Cornell AgriTech Case Study
Ontario County

Cornell University’s AgriTech Campus Moves Forward with a Thermal Energy Network
A NYSERDA study shows the feasibility of a community heat pump system to meet campus decarbonization goals.
Cornell University’s AgriTech campus, which is located near Seneca Lake in Geneva, drives economic development, pushes scientific discovery, and provides practical solutions for farmers and businesses in New York State and around the world.
The campus encompasses 44 buildings and greenhouses, totaling about 500,000 square feet of research labs, offices, growth chambers, the National Grape Improvement Center, perishable product processing and storage coolers, and mechanical and utility areas.
Faced with an aging energy infrastructure and looking to support a university-wide Climate Action Plan with decarbonization goals, the campus applied for a NYSERDA Community Heat Pump feasibility study.


Cornell’s AgriTech campus with greenhouses. Credit: Cornell University
At a glance
Campus: 44 buildings, including greenhouses
Size: Approx. 500,000 sq. ft.
Current system: Natural gas-fired steam system (heating) and distributed air-cooled chillers (cooling)
New system: Thermal energy network
Anticipated investment: $30 million
Cornell University/Ithaca Climate Action Plan
Recent actions at Cornell’s main campus in Ithaca include:
- Converting steam heat to a more efficient hot water network
- Implementing Earth Source Heat
, a research collaboration on a deep geothermal system
- Improved building efficiency
- Solar and hydropower projects
Assessing an Aging System
The goal of the study was to discover the technical and economic feasibility of replacing an aging heating and cooling system with a thermal energy network.
The scoping study, which was performed by CHA consulting, Inc., targeted 11 of the most energy-intensive buildings plus a new construction build as strong candidates for transitioning to a low-carbon heating and cooling solution.
The study evaluated:
- Air source, ground source, thermal storage, and other low-carbon heating options
- The value of a “district style” configuration compared to individual heat pumps
- Carbon reduction benefits
A thermal energy network uses a network of pipes to connect multiple buildings together and to thermal sources and sinks, such as geothermal, surface water, waste heat, and the air, to provide space heating, cooling, and domestic hot water.
Examining Costs, Benefits
Benefits of transitioning to a thermal energy network include:
- The ability to take a wholistic but phased approach.
- Transitioning from steam to a low-temperature distribution system, which reduces thermal losses and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Early phase will strategically replace steam services on campus with decentralized solutions, which achieves energy savings by reducing steam distribution from high pressure to low pressure.
- Centralizing the thermal production onsite will simplify site electric capacity upgrades compared to decentralized heating and cooling.
- A planned back-up system for an energy boost on coldest days.
- Maintaining the existing emergency generators ensures sustained operation of heating services to the greenhouses, which are critical to the campus’ research.
- Contributes to Cornell’s Climate Action Plan and New York State’s Executive Order 22.
- Eliminates risks to interrupting Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) research posed by end-of-life equipment issues.
- Reduces energy costs and deferred maintenance currently outpacing operations and maintenance budgets.
- Sets a climate action framework for other SUNY institutions.

$60,000+ tons
carbon avoided

97% reduction
in natural gas usage

350,000 sq ft
of conditioned space
Designing a Large-Scale Thermal System
The AgriTech campus engaged a firm to design a large-scale thermal system consisting of a central plant that will derive its energy from geothermal borefields.
New system specs:
- Geothermal ground loop system with 300+ boreholes feeding a central energy plant with heat pump chillers
- Heat pump chillers with variable frequency drives in cascade configuration to reach higher temperatures
- Natural gas boiler backup
A Phased Approach
A hot water distribution system to replace the existing steam system will be installed in phases. By the end of Phase 2, the large-scale thermal system will have achieved a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Over time, 180°F hot water will be generated by cascading chillers connected to a geothermal borefield. When outdoor temperatures drop below 10°F, a peaking natural gas-fired boiler will provide an additional 20° of heating (to 200°F).
By the end of the project (Phase 4), GHG emissions reductions will be 85%.
Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 | Phase 4 |
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Steam to hot water | Complete steam transition | 33% geothermal | 100% geothermal |
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Emissions Reduction Goals over Time
Emissions reduction goals over time a twenty-five year timeline from 2025 through 2050. Goals
“NYSERDA’s funding support for a feasibility study was a vital first step on the path to decarbonizing our campus heating and cooling. The study showed how we can reduce our energy use, costs, and emissions while replacing aging equipment in phases that align with campus operations and academics.”
- Scott DeHollander, Assistant Director of Facilities
With a transition plan in place, work is already underway to replace the campus’ aging heating and cooling infrastructure with more efficient and resilient solutions that significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Cornell AgriTech is leading the way with an approach that can be replicated on many other campuses throughout New York State.
Ready to find out more about large-scale thermal systems?
Contact NYSERDA’s large-scale thermal team at nyserda.ny.gov/LST.