New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $23 million in funding has been awarded to four under-resourced school districts across New York state to create healthier, more comfortable learning environments under the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. Through the Clean Green Schools Initiative, the funding will make it more affordable for the awarded school districts to install the latest clean energy and building technologies, reduce energy use and achieve carbon emission reductions.
Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Clean Green Schools Program provides incentives to eligible school districts to implement construction projects that improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, such as comprehensive retrofits that impact energy consumption and overall building load, electrification readiness projects and conversion of central heating and/or cooling plants to clean energy technologies such as heat pumps.
In total, the projects are expected to save 19,000 MMBtus of energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 840 metric tons, which is equivalent to removing over 200 gasoline-powered cars from the road annually.
The awarded projects include:
- $1.4 million for Bradford Central School District (Schuyler County): The district will fully electrify HVAC systems at the K-12 building with variable refrigerant flow heat pumps and air source heat pumps, providing space heating and cooling. In addition, energy recovery ventilators will be utilized to maximize energy efficiency and improve indoor air quality. This project is expected to reduce energy use in the building by 15%.
- Over $1.4 million for Canajoharie Central School District (Montgomery County): The district will install a ground source heat pump, air source heat pumps and a solar PV system across three buildings, significantly reducing fossil fuel usage to provide space heating and cooling. This project also uses the ground source heat pump and distribution room as a learning laboratory, serving as an educational space for students. This project is expected to reduce energy use in the three buildings by 40%.
- Over $10 million for Cuba Rushford Central School District (Allegany County): The district will install ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps, which combined will serve 90% of the buildings’ heating, cooling and domestic hot water loads. Upgrades to the building automation system will be included to control and monitor the new clean systems. Additionally, the district is developing lesson plans around the new clean energy systems and plans on coordinating post-construction facility tours for students. This project is expected to reduce energy use in the buildings by 45%.
- Over $10 million for North Rockland Central School District (Rockland County): The district will fully electrify HVAC systems at two buildings with VRF heat pumps, providing space heating and cooling with upgraded filtration to improve indoor air quality. The project also includes the installation of high-performance windows and supports the district in developing new course work around clean energy. This project is expected to reduce energy use in the two buildings by 50%.
