The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has launched the seventh round of its Buildings of Excellence Competition, making $20 million available to developers of high-performance multifamily housing across New York State. Individual projects can receive awards of up to $1.5 million, with funding aimed at developments that reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and demonstrate the financial viability of sustainable construction.
High-performance housing can be delivered at a financially viable cost and the competition aims to highlight developments that demonstrate this. Benefits of energy-efficient solutions include better indoor air quality, reduced drafts, maximized natural light, improved at-home comfort and health, lower carbon emissions, and marketability.
The latest round sets aside $15 million for buildings at least eight stories tall and $5 million for buildings seven stories or shorter. At least $10 million will be reserved for affordable housing, while projects in disadvantaged communities, as well as developments converting former office, institutional, or retail space into multifamily housing, will receive special consideration.
Since its launch in 2019, the Buildings of Excellence Competition has awarded funding to 88 projects through its first six rounds, encompassing 121 buildings. Of those units, 6,993 are designated as Lower Median Income units. Fifty-two funded projects are located in disadvantaged communities, while approximately 75 percent of the projects have committed to Passive House certification.
The competition is open to multifamily projects across New York State, with a focus on developments that have progressed further through the design process. Eligible proposals must demonstrate substantial reductions in energy consumption and per-capita carbon emissions, while incorporating measures to improve indoor air quality, resident comfort, and resilience to extreme heat and flooding.
NYSERDA is also seeking projects that can help bring down the cost of sustainable construction and provide replicable models for the wider housing industry. Awardees must share information about their projects’ designs, costs, and performance to help inform future development.
The latest funding round follows NYSERDA’s September 2026 announcement of more than $12 million in awards for 10 multifamily projects in the sixth round. Eight of the selected developments are located in New York City, accounting for approximately $9.7 million in funding, while two projects in Central New York received a combined $2.4 million. All 10 projects are designed to operate without on-site fossil fuel combustion, and eight are committed to meeting a Passive House standard.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce emissions from the building sector while expanding the supply of energy-efficient housing. By directing funding toward multifamily developments that combine lower emissions with affordability and financial feasibility, NYSERDA aims to encourage wider adoption of cleaner building practices across the state.
Additional details and application materials are available on NYSERDA’s Buildings of Excellence Competition site. Applications are due January 20, 2027, at 3 pm.
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The carrot and stick approach for better energy efficiency has proven that passive construction only add about 10% to construction costs and pays for itself in under 10 years. It’s time to cut the carrot and use the stick that would require all new construction meet passive standards.
The difference is sometimes as little as about 1%.