NYSERDA Programs for P-12 Schools
NYSERDA's P-12 Schools Initiative promotes clean energy efforts by educating, guiding, and assisting school staff with clean energy projects and encouraging sustainability principles at facilities and in classrooms. Please see current P-12 programs below along with a list of additional resources that schools can take advantage of to help reduce their energy bills and emissions. Please contact P12Schools@nyserda.ny.gov with any questions.
Free Benchmarking
P-12 Benchmarking Program provides free energy benchmarking services to pre-kindergarten through grade 12 (P-12) schools for up to three years. These benchmarking services provide schools with a mechanism to measure, track, and assess their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions to help them better understand their energy usage and to improve energy efficiency and performance.
Schools will receive benchmarking reports outlining trends in energy use, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions to demonstrate how buildings perform over time. An optional Operational Assessment is available for eligible schools interested in receiving building-specific energy and cost-saving recommendations.
Green and Clean Energy Solutions
The P-12 Schools: Green and Clean Energy Solutions Program provides funding for eligible pre-kindergarten through grade 12 (P-12) schools to reduce school energy loads and assist in the conversion to carbon free fuels.
NYSERDA will provide a cost-share up to 75% for Energy Studies and Clean Heating and Cooling and Net Zero Design projects. Schools categorized as High-Need
may receive up to 100% of the cost. Cost-sharing for each of these efforts is capped at $250,000 per project. Additionally, NYSERDA will provide Direct Incentives for energy savings associated with installed projects that result in an energy load reduction. A list of pre-qualified Direct Incentives is available on NYSERDA’s P-12 website.
The Program will also provide easy enrollment in complimentary services such as the free P-12 Benchmarking Program described above, and free Clean Heating and Cooling Technology Screenings.
Clean Heating and Cooling Screenings
Clean Heating and Cooling Technology Screenings are available at no cost to eligible schools to evaluate the installation of ground source heat pumps (GSHP), air source heat pumps (ASHP), or variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems.