100 – 4,100 points | Applicable to all Municipalities
Municipalities can reduce emissions in municipal buildings and act as an example for the community by upgrading existing municipal buildings with energy efficiency technology, building or retrofitting facilities with heat pumps, and/or achieving net zero facilities.
As municipalities reduce their GHG emissions, conducting retrofits and upgrades to reduce GHG emissions in existing buildings is a critical step. Additionally, municipalities that go further and convert existing buildings or new municipal facilities to use heat pumps and/or to be zero emissions inspires the municipality to decarbonize. This action will give municipalities credit for converting and retrofitting a municipal building, installing energy efficient technology, and implementing energy efficiency operations strategies.
Each project component of the upgrades must have been substantially completed after August 1, 2016. Date of completion for these actions is the date the clean energy upgrades or net-zero demonstration achieved substantial completion, and/or the date that ground- and/or air-source heat pump systems become operational as the building’s primary heating and cooling systems, and/or the date that the pool heat pump became operational as the pool’s primary heating system.
Clean Energy Upgrades
500-1,000 points
For this category, municipalities must submit documentation that demonstrates a minimum percent reduction in emissions for all municipally owned or occupied buildings 1,000 square feet and larger. The tiers and associated points for this action are cumulative and based on tier level accomplishment and must be submitted consecutively based on tier level of achievement. Each project component of the upgrades must be substantially completed after August 1, 2016.
Point awards are available at different GHG reduction amounts.
Submission requirements for any of the above:
Submit an ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® benchmarking report including energy use information for each municipal building that is owned or occupied by the applying jurisdiction that is 1,000 square feet or larger. The report shall include each building’s energy use intensity (EUI) and annual greenhouse gas emissions. The report should cover at least 12 months of energy use of the portfolio from the year(s) prior to the commencement date of the upgrades as the baseline.
Share read-only access to the applicant’s Portfolio Manager account with NYSERDA and submit an email from Portfolio Manager or screenshot of the Portfolio Manager Sharing Page, or comparable information, stating that NYSERDA has accepted the sharing request.
Submit succinct and relevant documentation that demonstrates a minimum 10 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions against the baseline with projects that are substantially complete by the date of submission. The documentation may include 1) an ASHRAE Energy Audit, 2) an approved pre-and-post engineering study that identifies implemented Energy Conservation Measures, 3) an executed contract or agreement with an energy efficiency contractor, or 4) comparable information.
Submit a complete Clean Energy Upgrades Certification Form, available in the Clean Energy Upgrades toolkit at www.nyserda.ny.gov/cec. Information required in the certification form includes, but is not limited to, specific equipment or infrastructure upgrades and estimated energy savings of implemented measures, as well as a certification that your municipality has completed the pre-qualifications as noted above.
Greenhouse gas emission reductions must be achieved by building energy efficiency improvements and cannot be achieved by the installation or subscriptions of renewable energy. Renewable energy projects including solar, community distributed generation (CDG), wind, hydro, or battery energy storage should be submitted under the Clean Energy Engagement action.
Municipal Building Demonstrations: Clean Heating and Cooling
700-1,700 points
Currently, fossil-fuel based thermal energy – primarily natural gas, propane and fuel oil – is the main energy source for space heating and domestic hot water in the residential and commercial sectors. It is responsible for about one-third of New York’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Clean heating and cooling technologies such as ground- and air- source heat pumps provide environmental benefits, energy bill savings, increased comfort levels and health benefits compared to conventional heating and cooling technologies. Municipalities can lead by example by installing clean heat technology and play an important role in encouraging adoption of ground- and air-source heat pump systems. This action is designed to demonstrate the benefits of clean heating and cooling technologies.
Municipalities may earn credit for the Municipal Building Demonstrations: Clean Heating and Cooling 1,000-14,999 Square Feet action and the Municipal Building Demonstrations: Clean Heating and Cooling 15,000 Square Feet and Above action, if submitting for clean heating and cooling installations at separate buildings. However, municipalities may not earn credit for a clean heating and cooling installation that previously was approved through the Clean Heating and Cooling Demonstration action as part of the CEC Leadership Round. The tiers and associated points for this action are cumulative and based on tier level accomplishment and must be submitted consecutively based on tier level of achievement.
Municipalities can earn points based on the size of the building they convert and show off.
Submit a completed Municipal Building Demonstration Certification Form (available in the Municipal Building Demonstration toolkit at www.nyserda.ny.gov/cec) confirming that at least one municipal building owned and operated by the applicant has been recently converted or built to use clean heating and cooling as its primary source (providing heating and cooling for 75% or greater of the building’s heating load). This includes signing the certification that the applicant is submitting for a clean heating and cooling installation at a building that did not already earn credit through the Clean Heating and Cooling Demonstration action as part of the CEC Leadership Round. Applicants may receive credit for clean heating and cooling actions if submitting for a clean heating and cooling installation at a municipal building that was not previously awarded credit. Eligible building(s) must:
Meet the square footage of the requested points amount in the table tier above
Be open to the public all year long.
Date of completion for this action is defined as the date that ground- and/or air-source heat pump systems become operational as the building’s primary heating and cooling systems. This date must be after August 1, 2016 to earn credit for this action.
Submit at least one photograph of an educational kiosk, display, and/or materials intended to educate municipal staff and the public about beneficial electrification.
Municipal Building Demonstrations: Net Zero
500-1,300 points
As municipalities reduce their GHG emissions through various strategies, developing and retrofitting zero emissions buildings are a critical step to reducing overall GHG emissions. This type of project also inspires the municipality to decarbonize. This action will give municipalities credit for building or retrofitting a municipal building to be zero emissions through renewable energy technology installation, energy efficient technology installation, and implementation of energy efficiency operations strategies.
Please note that municipalities can also earn credit for the Municipal Building Demonstration: Net Zero action(s), the Municipal Building Demonstration: Clean Heating and Cooling action(s), Clean Energy Upgrades, and/or the Own Clean Energy Installation action(s), if all are applicable to a net zero building. The tiers and associated points for this action are cumulative and based on tier level accomplishment and must be submitted consecutively based on tier level of achievement.
Submission requirements for any of the above:
Submit a completed Municipal Building Demonstration Certification Form (see: Municipal Building Demonstration Toolkit) confirming that at least one municipal building owned and operated by the applying jurisdiction has been recently converted to use clean heating and cooling as its primary source or built to be net zero emissions. Eligible building(s) must:
Meet the square footage of the requested points amount in the table tier above
Be open to the public all year long.
Date of completion for this action is defined as the date that the building began operating as net zero. This date must be after August 1, 2016 to earn credit for this action.
At least one photograph of the educational kiosk, display, and/or materials intended to educate municipal staff and the public about the benefits of a net zero building.
Municipal Building Demonstration: Pool Heat Pump
100 points
Converting a municipal pool to use a heat pump pool heater or building a new pool using a heat pump pool heater can be a strategy to reduce emissions and reduce costs.
Submission requirements:
Submit a completed Municipal Building Demonstration Certification Form (see: Municipal Building Demonstration Toolkit) confirming that at least one municipal pool owned and operated by the applying jurisdiction has been recently converted to use a heat pump pool heater or a new pool has been built to use a heat pump pool heater.
Date of completion for this action is defined as the date that the pool began being heated by a pool heat pump. This date must be after December 13, 2023 to earn credit for this action.
At least one photograph of the installation and an educational kiosk, display, and/or materials intended to educate municipal staff and the public about beneficial electrification.