Clean Green Schools Initiative: Installation Project Awardees

NYSERDA’s Clean Green Schools Initiative provides support for Priority Districts to modernize and efficiently decarbonize their building portfolio while improving indoor air quality and resilience to extreme heat. The program is competitive and provides funding for construction projects—from comprehensive retrofits reducing energy consumption and overall building load, to electrification readiness projects, and conversion of central heating and cooling plants to clean energy technologies.

Over $82 Million Awarded for Installation Projects

To date, NYSERDA’s Clean Green Schools has awarded over $82 million to decarbonization construction projects. The projects were selected based on their impact related to reducing fossil fuel consumption, transitioning to clean heating and cooling technologies, ensuring appropriate ventilation and filtration, and integration of student engagement activities within the project.

*A portion of the program is being funded through the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. The projects listed below with an asterisk (*) next to the project name were funded with Environmental Bond Act funding.

Clean Green Schools Installation Project Awardees

The following awardees serve as a model to modernize the school building sector, reducing the combustion of fossil fuels on-site and helping to accelerate New York’s clean energy transition. NYSERDA is currently negotiating contracts with the additional awardees and will update the list below as projects are contracted.

City School District of Albany*

The school district is receiving $10,100,000 to install variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pumps to provide clean heating and cooling to three buildings, including upgraded ventilation and filtration systems for improved indoor air quality. The project also includes the installation of building envelope and lighting improvements across 15 buildings and supports the district in incorporating clean energy educational activities into the curriculum.

Bradford Central School District*

The school district is receiving $1,400,000 to fully electrify HVAC systems at the K-12 building with variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pumps and air source heat pumps, providing heating and cooling to the classroom spaces. The heat pumps will serve new unit ventilators with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 filters. In addition, Energy Recovery Ventilators will be utilized to maximize energy efficiency and improve indoor air quality.

Canajoharie Central School District*

The school district is receiving $1,435,388 to install a ground source heat pump, air source heat pumps, and a solar PV system across three buildings, significantly reducing fossil fuel usage. This project also uses the ground source heat pump and distribution room as a learning laboratory, serving as an educational space for students.

Cuba Rushford Central School District*

The school district is receiving $10,100,000 to install ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps, which 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 energy systems. Additionally, the district is developing lesson plans around the new clean energy systems and plans on coordinating post-construction facility tours for students.

Enlarged City School District of Middletown

The school district is receiving $5,030,000 to install a ground source heat pump and air source heat pumps, in addition to installing a building management system with demand control ventilation. The installation of efficient electric HVAC systems with improved components and operation will help to reduce energy use and provide better air quality throughout the building. This project will focus on one building (Twin Towers Middle School) and will provide educational opportunities for the district by using the ground source heat pump mechanical room as a learning laboratory. The room will be designed in such a way that students can tour and observe the facility to learn about the operation of the equipment.

Forestville Central School District*

The school district is receiving $945,377 to install variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pumps to provide clean heating and cooling and significantly reduce fossil fuel usage at two buildings. The project also includes building envelope improvements with the installation of high-performance windows.

Genesee Valley Central School District

The school district is receiving $776,251 to install variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pumps to provide clean heating and cooling and significantly reduce fossil fuel usage at the K-12 building. The heat pumps will serve new unit ventilators with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 filters to improve indoor air quality. The project also includes lighting and building automation system improvements to provide additional energy efficiency.

Gouverneur Central School District

The school district is receiving $5,030,000 to install a ground source heat pump system to fully electrify the HVAC system at the high school building. The project also includes upgraded ventilation and filtration systems to improve indoor air quality and supports the district in developing new course work around clean energy.

Lyons Central School District

The school district is receiving $3,600,000 to install a ground source heat pump system at the Middle-High School building to provide clean heating and cooling and significantly reduce fossil fuel usage. The project also includes upgraded ventilation and filtration systems to improve indoor air quality for students and faculty.

Newburgh Enlarged City School District*

The school district is receiving $10,060,000 to install ground source heat pump systems at two buildings to fully electrify the HVAC systems and eliminate fossil fuel usage. The project includes upgraded ventilation and filtration systems to improve indoor air quality and supports the district in incorporating clean energy educational activities into the curriculum.

New York City Department of Education

The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is receiving $4,000,000 to install clean energy technologies in place of existing fuel oil-fired domestic hot water 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 heat pumps and electric kitchen equipment.

North Rockland Central School District*

The school district is receiving $10,100,000 to fully electrify HVAC systems at two buildings with variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pumps, providing heating and cooling to classroom spaces. The heat pumps will serve new unit ventilators and ceiling cassettes with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 filters 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.

North Syracuse Central School District*

The school district is receiving $10,100,000 to install ground source heat pump systems and fully electrify the HVAC systems at two buildings. The project also includes upgraded ventilation and filtration systems to improve indoor air quality and supports the district in incorporating clean energy educational activities for their after-school programs.

Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns*

The school district is receiving $10,100,000 to install variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pumps to provide clean heating and cooling and significantly reduce fossil fuel usage at two buildings. The project also includes electrification of the domestic hot water systems and kitchen equipment, lighting improvements, and upgraded ventilation and filtration systems to improve indoor air quality. The Project supports the district in incorporating clean energy educational activities into the curriculum.