Energy Efficiency Projects at UAlbany Support Governor Cuomo's Build Smart NY Initiative

NYPA-NYSERDA Upgrades Will Save Over $704,000 in Energy Costs

New energy efficiency projects at University at Albany, undertaken in collaboration with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), will save the university approximately $704,000 in energy costs and eliminate more than 4,100 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

The improvements are in line with "Build Smart NY," the new initiative by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to increase energy efficiency in state buildings by 20 percent in seven years by strategically accelerating priority improvements in energy performance. The statewide initiative will save millions of dollars for taxpayers and create thousands of jobs while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"The energy efficiency upgrades at the Albany campus herald the significant benefits under our Build Smart NY initiative for reducing utility bills and carbon emissions and spurring jobs from the manufacture, installation and maintenance of new energy savings equipment," said Governor Cuomo. "These energy efficiency projects are representative of the importance we're placing on managing the costs of the state’s higher educational facilities to free up resources for their core mission of providing a first-class education for our students."

Husted Hall, built in 1909 and named in honor of Civil War veteran, professor and Normal School Acting Principal Albert N. Husted, '55, will undergo a complete renovation through Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 'Build Smart NY' program.

NYPA spearheaded a newly completed $4 million lighting replacement project at UAlbany’s Uptown Campus. NYSERDA awarded $1.3 million in incentives for various energy efficiency upgrades at the university, including $274,000 for the NYPA lighting project. Other projects supported by NYSERDA include a complete renovation at century-old Husted Hall and new construction at the University Data Center and College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

"We’re pleased to once again partner with NYSERDA and NYPA to bring energy efficiency savings to the campus," said University at Albany President Robert J. Jones. "The Governor’s Build Smart NY energy incentive program is a superb example of forward-thinking collaboration between higher education and government for the benefit of the University and our environment."

"Governor Cuomo has made clear the importance of energy efficiency through his Build Smart NY initiative, to lower electric bills while supporting jobs through new clean energy systems," said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and chief executive officer. "The Power Authority financed nearly $270 million worth of energy efficiency projects in 2012, including the SUNY Albany lighting project."

"Opportunities for reducing energy usage at colleges and universities can result in significant savings, as these projects at the University at Albany demonstrate," said Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO, NYSERDA. "Governor Cuomo’s commitment and investment in energy efficiency in public buildings, as well as in homes and businesses, is why New York is recognized as a national leader in energy efficiency."

NYPA's UAlbany lighting upgrade encompasses nearly 1,750 classrooms and other spaces at nine Uptown Campus buildings, to lower utility bills while improving illumination. The improvements are expected to save the university $225,000 annually and remove more than 1,100 tons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere every year. The installations required custom-made light fixtures, which were manufactured by LSI Lightron of New Windsor, Orange County.

The energy efficiency project at Husted Hall received a High Performance Building Plaque from NYSERDA, an honor reserved for buildings performing at least 30 percent above New York State energy code. This project included a whole building energy analysis and the installation of new storm windows; energy efficient lighting design and a HVAC system; and an incentive for achieving LEED® Silver certification. The kilowatt hours saved is equivalent to the amount of electricity consumed by 101 single-family homes annually.

NYSERDA is working with UAlbany on its new University Data Center, which will be located in a building to be constructed in 2014. The facility will be designed with energy efficiency and information technology productivity measures that enable it to process information faster using less energy.

Energy-efficiency improvements at UAlbany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering include clean room fan filter units, high-efficiency lighting, a chilled water system, a water-side economizer and high efficiency motors.

"The significant and positive impact of Governor Cuomo’s innovative Build Smart NY initiative is demonstrated through the cleanroom expansion project at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering," said CNSE Vice President for Clean Energy Programs Dr. Pradeep Haldar. "By improving energy efficiency while lowering the cost of doing business, this program is truly an investment in New York’s energy, environmental and economic future."

Build Smart NY will carry out the Governor's 20 percent increased energy efficiency goal through the application of energy data to prioritize state government building projects that will deliver the greatest energy savings per dollar spent. The largest and most inefficient state buildings will be addressed first and undergo comprehensive whole-building improvements. Build Smart NY will accelerate projects that produce the greatest savings and coordinate all spending. The program will also ensure that cost-effective improvements for energy savings are considered in all the state’s capital project planning.

In addition to its energy savings goals, Build Smart NY supports Governor Cuomo’s larger NY Works program and economic development agenda, which coordinates state funding to accelerate projects that will create jobs and improve the state's infrastructure. NY Works is designed to expedite select projects with maximum economic impact, allowing them to begin as soon as possible and reduce project costs by hundreds of millions of dollars.

A Build Smart NY web platform posts progress reports, case studies, energy savings, project costs, and other information to the public, providing greater accountability and transparency on government spending and performance.

NYPA has committed to provide $450 million in low-cost financing for Build Smart NY and an additional $350 million for other energy efficiency programs benefiting county and local governments.

About NYPA: The New York Power Authority uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. NYPA is a leader in promoting energy efficiency, new energy technologies and electric transportation initiatives. It is the nation's largest state public power organization, with 16 generating facilities in various parts of New York State and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. Approximately 80 percent of the electricity it produces is clean renewable hydropower. Its lower-cost power production and electricity purchases support hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the state.

About NYSERDA: NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect our environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York since 1975.

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