Governor Kathy Hochul today awarded $8 million to nine projects through the fourth round of the $58 million Buildings of Excellence Competition, which aims to advance zero-carbon multifamily buildings in New York. In addition to these awards for demonstration projects, Governor Hochul announced $2 million for Early Design Support to help ensure the most cost-effective low carbon solutions are integrated into projects from the start of design.
The Competition is integral to accelerating the state’s progress toward the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and the Governor’s goal to develop two million climate-friendly homes.
“New York continues to lead the way in delivering clean, safe and affordable housing developments,” Governor Hochul said. “The projects awarded today add to a statewide portfolio that is providing a critical blueprint for building owners to follow in shrinking their carbon footprint.”
Today's announcement was made during an awards ceremony held at the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIA NY) Center for Architecture in New York City. Launched in 2019, this Competition is the only one of its kind in the nation and is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to provide financial incentives and recognition for the design, construction, and operation of zero-carbon emitting buildings.
The Competition prioritizes housing and energy affordability, supporting the Climate Act's goal to ensure that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments support disadvantaged communities. With these awards, NYSERDA has awarded a total of 65 state-of-the-art new construction and gut-renovation projects through the Competition, and more than two-thirds of these high-performing new construction buildings serve affordable housing markets with 37 being located in disadvantaged communities.
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Addressing harmful carbon emissions in our building sector is a cornerstone of Governor Hochul’s nation-leading climate agenda. These winning projects demonstrate tremendous progress in low-carbon building design that sets a new standard for environmentally friendly construction and operation. By working with our industry partners to develop turnkey solutions and designs, it will move us one step closer to achieving the State's clean energy goals and we congratulate all of today's winners for their exemplary projects.”
Competition applicants were required to demonstrate cost-effective, low-carbon or carbon-neutral designs that are profitable for developers, offer predictable revenue and costs, and provide a competitive edge, while simultaneously creating a comfortable, healthy, and affordable space for building occupants. The winning projects are also required to provide comprehensive data on design, construction and cost that can be analyzed and shared to increase the number of low- to zero-carbon buildings in New York State.
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Categories: New York, Energy, Government & Policy