New York Awards Nearly $28 Million for Hospital Energy Retrofits

On November 9, 2026, New York State announced nearly $28 million in awards for six energy-efficiency and electrification projects spanning eight hospitals. Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Empire Building Challenge: Hospitals Program competitively funds projects intended to modernize healthcare facilities, reduce energy consumption and emissions, and demonstrate approaches that can be replicated across the hospital sector. Six of the eight inpatient facilities are located in disadvantaged communities. The projects are projected to reduce annual energy use by more than 213,000 MMBtu and emissions by more than 11,000 tons.

The funded scopes address building systems that are central to hospital operations: HVAC and cooling equipment, heat recovery, heat pumps, building controls, and conversions from steam to hot water. These upgrades are intended to improve building performance while supporting resilient healthcare facilities and managing operating costs. Governor Kathy Hochul described the awards as investments that can help hospitals “operate more efficiently, manage rising costs and focus their resources on what matters most: providing quality care to patients and communities.” NYSERDA characterized the projects as blueprints for transforming existing facilities into efficient, lower-carbon healthcare buildings and encouraging broader market adoption.

For contractors and suppliers, the immediate procurement signal is downstream rather than a new statewide solicitation. The awards have already been announced, and the source does not identify an open application period or solicitation deadline. However, funded hospitals and project partners may need engineering, equipment procurement, controls integration, construction, commissioning, and installation support as the work advances. Companies with demonstrated hospital retrofit experience can use the published scopes to assess relevant capabilities and monitor participating facilities for purchasing activity. Hospital environments also make coordination and continuity of operations important considerations for potential bidders and subcontractors.

Two of the specifically identified awards exceed $5 million. Elmhurst Hospital Center will receive more than $5 million for chiller, controls, and building-management upgrades, while St. Barnabas Hospital will receive more than $5 million to replace its steam chiller plant with an electric chiller plant. The Elmhurst work illustrates the mix of cooling infrastructure and digital building management in the program: Omer Cabuk, Chief Decarbonization Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals, said, “Through NYSERDA’s Empire Building Challenge, we’re modernizing Elmhurst Hospital’s aging cooling systems with high-efficiency chillers featuring heat recovery, upgraded cooling infrastructure, and a transition to more advanced building management controls.” That combination points to opportunities for firms able to deliver integrated mechanical and controls solutions, while the broader portfolio may create demand for heat pumps, heat recovery, and steam-to-hot-water conversion expertise.

• Nearly $28 million has been awarded for six projects serving eight New York hospitals; this is announced funding, not an open solicitation.
• The portfolio is projected to cut annual energy use by more than 213,000 MMBtu and emissions by more than 11,000 tons.
• Elmhurst Hospital Center received more than $5 million for chiller, controls, and building-management upgrades, including high-efficiency cooling and heat recovery.
• St. Barnabas Hospital received more than $5 million to replace its steam chiller plant with an electric chiller plant.
• Other published project scopes include cooling-plant improvements, heat pumps, heat recovery, HVAC upgrades, and steam-to-hot-water conversions.
• Potential downstream requirements include engineering, chiller and heat-pump equipment, controls integration, installation, and commissioning; monitor the participating hospitals and project teams for procurement notices.
• Six of the eight inpatient facilities are in disadvantaged communities, and the program emphasizes replicable solutions, facility resilience, and lower operating costs.
• Contractors with relevant hospital retrofit experience should highlight occupied-facility execution, energy-system integration, and coordination across mechanical and building-controls work in future pursuits.