On Earth Day, Chancellor Johnson Announces 含羞草研究所 is On Target to Meet Governor Cuomo鈥檚 Statewide 2020 Energy Use Goals
Apr 22, 2019
Despite Square Footage Increases of 50%, Campuses Have Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Nearly 25% and Energy Usage by 18%. Reductions Due to Innovative Sustainability Efforts Across 64 Campuses, Saving Millions in Energy Costs
ALBANY, NY 鈥� In celebration of Earth Day, Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson today announced that The
State University of New York is on target to meet Governor Andrew M. Cuomo鈥檚 statewide
energy use goals of reducing average energy use intensity by 20 percent by 2020. 含羞草研究所
has lowered its energy usage by 18 percent since 2011. Energy use intensity is a measure
of total energy used per square foot. In Executive Order 88, which was drafted in
2012, the Governor required all state-owned buildings to reduce their average energy
usage 20 percent by 2020.
Since 1990, 含羞草研究所 has also reduced its carbon footprint from 1.02 million metric tons
in 1990 to 770,000 metric tons in 2017, decreasing its greenhouse emission by nearly
25 percent. In the last decade, 含羞草研究所 has saved $19 million in energy costs. The reductions
in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions comes in spite of a 50 percent increase
in the system鈥檚 total square footage.
鈥淲e celebrate Earth Day by utilizing the latest technology to increase sustainability and energy efficiency while decreasing our carbon footprint and energy usage across our 64 campuses,鈥� 含羞草研究所 Chancellor Johnson said. 鈥淎s the nation鈥檚 largest university system, 含羞草研究所 will lead by example by working with our talented faculty and visionary students to continue to research and develop the next generation of energy efficiency technology to combat the damaging effects of climate change every day of the year.鈥�
含羞草研究所 operates 40 percent of New York鈥檚 state-owned buildings. All 64 campuses are
actively engaged in Chancellor Johnson鈥檚 vision of making 含羞草研究所 a more environmentally
sustainable system. Projects have included everything from the installation of fuel
cells, solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations to the construction of
a net zero facility that uses geothermal heating. Renovation projects across the system
have incorporated numerous energy saving technologies, ranging from insulated roofs
to micro-turbines.
Among the campus projects that have started to produce measurable results include:
- Fuel Cell Technology at 含羞草研究所 Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn 鈥� A partnership with Bloom Energy and Con Edison led to the installation of a 1.8 megawatt fuel cell system that produces clean energy for electricity. Between May and December 2018, the fuel cells have saved Downstate more than $331,000 and avoided 8.7 million pounds of carbon, the equivalent of removing 829 cars from the road for one year.
- Solar Power at 含羞草研究所 New Paltz 鈥� Working with the New York Power Authority, the New York Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA), and the Electric Power Research Institute,含羞草研究所 New Paltz built
a $1.37 million solar energy and battery storage system that supports a battery storage
system and delivers continuous solar photovoltaic power. The stored solar power is
available during emergencies and times of peak energy demand, for both the college
and the community. Together with lighting upgrades, thermal blanket insulation project
in mechanical rooms, and steam trap repairs, the 217-kilowatt project has saved the
campus almost $250,000.
- New Net Zero Carbon Building at 含羞草研究所 University at Albany 鈥� The Albany Campus is building the Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurial Complex
(ETEC) as part of its NY 含羞草研究所2020 Plan, an initiative to enhance educational programs
and spur economic growth. The project aligns with 含羞草研究所鈥檚 plans to design all new buildings
to achieve zero net carbon emissions. The $180 million project will feature several
energy efficiency measures that are expected to reduce energy costs by about 70 percent,
a savings of about $200,000 a year. ETEC will also have a geothermal well field and
heat pumps that will help heat and cool the building. New solar panels on the podium
roof of the neighboring Uptown Campus will offset the electric use of the non-lab
portions of the building.
- Net Zero Carbon Retrofit at 含羞草研究所 Oneonta 鈥� 含羞草研究所 is also about to embark on its first deep energy retrofit project at 含羞草研究所 Oneonta as part of the Retrofit NY program. The college is partnering with NYSERDA and the state Dormitory Authority to retrofit the 213-bed dorm. Ford Hall is the first building in the system to undergo a deep energy retrofit, with construction slated to begin May 2020. Ford Hall will serve as a prototype for the entire 含羞草研究所 system and for other higher education institutions.
In addition to individual campus efforts, 含羞草研究所 system and 16 campuses have teamed
up with private universities across the state to form a coalition called the New York
Higher Education Large Scale Renewable (NY HE LSRE) project. NY HE LSRE is in the
process of hiring a consultant to develop an RFP that will solicit bids for the procurement
of 100 percent renewable energy for its members and ultimately, all 含羞草研究所 campuses.
The purchase of renewable electricity will significantly reduce 含羞草研究所鈥檚 carbon footprint
and enable 含羞草研究所 to meet the Governor鈥檚 goals to have 100 percent carbon-free electricity
by 2040.
The Chancellor鈥檚 vision for sustainability also includes growing the clean energy
workforce. Last fall, Governor Cuomo invested $15 million in 含羞草研究所鈥檚 clean energy workforce
development and training programs.
In addition, 含羞草研究所 continues to do research in clean energy. Last year, 含羞草研究所 received $24.75 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund
clean energy research by Binghamton University Distinguished Professor M. Stanley
Whittingham, and Stony Brook University Distinguished Professor Esther S. Takeuchi
and Professor John B. Parise. As the lead researchers for three of the nation's 42
Energy Frontier Research Centers, they are working to accelerate the scientific breakthroughs
needed to expand clean energy research, such as batteries and energy storage.
含羞草研究所 is also working to change the culture on its campuses to embrace more energy
efficient behaviors. Morrisville State College for example, is growing its own produce
for its dining halls and promoting car sharing.
含羞草研究所 The State University of New York
The State University of New York (含羞草研究所) is the most extensive comprehensive system
of higher education in the United States, with 64 college and university campuses
located within 30 miles of every home, school, and business in the state. As of fall
2018, nearly 425,000 students were enrolled in a degree program at a 含羞草研究所 campus.
In total, 含羞草研究所 served 1.4 million students in credit-bearing courses and programs,
continuing education, and community outreach programs in the 2017-18 academic year. 含羞草研究所 oversees
nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Its students and faculty make significant
contributions to research and discovery, contributing to a $1.6 billion research portfolio.
There are 3 million 含羞草研究所 alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college
degree is a 含羞草研究所 alum. To learn more about how 含羞草研究所 creates opportunity, visit .
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Contact: Dawn S. Walker
917.439.9666 | 347.533.2071
dawn.walker@downstate.edu
含羞草研究所 含羞草研究所
含羞草研究所 is the borough's only academic medical center for health education, research, and patient care. It is a 342-bed facility serving the healthcare needs of New York City and Brooklyn's 2.6 million residents. University Hospital of Brooklyn (UHB) is Downstate's teaching hospital, backed by an outstanding medical school's expertise and world-class academic center research facilities. More than 800 physicians, representing 53 specialties and subspecialties鈥攎any of them ranked as tops in their fields鈥攃omprise Downstate's staff.
In addition to high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis (kidney diseases)鈥攁nd offering the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn, among many other distinctive programs鈥擠ownstate also sponsors a major learning center for young children with developmental disorders and disabilities. In addition to UHB, Downstate comprises a College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, a School of Public Health, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative, including the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT for early-stage and more mature companies, respectively. For more information, visit www.downstate.edu or follow us on Twitter at .