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ADVANCING CARBON NEUTRALITY BLOCK BY BLOCK, COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY by Janet Joseph, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Market Development, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
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ew York State has the most aggressive clean energy and climate agenda in the nation as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act – setting a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and putting New York State on a path to economy-wide carbon neutrality. These goals are science-based and point to the level of greenhouse gas emission reduction that we need - not just in New York State - but across the country and globally, to preserve and protect our planet and our communities. With buildings responsible for one third of the economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions in New York State, it’s clear that we need to undertake bold action to decarbonize the State’s buildings block by block and community by community, as well as ensure that any new construction is meeting a higher standard of performance. In conjunction with a team of national experts and stakeholders, NYSERDA has mapped out its comprehensive decarbonization strategy, in the form of the Carbon Neutral Buildings Roadmap (https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/ Carbon-Neutral-Buildings), to be published later this year. The Roadmap presents building solution sets and policy recommendations in an effort to accelerate decarbonization progress in an equitable, effective and efficient manner. The Roadmap currently presents pathways for single family homes, multifamily residences, commercial buildings, and higher education projects. It will be updated every two to three years to ensure
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that the research is cutting edge, the market is up to date, and the policy recommendations are relevant. Architects and other members of the design community are some of the key influencers in producing designs in a responsible way, that will push innovations to the built environments. NYSERDA partnered with AIA through the first-of-its kind, $40 million Buildings of Excellence Competition (https:// www.nyserda.ny.gov/all-programs/programs/multifamily-buildings-of-excellence) to spur the design of very low or zero carbon emitting multifamily buildings, while protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Through this effort, architects and developers are working together to help shape the future of our buildings in this market sector, which represents about 40 percent of projected new building construction in New York (by square footage). Since the launch in 2019, two rounds of the Competition have awarded over $31 million to over 40 projects across both the market rate and affordable housing communities. 68 percent of the Round One and 78 percent of the Round Two funding served the low-to-moderate income community. The Competition shows the advancing shift to carbon neutrality in the New York State building stock among leaders in the architectural and design community. All 14 projects awarded in Round Two of the Competition are slated to be all-electric buildings, including the first proposed “super tall” project. The upcoming third round will build off the successes in Rounds One and Two. We remain encouraged by the innovation, interest, and participation in this Competition. The awarded projects contin-
