Empire Building Challenge (Phase II: Low Carbon Retrofits Implementation) Round 3

Description of goods to services to be bid:

Through this solicitation, NYSERDA is only accepting proposals from eligible Empire Building Challenge Partners. Partners from Cohort 1 (those selected through Program Opportunity Notice (PON) 4498 in 2020), Cohort 2 (those selected through PON 4987 in 2022) who have not yet received implementation funding from the Program, and all Cohort 3 members (those selected through PON 5459 in 2023) are eligible to apply. EBC Partners can request up to $3 million for the design and implementation of replicable and scalable low carbon retrofit projects at their participating EBC buildings. Demonstrating the feasibility of such large-scale retrofits with an exclusive focus on multifamily buildings and thermal system solutions is crucial to addressing the unique set of technical barriers to decarbonization these buildings face: their height and density make it significantly more challenging to find technical pathways to carbon neutrality.

This funding is available for four years from the date of award. If the project is making progress and funding is still available, the grant may be extended for an additional period of time at NYSERDA's discretion.

This third funding round will focus on deploying innovative thermal energy solutions (including but not limited to heat recovery, thermal storage, advanced heat pumps, low temperature hydronics and other thermal energy distribution, advanced system integrations, etc.) in multifamily buildings exclusively. Preference will be given to Partners advancing projects that:

1. Decarbonize heating and domestic hot water (DHW) loads with a well-planned deployment of a highly efficient, in-building thermal energy network, integrating and connecting low carbon technology.
2. Facilitate the efficient delivery of thermal energy throughout a building, or to-and-from a building.
3. Transition major building energy loads away from current high-temperature thermal energy distribution systems for building heating (e.g. steam), including a plan for linking disaggregated heating and cooling energy loads and all building incoming and outgoing thermal flows through heat recovery and recycling approaches.

NYSERDA is interested in teaming arrangements that can deliver innovation to help advance the mission of the EBC program, i.e. to scale successful strategies for building decarbonization across New York State. In order to be considered, Applicants must have a decarbonization project proposal ready to begin implementation before the end of 2025, and building owners must be willing to focus on thermal- oriented approaches to drive decarbonization in their buildings. These real estate partners will make a public commitment to significantly reduce, or eliminate, on site fossil fuels in one of more of their buildings, by 2035 at the latest.

By supporting replicable and scalable low carbon retrofit approaches that can put existing commercial and multifamily buildings on the path to carbon neutrality, The Empire Building Challenge aims to:
1) Overcome the barriers to achieving carbon neutrality in large buildings.
2) Drive innovation and product development to meet the needs of high-rise buildings.
3) Spur economic development by making New York a global hub for low carbon retrofits.

If changes are made to this solicitation notification will be posted on NYSERDA’s website at: www.nyserda.ny.gov/funding-opportunities

Eligibility/Qualifications Requirements/Preferences:

Through this solicitation, NYSERDA is only accepting proposals from eligible Empire Building Challenge Real Estate Partners previously selected through NYSERDA PONs 4498, 4987 and 5459 who have eligible multifamily buildings to submit and who have not yet received implementation funding from the Program. EBC Partners who meet these requirements can request up to $3 million for the design and implementation of replicable and scalable low carbon retrofit projects at their participating EBC buildings.

Eligibility Criteria for Applicants:

Minimum eligibility criteria

• All current Empire Building Challenge Partners selected under PON 4498, PON 4987 and PON 5459, that have not received implementation funding from the Empire Building Challenge, are eligible to submit proposals.
• All buildings that are included in the proposal must be multifamily buildings located in New York State and contribute to the System Benefit Charge on a common area electric utility bill.

Project Eligibility Criteria

Only Projects that meet the following criteria are eligible for funding:

1. Projects that focus on decarbonizing thermal loads.
2. Projects that enable the achievement of the Partner’s decarbonization Roadmap.
3. Projects that will be ready to commence implementation in 2025.
4. Projects that plan to be completed by the end of 2027 and that shall be completed in full absolutely no later than the end of 2028

Projects that are to be implemented in a Building that meets NYSERDA’s definition of Affordable Housing, must meet the following additional criteria to be eligible for funding:
1. Project must not result in rent increases to residents unless permitted by the Affordable Housing agency also providing funds to the Project and meeting that agency’s guidelines for such increases.
2. Project must not result in utility cost increase to residents beyond what the resident would have paid should the Roadmap have not been implemented.