallons of fuel per vehicle per year.  With gas prices continuing their climb well into the $2.00+ range, these savings are significant and measurable. The Utility has had one of the hybrid vehicles for almost three years. 

It’s too soon to evaluate the total maintenance dollars saved. However, we anticipate that using hybrid vehicles will reduce the overall operating costs for Electric Department vehicles.  Based on our success to date, additional hybrid vehicles will be purchased by the Utility as replacement vehicles are needed.   

Energy Tip: Make sure your air conditioner is the proper size for the area you are cooling.  The wrong size air conditioner will use more electricity and increase your energy bills.  A unit that is too large for a given area will cool the area too quickly, causing the air conditioner to frequently turn itself on and off.  If a unit shuts off quickly, chances are it hasn't been running long enough to reduce the room's humidity and you will be uncomfortable.  If your air conditioner is too small, it will run constantly on hot days without ever getting good results.

Hubert M. Bianco's "Watts Up" column appears regularly in the Freeport Leader.  For additional information, you can e-mail Mr. Bianco (h.bianco@freeportelectric.com), or write to him at Freeport Electric, 46 North Ocean Ave., Freeport, NY 11520.

 

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