Yaddo

Saratoga Springs, NY

Yaddo is a renowned nonprofit artist’s community nestled on a 400‑acre estate in Saratoga Springs, New York. Its mission is to nurture the creative process by providing an opportunity for artists to work without interruption in a supportive environment.Since its founding in 1900, Yaddo has supported generations of visual artists - painters, sculptors, photographers, and multimedia creators—providing time, space, financial aid and resources to develop their work. Building on this mission, Yaddo’s Clean Energy Initiative seeks to revolutionize how the 36,500-square-foot historic mansion’s core spaces are climate‑controlled. Heated only with oil-burning boilers, due to the cost and heating ineffectiveness, Yaddo closes the mansion during the winter season for artist residency, significantly cutting into capacity. A FCI-supported feasibility study in 2024 explored the possibility of a solar array and identified opportunities to reduce energy consumption and fossil fuel reliance. A FCI 2025 Implementation grant will support replacement of the aging fossil-fuel boiler with a modern, energy‑efficient Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system that delivers both heating and cooling. This will markedly reduce fossil fuel dependency, lower energy costs, and align with Yaddo’s growing sustainability ambitions. This initiative carries Yaddo closer to a greener future—supporting both the creative process and the planet it depends on—all while nurturing its community of artists in a purpose-built, eco-conscious environment.

Milestones

• Individual climate control for different rooms

• Quieter operation, more flexible configuration, and scalability to adapt to changing needs over time

• Operational resilience that enables Yaddo to extend its residency season

• Anticipate a 31 percent reduction in energy use, a 6 percent reduction in energy costs, and a 65 percent reduction in emissions annually