The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy (TNC), established in 1951, is in all 50 states and 72 countries spanning six continents. The Nature Conservancy’s Uplands Farm Sanctuary on Long Island is a 103-acre flagship preserve that features an auditorium and 2.5 miles of hiking trails.

TNC in New York is committed to helping New York State reach its goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% by 2030. Through the funding of three projects, including a $251,560 Sun Club donation, Uplands Farm Sanctuary is reducing its GHG emissions by more than 54 tons each year. It’s also producing enough on-site electricity to achieve net-zero emissions (for buildings) campus-wide. Paired with the carbon storage properties of the surrounding forestland, Uplands Farm will be a carbon-negative site.

The donation also funded the replacement of an oil-fueled heating and hot-water system with an electric HVAC system and water heaters. Those systems—and all electricity needs—will be powered by a new 63.49 kW solar array. The replacements will help avoid an annual usage of 3,284 gallons of heating oil, eliminating the use of oil and reducing GHG emissions by 37 tons annually. An electric vehicle charging station will also be installed to support transitioning Uplands Farm Sanctuary’s fleet to electric vehicles.