Clean Green Schools Initiative - Track II Awardees

The Clean Green Schools Initiative provided planning (Track I) and installation (Track II) support for under-resourced public schools to decarbonize their building portfolio and to improve indoor air quality across their buildings. The Clean Green Schools Initiative launched the first round of Track II in April 2022. Track II of the program was competitive and provided funding for schools to implement construction projects that decarbonized their building portfolio, such as comprehensive retrofits that impacted energy consumption and overall building load, electrification readiness projects, and conversion of central heating and/or cooling plants to clean energy technologies such as heat pumps. NYSERDA awarded over $14 million to the decarbonization construction projects below, which serve as a model to electrify the school building sector, reducing the combustion of fossil fuels on-site and helping to accelerate New York’s progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Awards

NYSERDA is pleased to announce the three projects which are located across eleven under-resourced public school districts that have been selected to receive awards through Track II of the Clean Green Schools Initiative. Collectively, these projects are expected to save a combined 1,000 metric tons of carbon annually, equivalent to eliminating the carbon emissions from 112,500 gallons of gasoline consumed. These projects were selected based on their project impact as it relates to reducing fossil fuel consumption, transitioning to clean heating and cooling technologies, ensuring appropriate ventilation and filtration, and integration of student engagement activities within the project. The three awardees are Cuba Rushford Central School District, the Enlarged City School District of Middletown and the New York City Department of Education.

Enlarged City School District of Middletown ($4.03 M, Orange County)

The school district is receiving $4,030,000 to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels by installing a ground source heat pump and air source heat pumps, in addition to installing a building management system with demand control ventilation. The installation of electric HVAC systems with improved components and operation will provide better air quality in the classrooms and throughout the building. This project will impact one building (Twin Towers Middle School) and will provide educational opportunities for the district by using the ground source heat pump mechanical room as a learning laboratory. The room will be designed in such a way that students can tour and observe the facility to learn about the operation of the equipment.

Cuba Rushford Central School District ($6.1 M, Allegany County)

The school district is receiving $6,100,000 to improve the energy performance of building envelopes at multiple facilities while partially replacing the existing fossil fuel space conditioning and domestic hot water systems with ground source heat pumps. This project will impact three buildings within their district and will help the school district reduce energy use, achieve carbon savings, and support clean energy technologies. Additionally, this project will integrate clean energy concepts into the classroom as the district is developing new ground source heat pump lesson plans and plans on coordinating post-construction facility tours for students to learn about the clean energy technologies within their buildings.

New York City Department of Education ($4M, New York County, Kings County, Queens County, Bronx County and Richmond County)

The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is receiving $4,000,000 to install clean energy technologies in place of existing fuel oil fired domestic hot water (DHW) and natural gas kitchen equipment as part of NYCDOE’s commitment to full building electrification. This funding will impact nine public schools in New York City, allowing them to transition away from fossil fuels by installing electric air-to-water domestic hot water (DHW) heat pumps and electric kitchen equipment.

Additional Information

The second round of Track II awards will be announced in 2026. A portion of the program is being funded through the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022.

Track II is currently closed. NYSERDA will coordinate a third round of funding to support P-12 installation projects in 2026.

Contact

Email [email protected] with any questions regarding the projects or NYSERDA funding opportunities for the P-12 sector.