NYSERDA Launches Energy $mart Focus Program for Colleges and Universities

March 09, 2009

Albany, NY—The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced a new initiative today to achieve greater energy-efficiency awareness and market penetration to community colleges, colleges, and universities across New York State. As higher-education institutions seek to implement energy efficiency and sustainability practices to lower energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the New York Energy $mart^SM Focus on Colleges and Universities will identify technical assistance and financial incentive programs that an institution can access to maximize energy-efficiency and achieve their environmental goals.

“The Focus on Colleges and Universities takes into account the unique characteristics of each campus in crafting an effective energy-efficiency strategy,” said Francis J. Murray, Jr., NYSERDA President and CEO. “Greater energy-efficiency within New York’s colleges and universities will add to successful efforts at reducing statewide electric consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; all part of Governor Paterson’s aggressive clean-energy goals.”

Einhorn Yaffee Prescott, Architecture & Engineering (EYP), was competitively selected to assist NYSERDA in developing programmatic outreach strategies for colleges and universities to support energy- efficiency improvements in existing buildings or new construction projects. EYP will actively involve public and private higher-education campuses and facilities located within the SBC territory.

Tom Birdsey, AIA, President and CEO of Einhorn Yaffee Prescott, Architecture & Engineering, commented, “The EYP team is looking forward to continuing our long-term relationship with NYSERDA and sharing our energy expertise and market familiarity to help promote energy efficiency awareness and NYSERDA services to the higher-education market. We expect results of this effort to provide clear planning, financing, and implementation strategies for higher-education institutions, ultimately reducing their environmental footprint and lowering their energy costs.”

Focus on Colleges and Universities is one of several sectors NYSERDA is actively targeting to assist customers in understanding and implementing effective energy-efficiency strategies to meet Governor David A. Paterson’s goal of reducing statewide electric consumption forty-five (45) percent by year 2015. Program services will not only result in a reduction of electricity use, but also promote sustainable building design and campus operations. Funding is available for energy-efficiency improvements, new construction, renovations, or equipment upgrades. Collaboration among higher-education institutions also will be fostered to share cost-effective energy-efficiency implementation strategies that lead to the greatest reduction in energy use.

For more information on the New York Energy $mart^SM Focus on Colleges and Universities program, visit NYSERDA Higher Ed

Funding for the New York Energy $mart^SM program, which NYSERDA administers on behalf of the Public Service Commission, comes from a charge on utility bills. The program has proven successful in lowering electricity costs for ratepayers by encouraging energy efficiency in all sectors of New York's energy economy. The programs are available to all electric distribution customers of Central Hudson, Con Edison, NYSEG, National Grid, Orange and Rockland, and Rochester Gas and Electric.

CONTACT:

Sal Graven, NYSERDA
518-862-1090, ext 3331
sg2@nyserda.ny.gov