Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul was welcomed to Stony Brook University by Interim President Michael Bernstein for an event announcing $79 million in comprehensive energy efficiency improvements at Stony Brook University, a key part of Reforming the Energy Vision, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s strategy to lead on climate change and grow New York’s economy.
When complete, the energy-saving upgrades will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28,000 tons a year—the equivalent of taking nearly 5,400 cars off the road—in addition to saving the university nearly $6 million in energy and maintenance costs annually.
“As the largest single site employer on Long Island, with an economic impact of more than $7 billion, Stony Brook University must remain committed to reducing our carbon footprint,” Interim President Bernstein said.
“Our actions have substantial impact, and our efficiency improvements are integral not only to our institution, but to all of Long Island,” Bernstein said.
“Stony Brook University is among the top universities and top public universities in the nation and recognized as a leading institution combining research and undergraduate education,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “The more than $79 million in energy efficiency improvements at the university will modernize the campus, save the school $6 million annually, and advance our bold clean energy goals. Stony Brook is a leading example reducing its carbon footprint and helping in our efforts to combat climate change with energy-saving investments and projects across the state.”
The extensive improvements, financed and implemented by the New York Power Authority in partnership with SUNY, encompass a variety of energy-saving measures, such as lighting, ventilation, and building management upgrades at various Stony Brook University buildings, including residence halls, science buildings and University Hospital.
The ongoing energy efficiency measures throughout the campus build on Stony Brook’s legacy of reducing its carbon footprint through energy-saving projects. Under Governor Cuomo, NYPA and SUNY have partnered to complete more than $50 million in energy efficiency upgrades on the Stony Brook campus, removing nearly 16,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere while saving millions of dollars.
The completed projects range from lighting and ventilation upgrades to the implementation of a pilot project of NYPA’s innovative New York Energy Manager, a web-based energy data management system that provides customers with real-time insights for energy-use reduction.
Over the past 4 years, NYPA has completed 10 energy efficiency projects and currently has an additional 4 projects in construction. The projects themselves include energy measures such as:
- Interior and exterior LED lighting upgrades
- HVAC : Constant Volume to Variable Volume Conversions
- Replacement of older HVAC equipment
- Building envelope improvements
- Pipe insulation
- Retro-commissioning
- Lab HVAC modernization
These projects have resulted in an improvement in energy performance at Stony Brook University and a reduction in energy use that will meet and exceed the goals mandated in Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 88. Stony Brook University is currently leading SUNY’s four University Centers and Upstate Medical in energy performance improvement.
PSEG Long Island provided more than $500,000 in rebates to Stony Brook University for the projects underway.
Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, SUNY and NYPA have partnered to complete energy-saving projects at more than 600 SUNY facilities, reducing energy consumption by more than 6.2 megawatts, removing more than 48,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, and saving $12.1 million annually. SUNY and NYPA are currently partnering to implement energy-saving measures at more than 30 additional SUNY buildings—those projects, once completed, will reduce SUNY’s energy consumption by an additional 1.6 megawatts.
The energy efficiency projects were carried out under Governor Cuomo’s BuildSmart NY program, the comprehensive statewide initiative to increase energy efficiency in public buildings.
The more I think about the fact that Stony Brook University and Hospital have not integrated PV into their infrastructure the more astounded I am by this environmental negligence. Here we have State officials associated with a major research university and hospital that have not taken the responsibility to install PV arrays on the acres and acres of roof tops and asphalt deserts. Sure BLD 17 has a 10kW thin film PV but this is a mere token of the potential for the campus and hospital infrastructure. It is wonderful that the campus and hospital have become more energy efficient. Now it is time for Calpine, State and University to include photovoltaics in their next energy contract.
Searching images of PV roof top and parking lot canopies on Google yields hundreds of examples of solar renewable energy installations. Below is an article from Stanford that is worth noting.
Hopefully solar energy will be integrated into the contract with Calpine in the near future.
See:
https://news.stanford.edu/2019/05/02/happens-schools-go-solar/
Hi Fred,
I agree with you. SBU is actively looking into creative ways to add solar PV to buildings, parking lots, and unused land at locations that are not powered by Calpine. If you would like to discuss further please contact me directly.
Thomas.Lanzilotta@stonybrook.edu