Empire Building Challenge: Hospitals Program

Funding for Scalable, Replicable Decarbonization Projects

The Empire Building Challenge: Hospitals Program (EBC: Hospitals) seeks to fund demonstration projects that showcase innovative approaches to achieving meaningful energy reductions that can be replicated and scaled in existing hospital buildings across New York State.

Through this competitive solicitation, NYSERDA will award up to $5 million to selected hospitals for the construction and installation of scalable, efficient, low-carbon solutions, such as electrification of building systems, electrification readiness projects, and comprehensive energy efficiency projects that will achieve significant carbon and/or energy reduction.

Applications must be received by 3 p.m. ET on September 15, 2026.

Key Program Benefits

Meaningful carbon and energy reduction. Funds construction projects that directly cut fossil fuel use and lower energy consumption across your hospital's existing building portfolio.
Healthier, more comfortable hospitals. Electrification and efficiency upgrades improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort—creating better environments for patients, staff, and visitors.
Proven, replicable results. Demonstration projects are designed to be scaled and replicated across New York State, so your investment helps advance clean energy solutions industry-wide.

How It Works

New York State hospitals can request up to $5 million, capped at 75% of the total project cost, for the construction and installation of low-carbon solutions that reduce existing buildings’ energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Projects may involve comprehensive energy efficiency improvements, electrification of building systems, and electrification readiness. Implementation of measures and proposed solutions must be completed within three years of the date of award.

Eligibility Requirements

Who Can Apply

The EBC: Hospitals Program is open to all hospitals located in New York State, but funding must be used for existing hospital buildings. The proposer must be a hospital, or representative authorized to act on behalf of a hospital.

To qualify, your facility must:

Be a hospital: A licensed institution primarily focused on acute, short-term medical and surgical care, including diagnosis, treatment, and inpatient housing. Note: Healthcare facilities such as nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation centers, urgent care facilities, laboratory and research facilities, ambulatory care facilities, medical offices, etc. do not meet the program’s definition of a hospital building.
Be an existing building (new construction and expansions are not eligible).
Complete a feasibility study or equivalent analysis prior to proposal submission. If a feasibility study hasn’t been completed, proposers can apply to receive funding through NYSERDA’s FlexTech Program.

Eligible Activities

Heating and cooling electrification: Installation of heat pumps, VRF systems, thermal energy networks, or alternative approaches that reduce fossil fuel consumption. Note: For geothermal projects, applicants are encouraged to consider ground source heat pump borehole testing before submitting.
Electrification readiness upgrades: Conversion of distribution systems (e.g. steam to hot water), electrification of building systems (e.g. domestic hot water equipment), high-performance building envelope improvements, and other upgrades that reduce building thermal load and demand.
Comprehensive energy efficiency improvements: Upgrades that reduce overall energy consumption, building load, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Contingent Activities

The following upgrades can only be funded when paired with an eligibility activity as outlined above:

Energy efficient medical equipment upgrades and operation improvements for medical equipment resulting in energy savings (e.g. scheduling, implementing standby modes, etc.)
Upgrading existing electrical infrastructure (e.g., electrical panel upgrades and equipment service infrastructure)
Energy storage systems and renewable energy technologies

Ineligible Activities

Lighting upgrades
System conversion or full system replacements to natural gas or other fossil fuel-based systems
Clean transportation activities, including electric vehicles or fleets and electric vehicle charging stations
New construction and expansion projects

EBC Hospitals Webinar

NYSERDA hosted a webinar on April 22, 2026 to provide an overview of the Empire Building Challenge (EBC): Hospitals program to interested proposers.

Have Questions?

For more information and guidance on current or future funding opportunities, or for general information about the Empire Building Challenge: Hospitals Program, please reach out and our team would be happy to assist.