Watermill, NY
The Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation (The Watermill Center), founded in 1992 by experimental artist Robert Wilson, is an interdisciplinary laboratory for the arts and humanities situated on Long Island's East End. The ten-acre campus features wooded paths, landscaped vistas, cultural artifacts, and art installations. Each year, the Watermill Center hosts over fifty international and local artists through its multidisciplinary Artist Residency Program, which emphasizes process and experimentation, while the Watermill Center Collection houses over 8,000 pieces ranging from antiquity to contemporary artworks.
A 2024 FCI Implementation Grant supported Phase 1 (2024–25) of the Center's Energy Efficiency Upgrade Plan. The plan sets out a roadmap for achieving a Net Zero carbon footprint and LEED Platinum certification by 2027. The initial phase implemented the most urgent energy improvements to The Watermill Center's main building, including an LED lighting retrofit and the installation of a 26,880-watt solar photovoltaic system.
A 2026 FCI Implementation Grant will support replacement of five aging R-22 heat pump and AC systems with high-efficiency variable-speed geothermal units, plus centralized remote thermostat controls across all 11 building thermostats. The project is expected to reduce annual energy use by approximately 10 percent.