$18 Million Available Under NextGen Buildings Innovation Challenges

Round Seven Includes New Challenge Area of Intelligent Building Control Technologies That Manage Energy Assets and Electrical Loads

July 28, 2023

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $18 million is available under the Next Generation Buildings Innovation Challenges for projects that offer advanced building technologies for clean heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, building envelopes, and controls. Round seven includes a new challenge area to advance intelligent building control solutions, including the development and commercialization of technologies that manage energy assets and electrical loads that will further enable decarbonization and electrification. This announcement supports New York State’s nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050.

“With buildings representing one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emission in the State, it is imperative that we address this sector to achieve our climate goals and reduce our carbon footprint,” Governor Hochul said. “The NextGen Buildings Innovation Challenges is one of many tools that we are employing to identify and foster real solutions to decarbonize and electrify our economy as we continue to fight climate change.”

The NextGen Buildings Innovation Challenges, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), provides support for companies that are developing, commercializing, and demonstrating new technologies that can boost building performance and energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This program supports innovative technologies including ground source heat pumps, cutting-edge geothermal technologies, and novel building envelope solutions in addition to the new focus area of intelligent building control solutions.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Through the Next Gen Buildings Innovation Challenge program we are helping new clean technology products enter the market that advance building decarbonization, electrification, and responsiveness to occupants. Given the lifespan of existing and future buildings, investments made now to upgrade our building stock will serve generations of New Yorkers and beyond, and our program is focused to ensure low- and moderate-income residents benefit more directly from these investments.”

State Senator Kevin Parker said, “As we continue to fight the challenges of climate change, we need to develop solutions that will help decarbonize our building sector moving forward. I applaud NYSERDA for working diligently to provide innovative ways to develop the NextGen building technologies, that will deliver benefits to New Yorkers, especially those in disadvantaged communities.”

Assemblymember Didi Barrett said, “Decarbonizing buildings is crucial to reaching New York State’s CLCPA goals, as 40 percent of all emissions in the state come from buildings. Creating new financial incentives to advance intelligent building control solutions and to manage energy and electrical loads will further enable decarbonization which is exactly what the NextGen Buildings Innovation Challenges should be doing. I’m grateful for the Governor’s continued support of this program.”

The focus areas for this latest round, include:

• Building Envelope Systems and Components – Solutions for single-family and multifamily buildings that will substantially reduce heating and cooling costs, increase comfort, and modernize façades by introducing new materials and construction techniques.
• Ground Source Heat Pump Cost Compression – Solutions for residential and commercial buildings that reduce the system installation cost by 20 percent or greater through new heat pump equipment, ground loop technologies, and hybrid systems.
• Intelligent Buildings – Solutions for residential and commercial buildings that enable electrification without electric service upgrades, connect legacy and siloed energy systems, and maintain residents’ desired comfort while minimizing the building’s peak electricity demand, emissions, and impact on the grid.

NYSERDA specifically seeks to attract solutions that directly benefit low- to moderate-income and disadvantaged communities across New York State with several of the innovation challenge areas focused on solutions that target multifamily buildings. Applications will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time September 27, 2023. For more information, including a full list of eligible technologies, and to apply for this funding opportunity please visit NYSERDA’s website. NYSERDA will host two webinars for interested companies including:

Vijay Modi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University said, “The promise of delivering on intelligent building systems is now here. Technologies that improve building comfort while incentivizing building decarbonization and supporting the needs of an emerging renewables-dominated grid are now at hand. NextGen Buildings Innovation Challenges are a timely opportunity to make this vision a reality.”

Richard Yancey, Executive Director, Building Energy Exchange said, “Under NYSERDA’s climate leadership, the Next Generation Buildings Innovation Challenges will support a new wave of commercially viable technologies that reduce energy use, carbon emissions, and costs, while improving comfort for all New Yorkers across the state. Given our State’s ambitious Climate Act, New York’s building industry needs cost-effective solutions that enable beneficial electrification while reducing costly and time-consuming barriers like electrical service upgrades. The expanded focus of this year’s program will support the commercialization of these increasingly important technologies that smooth the transition to full electrification, while ensuring grid reliability, and reduced costs for tenants.”

David Terry, President, National Association of State Energy Officials said, “NASEO is excited to see NYSERDA open this new round of the Next Generation Buildings Innovation Challenges to propel much needed development and commercialization of innovative technologies to enhance building energy performance. The NextGen Buildings program is a key example of states taking the lead to accelerate innovation and advance business opportunity to meet their state energy, economic, and environmental objectives while also benefiting the nation and world.”

Through the six previous rounds of this program, 64 projects were awarded a total of nearly $45 million. The companies engaged in advancing these solutions range from startups to large established companies that are engaged in addressing technology gaps that are barriers to building decarbonization in New York State. The innovative solutions developed and demonstrated through this funding opportunity will reduce the energy use and expenditures of New York consumers, as well as enable buildings – which are responsible for more than a third of annual emissions statewide – to be more energy efficient, load flexible, healthy, and resilient.

Integrating energy efficiency and electrification upgrades as part of routine investments will reduce carbon pollution and help achieve more sustainable, healthy, and comfortable buildings at lower costs. Earlier this month, the Public Service Commission issued an Order authorizing $1 billion per year for NYSERDA and utility Energy Efficiency and Building Electrification (EE/BE) programs from 2026 through 2030, totaling $5 billion, and adopts a Strategic Framework for both Low and Moderate Income (LMI) programs as well as market development portfolios. Currently, through NYSERDA and utility programs, over $6.

Round Seven Includes New Challenge Area of Intelligent Building Control Technologies That Manage Energy Assets and Electrical Loads

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the Next Generation Buildings Innovation Challenges, which aim to support advanced building technologies for clean heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, building envelopes, and controls. These technologies contribute to SDG 7 by promoting affordable and clean energy. Additionally, the focus on intelligent building control solutions and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions align with SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure) and SDG 13 (climate action). The article also mentions the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which is connected to SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
2. SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
3. SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities
4. SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning

Based on the article’s content, the targets that can be identified are:

1. Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (SDG 7.2): The article mentions the development and commercialization of technologies that manage energy assets and electrical loads, which can contribute to increasing the share of renewable energy in buildings.

2. Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable (SDG 9.4): The Next Generation Buildings Innovation Challenges aim to support the development and commercialization of new technologies that can boost building performance, energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities (SDG 11.6): The focus on intelligent building control solutions and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in buildings contribute to reducing the adverse environmental impact of cities.

4. Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning (SDG 13.2): The article mentions New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which demonstrates the integration of climate change measures into state policies and planning.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:

• Share of renewable energy in the global energy mix: The development and commercialization of technologies that manage energy assets and electrical loads can contribute to increasing the share of renewable energy in buildings.
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions: The Next Generation Buildings Innovation Challenges aim to support technologies that can boost building performance, energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Adoption of sustainable building technologies: The implementation of intelligent building control solutions and sustainable building technologies can indicate progress towards upgrading infrastructure and retrofitting industries to make them sustainable.
• Integration of climate change measures into policies and planning: The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in buildings and the alignment with New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act demonstrate the integration of climate change measures into policies and planning.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: nyserda.ny.gov

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.