Solutions for Clean and Efficient 21st Century Buildings
New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) signed in July 2019 confronts the greatest threat facing life as we know it —a rapidly changing climate. Our Building Decarb team, citizens and communities are partnering with businesses, schools, and government to build a climate-proof future using clean heating and cooling technologies. Goals: By 2040: achieve 100% zero-emission electricity | By 2050: reduce emissions at least 85% below 1990 levels.
We Deliver:
- Leadership: Lead market transformation toward fossil-fuel free heating and cooling
- Impact: Scale up building decarbonization through thermal energy network coalitions; facilitate local clean energy workforce development
- Visibility: Showcase the innovative work of municipal, nonprofit, and business leaders
- Equity: Prioritize clients located in or serving Disadvantaged Communities and affordable housing
Program Offerings
For: | Offering: |
---|---|
Municipalities and building owners | REACH – Create partnerships to develop and connect to Community Thermal Energy Networks, decarbonize your building |
Nonprofit building owners | Renew America’s Nonprofits – Provide grants to your organization for energy efficiency upgrades |
Employers, trainers, and job seekers | Clean Energy Accelerator – Build an equitable clean energy workforce |
Teachers and Students | Middle School/High School Clean Energy Career Presentations |
Commercial Con Ed account holders | Smart Usage Rewards – Connect commercial building owners to savings |
Renew America’s Nonprofits (RAN) Project
SW was recently awarded a 3 year contract with the Department of Energy to provide grants to up to 32 nonprofits throughout New York state for energy efficiency upgrades. Click here to read the RAN Press Release.
Sustainable Westchester will aggregate a portfolio of buildings to submit to the DOE in June 2024 through a competitive application process. If you would like to receive a subrecipient application when it becomes available, please fill out the:Renew America’s Nonprofits Interest Form.
Questions: Contact Rachel Carpitella at rachel@sustainablewestchester.org.
Clean Energy Accelerator – Working Group, Job Fair, Student Presentations, Resources
Accelerating a Just Transition and Preparing the Climate Career Workforce
Westchester County’s Office of Economic Development has partnered with Sustainable Westchester to launch the Clean Energy Accelerator. Clean energy stakeholders and employers have come together through the Clean Energy Accelerator Working Group to collaboratively identify the needs of the green local economy:
- Identify the workforce needs of the clean energy sector,
- Bring training programs and job opportunities to local residents
- Ensure strong career pathways for clean energy workforce
- Support expansion of local businesses to meet growing market demand for clean energy.
Questions: Contact Yasmin Najjar at yasmin@sustainablewestchester.org.
School Presentations: “Working for Change: Clean Energy Careers” – students will be excited to learn about the growing clean energy sector and the prospects of future high paying career opportunities. SW and New Yorkers for Clean Power are bringing this engaging presentation to middle schools and high schools across the County. Questions: contact Pam Miner at pam@sustainablewestchester.org.
Advancing Thermal Energy Networks (TENs)
- Community Thermal Energy Networks (also called geothermal networks or district heating) are widely used in many parts of the world that are phasing out fossil fuels.
- These systems of heat pumps and pipe infrastructure connect adjacent buildings and use the heat beneath our feet (geothermal) and waste heat to heat and cool buildings.
Municipal TEN Accelerator
Westchester Community Foundation’s generous Environmental Grant will position the City of Yonkers and the City of Peekskill to leverage federal and state funding for Municipally-Owned Renewable Energy Infrastructure. Supported by the Pace Energy and Climate Center and IGSHPA, Sustainable Westchester will lead the effort to:
- Introduce and support adoption of TEN Standards for Municipalities throughout Westchester county
- Train municipal representatives on the benefits of geothermal technologies
- Provide hands-on assistance on how to amend municipal codes to adopt the Standards
REACH (Renewable Energy Alternative Cooling & Heating)
REACH is a first-of-its-kind offering from Sustainable Westchester that provides municipalities with the expertise to develop community Thermal Energy Networks (TEN) and connects commercial buildings with resource-efficient decarbonization support.
Commercial Smart Usage Rewards
Commercial and Industrial building owners with ConEd accounts can get CASH REWARDS for helping reduce stress on the power grid and for lowering Westchester’s carbon footprint.
Sign up for ConEd’s Commercial Smart Usage Rewards using the SmartKit AI tool – it’s easy to use, provides important energy usage data, and there are no upfront enrollment costs.
Click Here to learn more and to book a demo! Questions? Contact Pam Miner at pam@sustainablewestchester.org
Conversations in Clean Energy Podcast: Commercial Clean Heating & Cooling
Subscribe to and Download the episodes of our Podcast series “Conversations in Clean Energy,” to hear the premiere episode, “Building Resiliency in LMI Communities Through Clean Heating & Cooling Technology.” Commercial Clean Heating & Cooling podcasts are produced in collaboration with NYSERDA. The premiere episode is co-sponsored by WaterFurnace.
Benefits of Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are a winning strategy for a broad cross section of projects such as retrofits for landmark buildings, mixed-use properties, apartment buildings, or school buildings, that provides benefits including but not limited to financial savings, improved indoor air quality, and environmental leadership.
Innovative Technologies
The evolution of heat pump technology has opened the opportunity for buildings to fully electrify their heating and cooling systems with the assurance of efficiency, reliability, and room-by-room temperature control.
Often, there is misinformation about geothermal technology everywhere! Our team is happy to share more information about Air Source Heat Pump and Ground Source Heat Pump technology for your property or business