The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has begun work on a major energy efficiency project at its Cortland sub-office that officials say will reduce the building’s annual energy use by 84 percent.
DEC announced the project Tuesday, describing it as the agency’s first comprehensive geothermal conversion of its kind. The project will replace the facility’s existing heating and cooling systems with a geothermal solar photovoltaic heat exchanger designed to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
When completed, the Cortland office will feature geothermal heating and cooling, a 97-kilowatt solar power array, upgraded lighting, and improvements to the building’s water supply system.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said the project reflects New York’s ongoing efforts to expand the use of renewable energy in state operations.
“A green and renewable resource for heating and cooling is right under our feet here in Cortland,” Lefton said in a statement.
The New York State Office of General Services is overseeing the design and construction work. OGS Commissioner Jeanette Moy said the project supports the state’s broader climate and sustainability goals while improving the efficiency of state facilities.
Funding for the project includes support from Governor Kathy Hochul’s GreenNY capital funding program, which helps finance clean energy and sustainability projects at state-owned facilities. State officials said more than $150 million has been made available for GreenNY-aligned projects over the past three fiscal years.
Additional upgrades planned for the Cortland site include the installation of 38 electric vehicle charging stations.
The Cortland sub-office houses DEC staff responsible for fish and wildlife management, lands and forests, habitat programs, pesticides oversight, and regional fleet operations.
The project is part of New York’s broader sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and expanding renewable energy use across state government facilities.
