Sustainable cities need buildings that are energy efficient and a workforce that’s trained to manage them for optimal performance.

As New York City ’s only public university, CUNY has a special role to play in helping to meet the city’s needs.  Its Building Performance Lab, supported in part by NYSERDA, is ideally positioned and equipped to serve as a catalyst for change. Through collaborations with other parties, we work to accelerate market transformation in the buildings sector.

One focus of our work is greening existing commercial properties by promoting advanced building system technologies and best practices that reduce energy use and improve indoor environmental conditions and waste management practices.  Greater tenant satisfaction is one result. A crucial best practice is the monitoring and verification that ensure that, once achieved, optimum building performance is maintained.

Another focus of our work is long-term workforce development, which we pursue through curriculum development, internships, and other technology training.

The Lab’s multi-track approach also includes stimulating applied research, promoting technology transfer, and conducting outreach to the real estate sector to raise awareness of sustainability goals and how they can be achieved.

Download our Program Overview Fact Sheet for more information.