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memo 9 pages

August 10, 2025 Compiled by Amy MacNamara, Assistant to the Village Manager Background In August 2018, the Village Board of Trustees adopted an Energy Benchmarking Policy which requires the collecting, reporting, and sharing of building energy data on a regular basis. This allows municipal officials and the public to understand the energy performance of municipal buildings relative to similar buildings nationwide. The following Village-owned buildings are covered by this policy: 1. Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building 2. Harmon Engine Firehouse 3. Grand Street Firehouse 4. Washington Engine Firehouse 5. Department of Public Works Garage Each year, the Manager’s Office is responsible for entering the total energy consumed by each covered building into an online portfolio, as well as creating a report containing summary statistics on annual energy consumption. These data points are available to the public on the Village website at crotononhudson-ny.gov/benchmarking. Methodology The Village monitors and records its energy usage in three distinct categories: 1. Natural Gas (therms): This refers to the consumption of natural gas, measured in units called "therms." A therm is a unit of heat energy equal to 100,000 British thermal units (BTU), commonly used for billing purposes by gas companies. 2. Electric (kWh): This indicates the usage of electricity, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A kilowatt-hour is a unit of electrical energy equivalent to one kilowatt (1 kW) of power expended for one hour. 3. Oil (Gallons): This represents the consumption of oil. It refers to the volume of oil consumed for heating purposes. By tracking these three categories of energy consumption, the Village can monitor its overall energy usage, identify trends, analyze patterns, and potentially implement measures to improve energy efficiency or reduce consumption in specific areas. The usage data is collected from monthly billing statements provided by utility companies or service providers for natural gas, electricity, and oil consumption. Each month, the Village receives detailed invoices that outline the amount of energy consumed within the billing period, typically measured in therms for natural gas, kilowatt-hours (kWh) for electricity, and gallons for oil. The Village increased its annual natural gas usage by approximately 3.5% between 2023 and 2024. The increase in natural gas consumption can be attributed to the colder than normal weather that was experienced during calendar year 2024. In comparing electricity usage between 2023 and 2024, an increase of 7.2% in usage was seen in 2024. Both years exhibited peak usage during the summer months, with July being the highest for 2024 and June for 2023, reflecting typical patterns driven by increased cooling needs. The Village continues to purchase electric vehicles, which increases the use of electricity at the building. Additionally, in May 2022, the Village enrolled in the Con Edison GridRewards Program, voluntarily adjusting thermostat settings at the Municipal Building upon request to alleviate strain on the grid during peak demand hours, particularly on hot summer days. - 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 Natural Gas Usage (therms) - Municipal Building Natural Gas Usage 2023 Natural Gas Usage 2024 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 Electricity Usage (kWh) - Municipal Building Electricity Usage 2023 Electrical Usage 2024 Harmon Engine Firehouse There is a similarity in natural gas usage at the Harmon Firehouse from 2023 to 2024 with an increase in usage during the winter months. Construction of the addition at the firehouse began in 2024 and is the likely reason for this approximately 7% increase in usage. Overall, there is a slight decrease in electric usage from 2023 to 2024 at the Harmon Firehouse. There are noticeable peaks in summer months, likely due to increased use of air conditioning systems, and lower usage in winter months. Natural Gas Usage (therms) - Harmon Firehouse Gas 2023 Gas 2024 - 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 Electricity Usage (kWh) - Harmon Firehouse Electric 2023 Electric 2024 Grand Street Firehouse Grand Street Firehouse saw a 1.1% decrease in natural gas usage from 2023 to 2024. Small fluctuations in usage will occur from year-to-year due to the nature of the usage at these buildings. Grand Street Firehouse saw a 1.6% increase in electricity usage from 2023 to 2024. Electricity usage during the summer months was slightly higher in Summer 2024 compared to Summer 2023. - 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 Natural Gas Usage (therms) - Grand Street Firehouse Gas 2023 Gas 2024 - 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 Electricity Usage - Grand Street Firehouse Electric 2023 Electric 2024 Washington Engine Firehouse Washington Engine Firehouse saw a 9% increase in its electricity usage from 2023 to 2024. This increase is likely the result of switching to heat pumps for heating portions of the building during the winter. Average usage during the summer has decreased from 2023 to 2024. Washington Engine Firehouse saw an increase in fuel oil usage from 2023 to 2024. This increase likely occurred because the boiler has reached the end of its useful life. It is scheduled to be replaced as part of the 2025-2026 capital plan. - 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 Electricity Usage (kWh) - Washington Firehouse 2023 Electricity 2024 Electricity 1,169 2024 Oil Usage 2023 Oil Usage Oil Usage (Gallons) - Washington Engine Firehouse Department of Public Works Garage The Department of Public Works saw a 18% increase in electricity usage and a 31.3% increase in heating oil usage for the DPW Garage. The DPW Garage completed the conversion to propane for heat in early 2025 after the boiler faltered, which may explain the higher usage in 2024, along with colder than normal temperatures. - 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 Electricity Usage (kWh) - DPW Garage Electric 2023 Electric 2024 Year 2024 Year 2023 Oil Usage (Gallons) - DPW Garage Benchmarking Program - 2023 Jan-23 Feb-23 Mar-23 Apr-23 May-23 Jun-23 Jul-23 Aug-23 Sep-23 Oct-23 Nov-23 Dec-23 Natural Gas (therms) Municipal Building 1,973 2,150 1,686 1,391 1,920 Grand St. Firehouse 1,018 1,299 1,017 Harmon Firehouse 876 1,012 Washington Engine Firehouse Electric (kWH) Municipal Building 16,320 15,120 15,680 15,200 18,480 24,880 22,000 20,800 18,370 15,639 16,504 15,715 Grand St. Firehouse 7,040 7,600 6,880 5,680 5,280 7,280 11,120 9,520 8,880 7,040 7,760 8,160 Harmon Firehouse 7,360 7,360 6,560 6,720 7,440 11,920 13,600 11,120 12,080 7,992 6,266 6,487 Washington Engine Firehouse 2,282 1,461 1,341 1,155 1,083 1,967 2,002 1,575 1,267 1,766 2,210 DPW Garage 3,920 4,560 3,280 2,800 3,440 4,880 4,240 4,160 3,021 3,249 5,316 5,332 Oil (units) DPW Garage 1,272 1,121 - - - - - 1,098 - Washington Engine Firehouse - - - - - - - - - Benchmarking Program - 2024 Jan-24 Feb-24 Mar-24 Apr-24 May-24 Jun-24 Jul-24 Aug-24 Sep-24 Oct-24 Nov-24 Dec-24 Natural Gas (therms) Municipal Building - - - - Grand St. Firehouse Harmon Firehouse Washington Engine Firehouse - Electric (kWH) Municipal Building Grand St. Firehouse Harmon Firehouse Washington Engine Firehouse DPW Garage Oil (units) DPW Garage - - - - Washington Engine Firehouse - - - - - - - -