Clean, Green Comfort

$103 million in sustainability improvements reduce costs and improve quality of life

Over 65,000 residents can look forward to upgrades to the lighting, heating, building ventilation and water conservation systems at their developments. In March 2018, NYCHA will soon begin construction on two new Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) at 41 developments worth $103 million. The upgrades will save NYCHA $8.6 million a year and reduce energy use at these developments by about 15 percent.

EPCs are a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) tool that uses cost savings from reduced energy consumption to repay the cost of installing energy conservation measures. The goal of NYCHA’s EPC projects is to modernize the Authority’s old heating systems so that residents have more consistent and comfortable heat. Bank of America provided the financing on both EPCs; Constellation New Energy will make the improvements.  

“Energy Performance Contracts help NYCHA address critical needs, like replacing inefficient and aging boilers. EPCs will improve the quality of life for our residents and reduce energy costs,” said NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye. “Programs like this support our work to transform NYCHA developments into sustainable communities.”  

The BQDM EPC is a $68.7 million project that will upgrade building automation heating controls, exterior and interior LED lighting, and water conservation for 16,844 units at 23 developments in Brooklyn.

The Sandy-A EPC will provide $43 million in upgrades to heating controls, exterior and interior LED lighting, water conservation, and ventilation for 11,381 units at 18 developments across Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. The EPC enables NYCHA to provide more comprehensive investments in heating infrastructure upgrades at these Sandy-damaged developments that exceed the planned FEMA-funded improvements. 

The EPC program is part of the NextGeneration NYCHA Sustainability Agenda commitment to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by 2026 and the Mayor’s commitment to achieve an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

BQDM developments: Williamsburg, Kingsborough & Kingsborough Extension, Brownsville, Van Dyke I & II, Cooper Park, Cypress Hills, Howard, Sumner, Pink, Tilden, Roosevelt I & II, 303 Vernon Avenue, Hughes Apartments, Low Houses, Glenmore Plaza, Woodson, Fiorentino Plaza, Unity Plaza (Sites 4-27, 17, 24, 25A), and Long Island Baptist Houses.

SANDY-A EPC developments: Campos Plaza II, East River, Gowanus, Astoria, Smith, Rangel, Redfern, Gravesend, Coney Island, Haber, La Guardia & La Guardia Addition, Carleton Manor, Carey Gardens, Coney Island I (Sites 1B, 4 & 5), Two Bridges URA (Site 7), and Lower East Side Rehab (Group 5).