SUNY Oneonta’s Ford Hall

Picked As ‘Net Zero’ Project

First-In-System Redo Paves Way For 500 Dorms Statewide

ONEONTA – “Net zero.”

That term refers to a building “that generates all its energy onsite, producing as much energy from non-fossil fuels sources at it consumes each year,” SUNY Oneonta’s Lachlain Squair, chief facilities planning and safety officer, said yesterday in announcing 213-room Ford Hall will become the first such building on the local campus.

What happens at Ford Hall will be a prototype for similar projects SUNY-wide, the press release said, leading eventually to making all 500 dorms in the system net zero.

The project is a partnership between two state agencies, the Energy Research & Development Authority and the Dormitory Authority.

“The Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy already have embraced building retrofits,” Squair said.  “With the Ford Hall project, SUNY Oneonta will join these innovators.”

SUNY Oneonta President Barbara Jean Morris called it “an exciting project,” and said “sustainability” is one of four themes adopted by SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson.