Alternate Fuels

The New York State Thruway Authority uses alternate fuels for a number of their pool vehicles. In 2001, the Authority constructed a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station at Interchange 18, New Paltz. As previously mentioned, plans to augment this CNG station with another station at Interchange 17 during the I-84/I-87 interchange reconstruction project are underway. Other alternate fuels such as electricity and methanol/ethanol fuels have also been used by the Authority. For many years, methanol was used as an alternate fuel for many of the Authority’s pool vehicles.

In September 2002, the NYSTA undertook a project to implement the use of bio-diesel at the Larchmont Maintenance facility. The facility is using B-20, which is 20% bio-diesel blended with #1 or #2 regular diesel. Approximately 20, 000 gallons or bio-diesel are used per year at Larchmont. Bio-diesel is being continuously and successfully used for all diesel vehicles fueling at this location.

Green Buildings/Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification

According to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, “The buildings we live and work in can be significant sources of pollution. Buildings consume vast amounts of energy for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting. Fax machines, copiers, computers and other modern equipment that we all now take for granted also impact the environment. That's why New York is taking the lead to ensure that new buildings are designed and constructed to save energy and minimize their impact on the environment. New York will be among the first states in the nation to offer a tax incentive program for developers and builders of environmentally friendly buildings. In turn, this will open a market for new technologies and provide clean, healthy places to work and live. Green buildings are more earth-friendly by virtue of greater energy efficiency, cleaner air, utilization of recycled materials, and incorporation of renewable and energy efficient power generation systems in their designs. They also minimize environmental impact and maximize the preservation of open space.”

The U.S. Green Building Council, has developed a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings, referred to as the LEED Green Building Rating System™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED was created to; define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement; promote integrated, whole-building design practices; recognize environmental leadership in the building industry; stimulate “green” competition; raise consumer awareness of green building benefits; and, transform the building market.

LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.

Innovative Lighting

The Thruway Authority is researching new technologies for transportation lighting that may be more energy efficient and reduce lighting pollution. The Authority is working closely with the Lighting Research Center (LRC), part of the School of Architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The LRC is the leading university-based research center devoted to lighting and has an international reputation as a reliable source for objective information about lighting technologies, applications, and products. The LRC programs cover a range of activities including both laboratory testing of lighting products and real-world demonstration and evaluation of lighting products and designs. The LRC is working with the Authority to develop project specific, energy efficient, low pollution lighting designs, in addition to identifying new products and technologies to improve travel for Thruway patrons, e.g., better delineation of E-ZPass lanes through toll plazas.
For more information on the Lighting Research Center, visit: www.lrc.rpi.edu

Interchange 17

The New York State Thruway Authority is incorporating environmentally friendly "green" technology into the design of many new buildings to enhance energy efficiency. For example, “green” technology is being implemented in the I-84/I-87 interchange project. This project involves constructing a new interchange to provide a direct connection between I-84 and I-87. It also includes the relocation and construction of support facilities within the interchange, e.g., a consolidated maintenance facility, a State Police building, a toll utility building and a fueling station for Authority vehicles that use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Many energy saving “green” features are being incorporated at the I-84/I-87 project site including: a co-generation gas turbine power plant that will provide the majority of electricity to the facilities on-site, thermal protection in the roof and wall structures, cisterns to collect and re-use rain water, low pollutant emitting building materials, paint and adhesives, innovative wastewater technologies and more. The Maintenance Building has received a LEED Certification of Silver for the extensive incorporation of environmentally friendly features.

For more information, visit the Interchange 17 project website.

For more information on DEC’s Green Building Initiative, visit:
www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ppu/grnbldg/index.html