Community colleges and universities across the state of New York have a new initiative to achieve greater energy-efficiency practices while reducing both energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) established the New York Energy $mart Focus on Colleges and Universities to identify technical assistance and financial incentives for public and private institutions to accomplish a triple bottom line.

Many higher education institutions have set energy and environmental objectives, but the NYSERDA Focus on Colleges and Universities offers these institutions a program that bridges financial incentives and reduced energy cost measures with the institution’s environmental goals.

Funding from NYSERDA for the Focus on Colleges and Universities program is available for qualified campus improvements, such as new construction, renovations, and equipment upgrades.  The funding may come from city, state, federal, or non-governmental sources.

Higher education institutions that are interested in identifying energy savings opportunities, prioritizing buildings, developing an Energy Efficiency Action Plan, and locating financial incentives for new energy-efficient equipment and equipment replacement projects can contact HigherEd@nyserda.org or 1.866.330.7317.