Empire Building Challenge: Hospitals

Through the Empire Building Challenge: Hospitals program, NYSERDA seeks to fund demonstration projects that showcase innovative approaches to achieving meaningful energy reductions that can be replicated and scaled in existing hospital buildings across New York State. The program will award up to $5 million to selected hospitals for the construction and installation of scalable, efficient, low-carbon solutions. Eligible projects include electrification of building systems, electrification readiness projects, and comprehensive energy efficiency projects that will achieve significant carbon and/or energy reduction.

Eligibility is limited to hospitals located in New York State. All buildings included in proposals must be existing hospital buildings located in New York State and must meet requirements outlined in Section III of the solicitation. Awards of up to $5 million per project are available, with the total award not exceeding 75% of total project costs. Funding is available to support project sites statewide, including sites that pay the System Benefits Charge (SBC) on their electric utility bill and sites that do not pay the SBC.

If awarded, projects may be eligible for an additional $50,000 to support operation and maintenance training on new equipment and building systems installed as a result of the awarded project. An informational webinar will be hosted on April 22, 2026 starting at 10 a.m., with the webinar registration available on the NYSERDA website. Questions may be submitted ahead of the webinar by emailing EBChospitals@nyserda.ny.gov.

Round 1 proposals are due August 14, 2025, and Round 2 proposals are due September 15, 2026. Applicants must use the provided application portal and submit materials including the proposal template, workbook, and other required documentation.