SUNY official meets with Green Team

SUNY Director of Sustainability Deborah Howard visited campus January 24 and met with members of the sustainability task force. She discussed Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s 2012 executive order directing state agencies to increase energy efficiency in state buildings by 20 percent in seven years.

Faculty member Steven Wei and SUNY's Deborah Howard

Administration officials say the initiative will save millions of dollars and create thoughts of jobs while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Howard said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher has set an even more ambitious goal: a 30 percent increase in efficiency for SUNY campus buildings by 2020.

“SUNYIT is one of two campuses that met previous energy efficiency improvement goals,” said Carson Sorrell, director of facilities management. “Over the years, we’ve become more efficient through the installation of a building management system that features direct digital control, upgraded lighting, the replacement of many HVAC motors with Variable Frequency Drives, and other measures. Campus sustainability coordinators and facilities staff are exploring possibilities for greater efficiencies as we look to meet SUNY’s goal.”

The sustainability task force, also known as the “Green Team,” is devoted to helping SUNYIT become a more environmentally conscious campus. Chaired by faculty member Mark Bremer, the group welcomes input from the campus community. For more information, visit the task force website: sunyit.edu/green_team.