Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems impact every part of CCNY’s campus buildings. Ongoing upgrades – such as installing timers on AC units, implementing digital air controls, retrofitting steam traps, and modernizing boilers – enhance the college’s energy efficiency and help lower overall energy consumptions.

• Inventory of GHG emissions was completed. 
• Switched Marshak and NAC building boilers from No.6 fuel oil to natural gas (with No.2 fuel oil as backup).
• Installed energy motion detection sensors throughout 80% of the campus.
• Central chiller plant controls have been upgraded.
• Implemented the Information Technology energy efficiency center.
• Completed the Marshak Building's curtain wall, or envelope, as first phase of our Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system improvement.

     CCNY Facilities is actively implementing modern, long-lasting, and more energy-efficient lighting solutions across all classrooms, common areas, corridors, and lecture halls. As older fluorescent and CFL lamps and fixtures reach the end of their life cycle, they are systematically replaced with energy-saving LED models. These LED upgrades are also included as part of broader renovation projects. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are an industry standard, offering improved lighting performance, greater durability, and significant energy savings.
    
In classrooms and offices, the transition to LED lighting is accompanied by the installation of vacancy sensors. These sensors require users to manually switch on the lights upon entering a room, but will automatically turn them off after a set period of inactivity. This feature helps reduce unnecessary energy use. 

   These lighting control measures not only improve efficiency but also give occupants more flexibility, allowing them to choose whether overhead lighting is necessary or if ambient light meets their needs.

This project has installed solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) chargers in the NAC Parking Lot. The solar panels are approximately 7,250 ft2 in size and sit atop a canopy that is about 16.5 ft above the ground. These panels have a total capacity of ~140 kW. They will power 10 new level 2 EV chargers that exist along 135th St., each to provide power for 2 adjacent EVs.

Sustainable CCNY has partnered with Sustainability in the Urban Environment Masters Program and NYPIRG on a student art contest. The objective of the contest is to award students who create the most creative and engaging art design for a sticker to be placed above light switched throughout campus reminding everyone to “Flip The Switch” and reduce energy consumption. The contest runs from Sept 1-30th, 2025 with winners announce soon thereafter. More details here.

CCNY participates in utility peak load management programs to reduce its share of the burden on New York’s power grid during extremely hot weather. On demand from the utility, the college reduces capacity and powers down facilities equipment and HVAC operations that it would normally keep running.

Select escalators and elevators are powered down during CCNY’s off-peak season and on evenings and weekends to conserve energy when CCNY campus is less heavily occupied.