The air conditioning season in New York City used to be limited to late June to late August. Over the last 20 years, that time frame has expanded, now starting in late May and ending well into September. Costs aside, air conditioning is a double-edged sword. While it reduces heat for short-term needs, it accelerates global warming.
The best means of reducing air conditioning demand is to reduce heat generation within the building. There are a few simple steps that should be used by managing agents and unit owners alike.
Close blinds or drapes during the hottest part of the day. If you want to further reduce the heat emitted from sunlight, solar window films reduce the transmission of heat into the building or apartment, protect residents’ eyes and skin and reduce sun damage to carpets and furnishings. The cost of solar film has been falling as more manufacturers and installers have joined the marketplace. Select a film with heat-blocking capability.
Use low-energy light bulbs. Traditional incandescent bulbs use from 20% to 80% more energy than LED or fluorescent light bulbs, with the reduction being greatest from incandescent to LED. In addition, lower-energy light bulbs — particularly LEDs — last up to five years. In lobbies, turning off lights during the day reduces heat in the shared space. If some artificial light is needed, consider putting the essential lights on an isolated circuit to be able to leave most of the lights off. It would be less costly to operate trash rooms with sensors that turn the lights on as needed.
Using portable fans to increase air movement, opening windows in the cooler part of the day, and venting heat from cooking to the outside of buildings reduce heat in apartments. A longer-term solution, induction cooktops and ovens, on average use 10% less energy than conventional stoves. Induction cooking transfers energy from the cooktop burner to the pot or pan with little or no radiant heat and once the burner is off, there is no residual heat.
Converting to induction cooking has been expensive, but over time the costs for cooktops and ovens have fallen. In New York City, many kitchens are not adequately wired for electric stoves and many cooperative and condominium buildings are making it expensive and inconvenient for unit owners to add circuits and wiring for this purpose. This resistance to change only reduces property value and increases operating costs. In the end, the boards and managers must adapt to changing technology and allow for rewiring and conversion to electric cooking. As older gas systems give out, buildings may find it less expensive to convert all kitchens to electricity for cooking. That will save energy and reduce the air conditioning load over time.
This column presents a general discussion. This column does not provide legal advice. Please consult your attorney for legal advice.
Carol A. Sigmond
Partner
Greenspoon Marder LLP
590 Madison Avenue, Suite 1800
New York, NY 10022
carol.sigmond@gmlaw.com
(212)524-5074
