Now that fall is here and the weather is about to get colder, we would like to remind you about some steam management practices that will help you make the most efficient use of your steam.

Here’s what you can do:

• Consider preheating your building throughout the night to better maintain comfortable conditions the next day.
• Reduce building heat loss by closing all windows and loading dock doors not in use.
• Reduce temperatures in non-occupied or overheated non-critical building spaces to reduce steam demand.
• Clean heat exchanger surfaces on air handling equipment and hot water heat exchangers to improve heat transferring capabilities.
• Check for proper operation and maintenance of steam traps to reduce  steam loss and minimize the possibility of condensate back up.
• Identify and repair any steam leaks.
• Perform calibrations of control devices to enable optimal energy usage.
• Reduce wasted energy by replacing missing or damaged insulation on  steam piping.
• Eliminate building air leaks that are costly and waste energy.

If you are a demand-billed customer, consider modifying your operations to minimize the on-peak demand charge.  The on-peak demand charge is in place from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. weekdays for the December through March billing periods. You can:

• Start your fans earlier to avoid the startup spike during the on-peak  period.
• Reduce the space air temperature set-points by a few degrees during  the on-peak period.
• Raise the secondary hot water temperatures before 6 a.m., instead of after.
• Implement STEEMs (Storage of Thermal Energy in Existing Mechanical systems).
• Read our “Best Practices” report for more tips.

You will find more information on these and other energy saving tips on our Website, www.coned.com/steam.

We appreciate your cooperation.  If you have any questions, please call the Business Development Group at 1-212-460-2011.