The Rye Sustainability Foundation honored New York Blood Center (NYBC) with its 2026 Community Leadership Award. The award—presented at the organization’s Green Cocktails & Conversation event held at the Rye Free Reading Room—recognized NYBC for the steps it has taken to ensure its Rye Master Campus operates under the highest environmental standards. This includes:
- Eliminating fossil fuel boilers;
- Using a high-efficiency HVAC that recycles and recaptures heat and energy, circulating nearly 200,000 cubic feet of air per minute (enough to refresh the entire building every 18 minutes);
- Operating with enough electrical capacity to power more than 3,000 homes, with emergency backup generators of equal capacity; and
- Implementing enhanced insulation and windows with high R-values (a measure of thermal resistance) for superior heat resistance, energy-efficient exterior shades, and a new roof membrane with high solar reflectance.
Senior Vice President and Chief Real Estate Officer Vaughn Ratchford accepted the award on behalf of NYBC. In his remarks, he acknowledged the officials gathered at the event—including City of Rye Mayor Josh Nathan and Deputy Mayor James Ward—while thanking the Rye Sustainability Foundation for the connections its leadership has made to other like-minded individuals and organizations, such as Sustainable Westchester. He noted the importance of these relationships as NYBC explores new ways to continue its sustainability journey.