SUNY's sustainability actions and initiatives are supported in our mission to enhance 'the well-being of the people of the state of New York and in protecting our environmental and marine resources' and by New York State law.
All new construction is fossil-free, achieves Net Zero Carbon (or be NZC capable), Deep Energy Retrofits to meet certain EUI goals, all other projects meet the Stretch Energy Code, and projects track embodied carbon for concrete, steel, glass, asphalt
The policy will ensure SUNY advances real environmental progress while staying in step with groundbreaking legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul encouraging SUNY and CUNY campuses to phase out single-use plastics.
In 2022, the Governor adopted Executive Order 22, challenging state agencies to lead by example
The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) was signed into law July 18, 2019. The Act extends and enhances a number of New York’s successful clean energy initiatives.
Clean the Grid - 100% Clean, Carbon-Free Electricity by 2040
Carbon Neutral Buildings and Transportation
BuildSmart NY is Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s program for aggressively pursuing energy efficiency in New York State government buildings while advancing economic growth, environmental protection, and energy security in New York State.
EO 4 - Green Procurement established the creation of green procurement lists and specifications of commodities, services, and technology for use by state agencies during a procurement.
EO 18 - Bottled Water was issued to improve the environment and save taxpayer dollars by eliminating New York State's purchase and use of bottled water in state agency facilities and promoting the use of tap water as a preferred alternative.
EO 166 calls on all affected state entities to take action to meet the State's greenhouse gas reduction goals by reducing emissions from all operations, buildings, and vehicle fleets.
Installed 20 electric vehicle charging stations
Creating an Integrated Collaborative Energy and Climate Action Plan that allows users to interact with emissions data
Switched to using biomass for heating which resulted in a net CO2 reduction of 20,000 tons per year
Replaced 5,000 fluorescent lights with LED resulting in energy and carbon savings
EO 166 redoubles New York's fight against the economic and environmental threats posed by climate change by affirming the goals of the Paris climate agreement and requiring state agencies to track and reduce GHG emissions.
BuildSmart 2025 is a continuation of the BuidSmart NY program with changes to address new state energy savings targets and an expanded scope of buildings and State Entities required to comply with the targets.
Site energy savings:
NY State - 185 Trillion Btu
State Facilities - 11 Trillion Btu
SUNY - 4.4 Trillion Btu
Each campus will be assigned a site specific reduction goal
New regulations require campuses generating at a single location an annual average of two tons per week or more of feed scraps to separate excess edible food for donation and to divert food scraps to an organic recycler within 25 miles of the campus with the following exceptions:
1 - No Poverty
2 - Zero Hunger
3 - Good Health & Well-Being
4 - Quality Education
5 - Gender Equality
6 - Clean Water and Salination
7 - Affordable & Clean Energy
8 - Decent Work & Economic Growth
9 - Industry, Innovation, Infrastructure
10 - Reduced Inequalities
11 - Sustainable Cities & Communities
12 - Responsible Consumption & Production
13 - Climate Action
14 - Life Below Water
15 - Life On Land
16 - Peace, Justice, & Strong Institutions
17 - Partnerships for the Goals
