New York State agencies on Aug. 23 issued a report which documents how “innovative” energy efficiency and sustainability programs have “substantially reduced” energy use in state buildings, tripled the generation of solar energy over the past two years, and “significantly” curbed paper use. “Most significantly,” the 2018-19 Greening New York State Report also notes a 22.6 […]
New York State agencies on Aug. 23 issued a report which documents how “innovative” energy efficiency and sustainability programs have “substantially reduced” energy use in state buildings, tripled the generation of solar energy over the past two years, and “significantly” curbed paper use.
“Most significantly,” the 2018-19 Greening New York State Report also notes a 22.6 percent reduction in state agency energy use over the last decade — especially in large state buildings — through the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) BuildSmart NY program.
The energy reduction exceeded Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2012 goal for cutting energy use by 20 percent by 2020, per a news release from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). State agencies also cut paper use in half over the last 10 years and doubled the composting of organic waste over the last five years.
Developed by the DEC, NYPA, Office of General Services (OGS), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the report details progress on “key” green initiatives, many of which “save state resources or make operations more resilient, both crucial benefits during the state’s ongoing response to COVID-19 when it is imperative for agencies to work efficiently.”
In addition, the Cuomo administration launched the GreenNY Council, a multi-agency working group led by DEC, NYPA, OGS, and NYSERDA and charged it with helping agencies implement the state’s “lead-by-example” directives.
The GreenNY Council will also serve as a resource to support the state’s strategy for reducing agency greenhouse-gas emissions. Council members have been working together for more than a year to leverage resources, create guidance, “harmonize reporting, and make it easier for agencies to meet the state’s ambitious climate and sustainability goals.”
Report specifics
The report finds efforts to reduce energy use and waste result in “significant savings.” Under NYPA’s BuildSmart NY program, large state facilities have reduced source energy use intensity by 14.4 percent since 2010. Through the implementation of 158 energy-efficiency projects committed to by the end of 2019, those facilities will decrease energy use 22 percent, “achieving the [governor’s] goal of reducing such use 20 percent by 2020.”
In 2019 alone, energy-efficiency improvements saved New York an estimated $65 million and reduced carbon-dioxide emissions by more than 290,000 tons relative to the baseline of 2010, the report found.
In addition, the report says copy paper purchasing decreased 60 percent over the last decade, saving the state $64.1 million since reporting began, and more than $8 million in 2019 alone; and, “cumulatively,” these actions accounted for more than $73 million in savings in fiscal year 2018-19, per the DEC.
The report also found “virtual elimination” of the purchase of bottled water by New York State executive agencies — 73 percent of authorities have also eliminated or restricted use to “special circumstances,” such as soldiers and emergency response personnel.
Also described as “achievements” are the purchase of 100 percent post-consumer recycled content, processed chlorine-free copy paper doubling from 22 to 48 percent, a recycling rate of 66 percent — compared to 50 percent first measured in 2008 — and a doubling the number of agencies composting organic waste since 2012.
The report also found the state’s green-purchasing program investing $114 million on green products, up $7 million from the previous year, and earning a national award for the purchase of sustainable electronics in both 2018 and 2019, which will save taxpayer dollars over the lifetime of the equipment.
The report also cites the generation of nearly 10 million kilowatt hours of solar energy for agency use, a 10 percent increase from the previous year and triple the amount generated in 2016.
The full report is available online on the state’s “GreenNY” website, along with more details about New York’s efforts to green state purchasing and operations.