Rockefeller Group, McGraw-Hill Implement Demand Response

Rockefeller Group Development Corporation and Alcoa are among the companies that have implemented demand response initiatives, reducing their energy usage and reaping financial benefits, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

Rockefeller’s McGraw-Hill Building in New York City receives a net income of $500,000 annually after the group partnered with Schneider Electric to sell its demand reductions to the grid. Using Schneider’s building and online software to monitor energy use, the 52-story McGraw-Hill Building (pictured) – also known as 1221 Avenue of the Americas – reduced energy use by 60,000 kWh per month and reduced peak demand by 1.4 MW, according to Schneider Electric.

And Alcoa worked with the Midwest ISO to lower its operating costs by helping the grid operator to supply power to 10 states and one province. Alcoa’s aluminum smelter in Warrick County, Indiana provides price responsive demand reductions and emergency demand response.

Earlier this week, Toyota Motor Company, Duke Energy and nonprofit energy industry initiative Energy Systems Network announced a smart grid pilot project in Indiana that intends to equalize day-and-night load on the electric power grid through a demand response system.

In a June report, Pike Research forecasts that total spending for automated demand response will reach more than $401 million globally in 2012 and grow to more than $1.7 billion by 2018, and that ADR-enabled sites will increase to 169,847 by 2018 — more than six times the current number.

Photo Credit: Rockefeller Group Development Corporation