The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has partnered with the City University of New York (CUNY) to implement a boiler plant upgrade at Bronx Community College that will improve the reliability of the campus’ heating system. The improvements directly support BuildSmart2025, a statewide energy efficiency program administered by NYPA, aimed at reducing energy usage in state facilities by 11 trillion British Thermal Units (BTU) by the end of 2025—the equivalent of removing nearly 500,000 cars from the road.
“The replacement of the Bronx Community College boiler plant is a significant upgrade to the campus’ energy reliability, improving safety and comfort for the school’s faculty and students,” said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “The power authority remains committed to helping its partners make the best energy choices for their facilities that help advance New York’s ambitious climate and clean energy goals.”
“These upgrades represent the vital ongoing effort to reduce energy consumption as we maintain and modernize the infrastructure on our campuses,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “We are thankful to President Driscoll and NYPA for their substantial investment and sustained partnership as CUNY does its part to help New York State combat climate change.”
NYPA is replacing the campus’ 40-year-old boiler plant—along with its controls and fuel oil tanks—following reliability issues last winter. The power authority has installed a temporary boiler system as an interim measure until the new plant comes online in 2025.
The $45 million reliability project builds on previous campus-wide energy efficiency upgrades implemented by NYPA that total more than $100 million, including, heating, cooling, water, lighting and electrical. Since March 2011, those improvements have reduced annual carbon emissions by more than 3,400 metric tons—the equivalent of removing 757 gas-powered cars from the road. In total, the projects save the college nearly $5 million in annual energy and maintenance costs and have reduced energy consumption by more than 41 billion BTUs—the equivalent of removing 2,000 cars from the road.
NYPA is also partnering with Bronx Community College on a nearly $70 million project to significantly improve the campus’ electric utility system. The upgrade is expected to complete next year.