2. Cornell Tech (Roosevelt Island)
The Cornell Tech Campus, an annex of the larger contracted Ivy League University and State University of New York (SUNY) officially opened its doors in September 2017, taking the spot as the single largest solar energy installation in Manhattan providing over 850 kW of energy for the campus’ buildings and facilities.
The system features solar energy as a central part of the compound’s design with 2,300 individual solar modules set atop the Emma and Georgia Bloomberg Center and the Bridge to power both major buildings. A cooling center for the site’s energy modules can also be found at the Bloomberg Center.
The project was backed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) which has provided over $1 million dollars to advancing the development of solar projects throughout the state. In addition to solar energy, the campus also intends to utilize geothermal heating technology, green roof, and the recycling of rainwater as means of maximizing use of natural resources and achieve net zero energy efficiency.
Cornell Tech’s Roosevelt Island campus will continue to open in a three-phase plan with completion slated for 2043. As founding Dean of Cornell Tech and Vice Provost of the University Dan Huttenlocher stated in March 2017 statement, “Cornell Tech will have some of the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient buildings in the world… we’re reinforcing our commitment to innovation and sustainability by pushing the boundaries of current energy efficiency practices and setting a new standard for building in New York.”