How can you combine a campus roof failure with a win for sustainability? Just ask Adelphi University.
When the roof over Adelphi University’s Center for Recreation and Sports (CRS) failed prematurely, leadership faced an unexpected challenge. The original roof manufacturer was no longer in business, leaving the University with an unplanned replacement project. Rather than viewing the incident as a simple setback, facilities management saw a unique opportunity.
Under the leadership of Robert Shipley ’05, assistant vice president for facilities management, the facilities team proposed pairing a mandatory roof replacement in 2022 with a modern solar energy installation.
“We had to replace the roof, so the question became: How do we make the most of that investment?” said Shipley. “Pairing the new roof with solar gave us an opportunity to solve an immediate problem while doing something that will benefit Adelphi for years to come.”
Today, that vision is a reality. A new 295 kW rooftop solar array on the CRS is fully energized and producing clean electricity on the 75-acre Garden City campus.
With this greener approach, Adelphi is also saving green: between $20,000 and $26,000 per year.
In fact, over Adelphi’s 20-year agreement with Greenskies Clean Energy, projected savings come out to approximately $600,000—an astonishing number that easily recovers the capital expense of replacing the roof.
Strategic Partnerships and Financial Savings
Bringing the solar installation to life required careful planning. Adelphi began working with SolarKal, a commercial solar advisory, in 2022 to guide the project through evaluation and competitive procurement. Following the procurement process, the Adelphi University Board of Trustees selected Greenskies to develop, construct, own and operate the system.
The 546-panel array was completed without requiring up-front capital investment from the University for the solar infrastructure itself. Under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Greenskies, Adelphi purchases the electricity generated by the system at a discounted rate compared to standard utility pricing with PSEG Long Island.
“Smart growth and sustainable infrastructure are key priorities for Adelphi University, and this project aligns directly with those goals,” said Carol Ann Boyle, MBA ’17, vice president of campus operations. “Bringing more solar online is a major step toward Adelphi’s cleaner, more sustainable future.”
Installation officially began in July 2025. While physical panel placement was straightforward, the project team faced significant weather delays due to something everyone on campus will remember: one of Long Island’s coldest and snowiest winters in recent memory.
“Projects like this take close coordination from development through construction and interconnection,” noted Carson Mislick, director of project delivery at Greenskies Clean Energy. “We’re proud to have worked alongside Adelphi and SolarKal to bring the project across the finish line.”
Neil Sharma, SolarKal co-founder and chief commercial officer, added, “As a New Yorker with a personal connection to Adelphi, this has always felt like a hometown project to me. After working toward it for years, it’s especially rewarding to see it come to life.”
Expanding a Decades-Long Legacy of Sustainability
The new rooftop array is the latest chapter in Adelphi’s long history of environmental initiatives:
- 2003: Installed a geothermal heating and cooling system in Residence Hall A, cutting electricity reliance for the facility by approximately 30 percent
- 2006: Earned recognition during EPA compliance inspections as the only regional educational institution to pass with zero fines or penalties
- 2011: Commissioned a 50 kW solar installation on the roof of Swirbul Library
- 2016: Added a 2 MW campus cogeneration plant to improve overall energy efficiency
- 2025: Regained official arboretum status for green spaces and implemented food waste reduction practices in dining services
These cumulative efforts earned Adelphi a spot in The Princeton Review 2025 Guide to Green Colleges.
Looking Ahead to Future Green Initiatives
Adelphi continues to expand its green roadmap under the guidance of a new Sustainability Committee, launched in Fall 2026.
As part of an overarching $55 million campus modernization project, information technology and facilities management teams are working together on a project to relocate and upgrade the campus data center that will boost operational energy efficiency. The University has also installed new HVAC systems and energy-efficient windows in the Hagedorn Hall of Enterprise.
Looking further ahead, the facilities team is exploring additional solar array installations on the Hy Weinberg Center for Communication Disorders and Angello Alumni House.
With the CRS system energized and delivering clean power, Adelphi proves that even unexpected infrastructure challenges can turn into long-term opportunities for sustainable growth.