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Cuomo Announces Energy Efficiency Projects At Suny-purchase

PURCHASE, N.Y. --  Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a partnership to undertake energy efficiency measures at 10 SUNY campuses with New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the State University of New York (SUNY) at SUNY Purchase on Thursday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces energy efficiency plan to build cleaner communities.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces energy efficiency plan to build cleaner communities.

Photo Credit: File

The partnership is estimated to save the university system $3.5 million each year and contribute to cleaner communities.

The projects will reduce the university system’s peak energy use by approximately 3.6 megawatts — enough to power some 3,600 homes — and help to eliminate 21,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

The projects, which are either in development or were completed in 2013, are part of Cuomo’s Build Smart NY initiative, which seeks to reduce energy use at state-owned or managed facilities by 20 percent by the year 2020.

“Under Build Smart NY, we are ensuring that New York state government is reducing our impact on the environment and saving taxpayers money,” Cuomo said

The $80 million in energy efficiency include projects involving new lighting, heating and ventilation upgrades, new electric motors, and replacement of outdated boilers and chillers.

At SUNY Purchase, NYPA completed three high-impact energy efficiency endeavors in 2013, including:

  • Installing an $11 million replacement of a nearly 40-year-old chiller with an ice-storage cooling and ventilation system serving the entire campus which saves the college $380,000 annually.
  • Implementing a $10 million project to replace the existing 40-year-old HVAC system to meet the temperature and humidity requirements at the on-campus Neuberger Museum necessary for the facility’s re-accreditation from the American Association of Museums. The project reduces the museum’s energy consumption by over 30 percent and delivers 30 percent more cooling.
  • Developing the first energy master plan for any SUNY campus under Build Smart NY to help the college achieve greater energy-savings in the future.

NYPA has committed to providing $450 million in low-cost financing for state facilities and an additional $350 million for other energy efficiency programs. 

The event also highlighted energy-saving improvements at the following campuses: University at Buffalo, College at Brockport, SUNY Buffalo State, SUNY Canton, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Downstate Medical University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY Maritime College, and SUNY Upstate Medical University. 

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