Three Major Clean Heating and Cooling Projects to Serve Eleven Districts in Disadvantaged Communities through “Clean Green Schools” Initiative
Supports Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act Goal to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions 85 Percent by 2050
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced over $14 million in awards for 11 under-resourced public-school districts to decarbonize their buildings through the Clean Green Schools initiative. The projects will lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the school's reliance on fossil fuels and improve the indoor air quality by installing ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps and electric kitchen equipment. This announcement supports the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and ensure 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of clean energy investments directly benefit Disadvantaged Communities.
“Schools can open an entire world of possibilities and opportunities to our children, but for students to get the most out of their education, they must be in a healthy and safe learning environment,” Governor Hochul said. “Clean Green Schools allows our schools in underserved communities to make vital energy efficiency upgrades to their facilities that improve indoor air quality and support the success and well-being of students across the state.”
Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Clean Green Schools awards will support the installation of ground source heat pump projects, air source heat pump projects and electric kitchen equipment projects in the Enlarged City School District of Middletown in Orange County, Cuba-Rushford Central School District in Allegany County, and multiple districts within the New York City Department of Education. These under-resourced school districts contain at least one school building that is located in a disadvantaged community.
The projects are expected to benefit nearly 5,800 students by reducing greenhouse gas carbon emissions equivalent to eliminating 112,500 gallons of gasoline consumed annually.
Clean Green School Awards:
Cuba-Rushford Central School District, Allegany County – $6.1 Million: The under-resourced school district will be improving the energy performance of building envelopes at multiple facilities while partially replacing the existing fossil fuel space conditioning and domestic hot water systems with ground source heat pumps. The project covers three buildings in the school district and integrates clean energy concepts into the classroom with clean energy lesson plans and post-construction project tours for students and the community.
The Enlarged City School District of Middletown, Orange County – $ 4.03 Million: This under-resourced school district is planning to install ground source and air source heat pumps, in addition to a building management system with demand control ventilation. The project will feature electric HVAC systems with improved components and operation to provide better air quality in the classrooms and throughout the building. The systems will be installed at the Twin Towers Middle School, which will become a learning laboratory for the district, allowing students to tour and observe the ground source heat pump mechanical room to learn about clean energy technologies.
The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), New York County, Kings County, Queens County, Bronx County and Richmond County – $4 Million: The NYCDOE is installing clean energy technologies in place of existing fuel oil fired domestic hot water (DHW) and natural gas kitchen equipment as part of NYCDOE’s commitment to full building electrification. This funding will impact nine public schools in New York City, allowing them to transition away from fossil fuels by installing electric air-to-water domestic hot water (DHW) heat pumps and electric kitchen equipment.
With the passage of the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Environmental Bond Act), NYSERDA anticipates launching a second round of the competitive capital funding program by the end of the year which will expand access to funding to support decarbonization construction projects and serve as a model to electrify the school building sector.
On Earth Day 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the $59 million Clean Green Schools initiative. The Clean Green Schools initiative provides technical, financial, and human resources support to help under-resourced public schools to improve their facilities, bringing energy efficiency, clean energy, sustainability, resiliency, and electrification solutions to the benefit of the most vulnerable New Yorkers. Funding is offered on an open-enrollment basis for services to help schools evaluate, plan for, and facilitate energy reduction projects, clean energy projects and indoor air quality projects in addition to competitive funding, as awarded today, to install capital projects that will help schools improve their environmental sustainability and decarbonize their buildings. To date, 1,300 under-resourced schools across 75 districts in New York State are participating in the program to receive technical assistance to assess indoor air quality, energy reduction, electrification and decarbonization projects. These projects are located across 35 counties in New York State.
All public-school buildings across New York State that are designated as high-needs by the New York State Education Department or located in a disadvantaged community are eligible to participate in the program. Eligible schools are referred to as “under-resourced” schools. As of now, there are approximately 2,500 eligible under-resourced schools in New York State.
In addition to this effort, NYSERDA also provides technical assistance to non-under-resourced schools through the Flexible Technical Assistance Program. The Flexible Technical Assistance Program can help schools identify and evaluate opportunities to reduce energy costs and incorporate clean energy into their capital planning. NYSERDA also prioritizes improved indoor air quality and environmental sustainability through building electrification and energy efficiency improvements to improve health in public and private buildings across the state through a partnership with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
Buildings are one of the most significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State and through NYSERDA and utility programs, over $6.8 billion is being invested to decarbonize buildings across the State. By improving energy efficiency in buildings and advancing statewide installations of onsite storage, renewables, and electric vehicle charging equipment, the State will reduce its carbon pollution and achieve the State's ambitious target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 TBtu by 2025, the equivalent of powering 1.8 million homes.
Funding for this initiative was made possible through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the State's 10-year, $5.3 billion Clean Energy Fund, which is authorized by the New York State Public Service Commission. More information about this funding is available on NYSERDA's website.
No comments:
Post a Comment