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Report: Gaps Around Air Conditioners In NYC Buildings Are Costly

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Poorly fitted air conditioning units cost New York City buildings millions of dollars a year in extra fuel consumption, according to a new study released by the Urban Green Council Thursday.

EXTRA: Read The Full Report Here (pdf)

The report estimated that the energy lost through gaps around the units was linked to about 375,000 to 525,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. It said the extra fuel consumption amounted to $130 million to $180 million a year.

"This study proves out what we suspected: that the air conditioners sticking out of windows and through walls across the country are costing us far more than their summer electricity bills," said Russell Unger, Executive Director of Urban Green Council.

The report said that building engineers looked at 11 buildings and all had gaps equivalent to the size of a fist -- about 2 to 3 inches.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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