The State University of New York’s (SUNY) Purchase College is expressing its thanks to Gov. Kathy Hochul for her recent announcement that it is receiving $50 million in state funds to design and construct the first phase of a thermal energy network and establish a framework for future geothermal systems connecting buildings on its campus. The $50 million is part of $200 million that will be shared among SUNY Purchase, SUNY at Buffalo and SUNY at Stony Brook.
The thermal energy projects to be funded are part of Hochul’s $1 billion Sustainable Future Program.
Purchase College President Michael E. Steiper, said, “Purchase College is excited to be at the forefront of sustainability and clean energy. We are eager to get to work on this new project, which will have a significant, positive impact on our campus, the wider community, and our environment for decades to come.”
According to SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., “This funding will help SUNY meet its goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions and ensure students will have a brighter, more sustainable future.”
Geothermal heating and cooling systems draw heat from the Earth through networks of underground pipes connected to heat pumps that transfer the heat to air handlers that blow the heated air into buildings. In hot weather, the systems can be reversed to cool buildings by transferring heat from the buildings back into the Earth.
Tom Kelly, senior energy and sustainability manager at Purchase told Westfair’s Westchester County Business Journal, “The college will be conducting a campus-wide study to determine the most strategic environmental and economic locations to begin the first phase of this project. At this time the college intends the first phase will involve both academic buildings on the main plaza and three residence halls. We also plan to connect under Student Services in the campus main chiller.”
Kelly said that when the project is completed the campus will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 65% while reducing utility costs and integrating sustainable projects into the curriculum.
“The college is exploring a variety of options regarding drilling the pipes into the ground either vertically, horizontally and/or diagonally,” Kelly said. “The project will most likely use a propylene glycol based system to transfer the thermal energy between the ground and buildings. Heat exchangers inside the building will increase or decrease the temperature depending upon the season.”
State Sen. Sean Ryan, in an opinion piece published in The Buffalo News on April 5, 2024, was pushing for funding of the SUNY thermal energy network projects.
“As the operator of over 40% of state-owned buildings, SUNY is uniquely positioned to help New York meet our ambitious climate goals,” Ryan wrote. “This plan would not only advance New York’s climate goals, but also create clean energy construction jobs and build New York’s skilled workforce. Geothermal systems have been utilized at SUNY buildings across the state for decades. What has been lacking until now are thermal energy network projects that tie together multiple buildings.”
