The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced $5 million in funding to support innovative building solutions in New York. This initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency technologies. In single-family homes, multifamily buildings, and small to medium commercial properties. By investing in emerging technologies, NYSERDA seeks to enhance energy efficiency, lower operating costs, and manage future energy use across the state.
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris emphasized the importance of supporting market-ready solutions that can integrate into New York’s aging buildings. “We welcome emerging solutions from companies ready to expand into New York’s marketplace. This critical funding will help scale new products that contribute to our broader sustainability goals,” she stated.
The Enabling Innovative Clean Energy Building Solutions program actively seeks qualified applicants to demonstrate integrated systems, materials, and technologies that not only improve building performance but also reduce costs and enhance resilience. Furthermore, each selected project may receive up to $1 million in funding, as long as it has already secured financial support from federal, state, or local entities (excluding NYSERDA), foundations, or non-profits.
Key Focus Areas for Funding for Clean Energy
The program targets the following critical clean energy areas:
- Building Envelope – Advanced materials and components that improve energy performance.
- Clean Heating and Cooling – Innovations in heat pump systems, ground source systems, and hybrid solutions.
- Intelligent Grid-Interactive Building Controls – Technologies that optimize energy asset management and grid connectivity.
- Low-GWP Refrigerants & Leak Detection – Solutions accelerating the adoption of low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants.
- Thermal Storage – Systems that integrate with HVAC equipment to improve performance and support thermal networks.
Application Details & Upcoming Webinar
Proposals are due by June 4, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. ET. NYSERDA will host a webinar on April 10, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. ET, providing an overview of the application process and project requirements. More details can be found on NYSERDA’s official website.
Richard C. Yancey, CEO of the Building Energy Exchange, highlighted the transformative potential of the program, stating, “By prioritizing clean heating, cooling, and building decarbonization, NYSERDA is actively driving scalable solutions. As a result, these efforts will not only advance New York’s climate goals but also significantly reduce costs for both building owners and tenants.”
David Terry, President of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), similarly praised NYSERDA’s proactive approach, adding, “This program serves as a prime example of how cutting-edge technologies in building efficiency, thermal storage, and smart controls can redefine energy use. Furthermore, states can capitalize on these demonstrations to accelerate commercial adoption, ultimately lowering costs and improving sustainability.”
Advancing New York’s Climate Agenda
This initiative builds on the success of the NextGen Buildings Innovation Challenges, which has invested $60 million in over 80 projects. New York is actively funding research, development, and commercialization efforts, deploying $1.2 billion over 15 years. To date, the program has invested over $800 million in 700+ companies, leading to the commercialization of nearly 300 products.
This funding is part of the Clean Energy Fund (CEF), reinforcing New York’s commitment to an emissions-free economy by 2050. The state is implementing broad clean energy initiatives across energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors to ensure an equitable transition to a low-carbon future.
