Buchanan, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that a newly installed, energy-efficient heating system in Village Hall is now ready for use in the upcoming cold winter months, thanks to a $200,000 state grant he was able to secure for the Village of Buchanan. 

The new heating system in Buchanan’s Village Hall, which replaced an oil-fired boiler from the early 1970s, will service the entire three-story building, where the police department (open 24 hours a day and all week long) and various village and administrative offices, including the community room, courtroom, and mayor’s office, are all located. All told, the new system cost $302,000.

“Buchanan’s new fuel-efficient heating system in Village Hall will save local taxpayers money both in the short- and long-term,” said Harckham. “I’m always pleased to partner with my colleagues in the village here as we all work to make life better in our communities.”

Buchanan Mayor Theresa Knickerbocker said, “The Village of Buchanan very much appreciates Senator Harckham’s grant that was put toward a much-needed upgrade for our heating system at Village Hall. This new system will provide energy-efficient and cost-effective heating for the building for years to come.”

The old heating system at Village Hall in Buchanan was in need of replacement. Besides being more than 40 years old, the oil-fired boiler was estimated to be 75-80% efficient, while the new system, which runs on natural gas, will run at more than 92% efficiency. Also, the new system is comprised of two separate boilers, only one of which will be operating during most circumstances, thus using less fuel.

The new heating system at Buchanan’s Village Hall includes an outdoor reset control to allow the hot water supply in the building to be modulated depending on the outdoor air temperature—another efficient energy feature.

Built in 1912, Buchanan’s Village Hall was originally a schoolhouse. Today, along with the administrative offices and police department, the building also houses a room dedicated to local history.

The new heating system in Village Hall was funded through the Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) program. Harckham has secured over $40 million in capital grants for the towns, cities and villages across Senate District 40 through CREST, the Local Community Assistance Program (LOCAP) and State Aid to Municipalities (SAM) grants since taking office in 2019.