Governor Hochul Announces Energy Efficient Upgrades for Affordable Housing Units

 

$5 Million Offered in Second Round of $30 Million RetrofitNY program 

Program Expected to Create Jobs, Build Tech-Savvy Workforce and Advance Cost-Effective Replicable Solutions 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the availability of $5 million for a second round of pilot projects under the $30 million RetrofitNY program. This program will help to advance whole-building deep energy efficiency upgrades that will substantially lower emissions from multifamily affordable housing. Projects funded through this initiative will support modernizing building renovation by demonstrating technology-based construction solutions that are expected to help create jobs, foster a tech savvy workforce in New York State and advance cost-effective replicable solutions, as part of the state's growing green economy. Today's announcement supports the State's nation-leading goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050, as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act).

"Buildings contribute approximately one third of harmful emissions across the state," said Governor Hochul. "This holistic approach to transforming the building renovation industry will ensure New York State's building stock is cleaner, greener and healthier for all residents. Through the support of innovative digital technologies and construction and manufacturing processes, New York is further cementing itself as a leader in the utilization of clean energy."

Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the RetrofitNY funding announced today seeks to support owners of eligible affordable housing buildings up to seven stories. The program helps building owners planning substantial renovations in their roofs, windows, and/or heating system replacements within the next two years. Owners of qualifying buildings may also be eligible for up to $100,000 in design incentives. Eligibility will be determined through submission of a building renovation scope of work. Owners may also be eligible for up to an additional $40,000 per dwelling unit, with a cap of $1.6 million per building, subject to funding availability, to cover incremental costs for all electric, whole-building upgrades that put buildings on a path to carbon neutrality. This incremental funding is meant to bridge the gap between financing from other sources such as regulated housing agencies, bank loans and tax credits used for business-as-usual renovations. It allows building owners to seek renovations that achieve high performance and low carbon solutions with the goal of reaching fully carbon neutral renovation solutions in the future. 

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, "To achieve our climate goals, more than 200,000 buildings a year need to be retrofitted across the state from now through mid-century and to do achieve this we need to identify innovative solutions that work for building owners and occupants. We are incentivizing building owners to go beyond making the usual renovations to undertake carbon neutral solutions that can create replicable processes for renovating whole buildings that both reduce building emissions and increase occupant comfort."

Whole-building retrofits incentivized under this program upgrade the building exterior through the use of off-site manufactured, panelized façade systems and other building efficiency upgrades to lower building energy use, as well as upgrading the mechanical systems to efficient all electric heat pump-based systems for heating, cooling and domestic hot water, including energy recovery ventilation, and integration of solar PV systems. 

Benefits of whole-building retrofits through RetrofitNY include:

• Minimized occupant relocation during renovations due to use of building components manufactured off-site to shorten on-site construction times;
• Lower utility costs and other building operating expenses;
• Improved building resiliency during power outages;
• Enhanced indoor air quality through electrification and improved ventilation;
• Decreased outside noise penetration;
• Enhanced aesthetic appearance of buildings; and
• Compliance with building related local laws.