SUNY Campuses Statewide Cut Their Energy Consumption through NYPA Partnership

NYPA Case Study
NYPA and SUNY have partnered to complete more than 100 energy efficiency and clean energy projects, from lighting and building sealing to major capital projects for heating, cooling, and on-site energy, putting SUNY facilities well on their way achieving the statewide goals of the BuildSmart NY program. Along with the project-specific work, NYPA developed more than a dozen energy master plans for SUNY campuses that act as in-depth blueprint for how to save energy throughout the university system. Altogether, the projects save 163,000 megawatt hours of electricity and 133,000 gallons of fuel a year while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 110,000 tons annually.

Some of the more recent projects include:

Stony Brook University
NYPA provided $11.4 million in financing for more than 52,000 new light fixtures and more than 4,800 lighting sensors, improvements to air-handling systems and building management upgrades. The project will save more than $1.3 million and remove nearly 5,500 tons of greenhouse gases annually, the equivalent of taking more than 1,100 cars off the road. 

Neuberger Museum of Art at Purchase College
NYPA oversaw and financed a nearly $11 million project that to upgrade the air-handling, heating water exchange systems and a building management system. The new systems meet the American Association of Museums accreditation requirements for temperature and humidity controls.

SUNY Upstate Medical University
NYPA and Upstate Medical University in Syracuse have worked on several projects in recent years, culminating in more than $10 million in improvements that will save $570,000 annually and cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 2,800 tons. The work includes the installation of air-handling equipment, lab hood exhaust system upgrades, boilers, premium efficiency motors and lighting sensors and controls.

University at Albany Bioscience Development Corporation
A $2 million replacement of existing switchgear will help ensure constant power for the SUNY Albany Bioscience Development Corporation, a private entity that leases space at the University of Albany. The reliability measures include the replacement of a 34.5 kilovolt substation and two 4,800-volt transformers.