MTA project yields $2.5 million in energy savings at Grand Central Terminal

A $25 million MTA project at Grand Central Terminal in New York City, which will save $2.5 million in annual energy costs, was completed this week, just in time for Earth Week.

Improvements included installing cooling towers, temperature controls, compressed air and steam distribution systems, air handling upgrades, and new chillers to enhance the terminal’s original cooling system.

The work at the New York City transportation hub will lower greenhouse gas emissions by more than 11,200 tons a year, which is equal to removing approximately 2,140 cars from the road, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday. 

The New York Power Authority and the MTA partnered on the project, which began in  2012 as part of Cuomo’s BuildSmart NY program, a statewide effort to increase energy efficiency in public buildings.

MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast said the energy-saving project is the biggest of its type in MTA history.

“It will reap benefits for this terminal for decades to come—all with no upfront costs to Metro-North and capital expenses to be repaid to New York Power Authority with the money saved by reduced energy consumption,” Prendergast said.

Metro-North, the nation’s second-largest commuter railroad, is the MTA railroad that operates Grand Central.