The projects at University at Buffalo and SUNY Upstate Medical University will combine $1.4m in annual energy cost savings.
University at Buffalo’s energy-saving improvements include over $20m in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning upgrades and interior and exterior lighting enhancements.
The array of energy efficiency improvements at SUNY Upstate include heating, ventilation and air-conditioning upgrades, interior and exterior lighting enhancements, boiler controls and hot water upgrades.
A 50-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array was installed at the SUNY Upstate Medical University.
The $27m upgrades at both the universities were performed under Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Build Smart NY program, a statewide initiative to increase energy efficiency in public buildings.
The projects reduce over 7,700 tons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere annually.
NYPA president and chief executive officer Gil Quiniones said: "The NYPA-SUNY energy efficiency partnership has been extremely effective over the years in lowering energy bills at SUNY campuses throughout the state and in cutting carbon emissions.
"The initiatives in Buffalo and Syracuse continue to support the important goals of Build Smart NY to lower energy consumption and reduce costs for taxpayers."
NYPA is partnering with SUNY to improve energy efficiency at campuses across the state and is currently moving forward with construction on projects at 289 facilities.
Upon completion, the energy efficiency upgrades will save taxpayers over $4.6m per year and reduce more than 20,000 tons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
