St. John’s receives NYSERDA funding for energy projects

St. John’s University is making sustainable campus upgrades. Photo via St. John’s University

By Rachel Vick

St. John’s University’s path to a greener campus just got a little smoother with help from new state funds.

The $1,792,750 from The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will be used to support several projects over the next three years focused on reducing energy use and carbon emissions.

"At St. John's University, we believe that sustainability is a long-term shared responsibility to help meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations,” said university spokesperson Brian Browne. “The funding received from New York State will help move the Queens Campus further down a more efficient path of sustainability and will help St. John's take a big step towards reducing our carbon footprint."

The boilers across the campus currently rely on fossil fuels to generate heat, but with the funding, existing steam-fired domestic hot water generators will be converted to electric heat pump-based DHW generators in multiple buildings.

Two existing absorption chiller plants at the Montgoris Dining Hall and the university's law school will also be converted to work on eliminating natural gas use during the summer months on campus.

The upgrades support an energy master plan for SJU, developed in 2017 to achieve a goal of 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Commercial and industrial buildings account for 33 percent of the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in New York State, according to NYSERDA.

The funding was allocated as part of a $14.5 million award through the Commercial and Industrial Carbon Challenge as part of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative Consolidated Funding Application.

Projects with a potential for cost-effective upgrades were selected, and those benefiting disadvantaged communities were prioritized.

“With each round of C&I Carbon Challenge awards, the State is supporting high impact clean energy projects that help some of the largest energy users reduce their carbon footprint,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen Harris. “These commercial and industrial businesses are making commitments to energy efficiency and reducing on-site emissions from their operations that will improve their communities while serving as an example of climate action for other large energy users.”