Statewide - Eligibility Guidelines for Green Building Projects at State Facilities
Public Notice
Eligibility Guidelines for Green Building Projects at State Facilities
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) has developed the following eligibility guidelines to implement funding under the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 (Bond Act). To allocate funding under these proposed guidelines and achieve and/or advance climate change mitigation goals identified in the Bond Act, specifically those found in §58-0701, NYS DEC will use the authority granted in provisions of the Bond Act to allocate funds for costs associated with green building projects, projects that increase energy efficiency or the use or siting of renewable energy on state-owned buildings or properties, including buildings owned by the State University of New York, City University of New York, and community colleges in New York State.
The Bond Act requires that disadvantaged communities shall receive no less than 35 percent, with the goal of 40 percent, of the benefit of total Bond Act funds ($4.2 billion). Disadvantaged communities are those identified by the Climate Justice Working Group, pursuant to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. In line with this goal, NYS DEC will aim to ensure at least 40 percent of each program benefits disadvantaged communities.
Eligible Project Locations:
New York State-owned buildings or properties
Eligible Projects:
Projects must have been identified in a draft or completed energy master plan, New York Power Authority decarbonization action plan, energy study, or equivalent that meets or exceeds American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Level 2 energy audits. Projects should be aligned with Executive Order 22, Leading by Example: Directing State Agencies to Adopt a Sustainability and Decarbonization Program, and follow the green purchasing specifications and operational directives developed for state agencies. Projects with refrigerant-containing equipment must evaluate installation of equipment that uses refrigerants with ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) to the extent practicable. Projects must be able to be substantially complete within five years. Funds are to be used in conjunction with all other available sources such as federal funds, other state funds, utility incentives, tax credits, etc.
Project may include, but are not limited to:
- Installing, upgrading, or modifying a renewable energy source at a State-owned building or for the purpose of converting or connecting a State-owned building or portion thereof, to a renewable energy source;
- Reducing energy use or improving energy efficiency or occupant health;
- Installing a green roof;
- Installing renewable heating and cooling systems, including geothermal, air to air, air to water, and heat recovery heat pumps and associated distribution systems, and thermal energy networks;
- Greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects and those that improve air quality, including but not limited to:
- Construction projects that decarbonize individual buildings or an overall portfolio of buildings;
- Comprehensive building retrofits that impact energy consumption and overall building energy load;
- Building electrification readiness projects such as insulating, tightening and improving the building envelope for greater efficiency, ventilation upgrades and improvements and distribution system upgrades; and
- Conversion of central heating and/or cooling plants to clean energy technologies such as heat pumps.
- New energy technology projects or application of such technology that reduce fossil fuel use (heating oil, natural gas, steam generated by fossil fuel, etc.) energy consumption.
- Building electrification projects, including but not limited to:
- Building systems (e.g., kitchen equipment and domestic hot water heaters);
- Electrification readiness projects such as high-performance building envelope (e.g., air sealing, insulation, window film);
- Conversion of distribution systems (e.g., steam to hot water) to support potential future electrification; and
- Stand-alone renewable generation technology projects if previous energy efficiency projects have been completed and documented in the proposal.
- System conversion to natural gas or other fossil fuel and full system replacements to new fossil fuel-based systems are not eligible.
Public comments on the guidelines are to be submitted in writing to the contact listed below and will be accepted until Friday, August 2, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Include Green Buildings in the subject line of submitted comments.
Jon Binder
NYS DEC
625 Broadway
Albany , NY 12233
