NYCHA Now
NYCHA PartnersSeptember 2026Sustainability

Sustainable Technologies on Display in Newly Opened Model Apartment 

Vincent Echavaria

Climate Week in New York City kicked off at NYCHA on September 21 with the unveiling of a model apartment at the Brooklyn Navy Yard which showcases new sustainable technologies for public housing. 

NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt was joined by Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su, and Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) President and Chief Executive Officer Lindsay Greene for a ribbon cutting to officially open the new model home. 

The model unit displays a full range of innovative products that will help build a cleaner, healthier, and more comfortable future for public housing residents. These technologies, which are being incorporated into modernization projects at NYCHA’s public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) campuses, include window heat pumps, 120-volt induction stoves, triple-pane insulated casement windows, and infrared heat panels. The space, which was generously donated to NYCHA by the Brooklyn Navy Yard, will continue to be updated with new products as they become available. 

“For too long, New Yorkers living in public housing have been asked to wait for the investments they deserve,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. “We are changing that by putting NYCHA at the forefront of climate innovation. The technologies in this model apartment show how we are delivering a stronger, more sustainable future for public housing. Cleaner heat, better cooling and modern appliances can make homes more comfortable while helping us build a city that is ready for the climate challenges ahead.”  

With the opening of the new showroom, stakeholders — such as design-build teams, property managers, and resident associations whose developments are being considered for these upgrades — will have the opportunity to tour the model unit and learn about the technologies and strategies outlined in NYCHA’s 2026 Sustainability Agenda.  

Five individuals joyfully cut a vibrant red ribbon together in a modern, brightly lit indoor space.

“NYCHA is building a future where public housing is not only preserved, but transformed through innovation, sustainability, and investments that improve the quality of life for residents,” Ms. Bova-Hiatt said. “This model apartment gives our partners, stakeholders, and residents the opportunity to see that future taking shape and to experience firsthand the technologies that will help us create healthier, more efficient, and more resilient homes.”  

Chief Asset and Capital Management Officer Dylan Baker-Rice added: “NYCHA’s approach to modernization is grounded in a simple principle: we must invest in technologies that are innovative, but also proven, reliable, and capable of addressing the challenge of installing new efficient systems in existing buildings as we modernize heating systems across our portfolio. By bringing these technologies together in one place, we can give our project partners, property managers, and other stakeholders a clear understanding of how these solutions can be integrated into NYCHA’s capital and modernization projects and scaled to serve more residents across NYCHA and greater New York.”  

The technologies currently on display in the model apartment include:  

  • Packaged window heat pumps from Midea and Gradient, developed through the Clean Heat for All Challenge, which are being incorporated into modernization projects as the Authority works toward its goal of installing heat pumps in 20,000 apartments;  
  • High-efficiency Intus casement windows with sleeves specifically designed to fit the window heat pumps;  
  • A battery-operated, electric induction stove (manufactured by Copper), which is capable of being installed in older buildings using standard 120-volt, 20-amp outlets, bringing NYCHA closer to its goal of installing induction stoves in 10,000 apartments; and 
  • Far-infrared radiant (FIR) heating panels, which provide direct warmth without heating the surrounding air.  
Three individuals examine a window display featuring the "Intus Windows" logo.
Three individuals engage in a conversation in a modern room, with one person gesturing while holding materials and another pointing at a whiteboard.

Sustainable technologies showcased in the model apartment include window heat pumps, an electric induction stove, and far-infrared radiant (FIR) heating panels.

“NYCHA’s 2026 Sustainability Agenda sets an ambitious course for creating more energy-efficient, resilient, and sustainable homes for our residents, and the technologies showcased in this model apartment bring those goals into focus,” NYCHA Vice President for Sustainability Siobhan Watson said. “From transitioning 20,000 apartments to clean heating and cooling to installing 10,000 induction stoves, we are taking concrete steps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, lower energy consumption, and build a more sustainable public housing portfolio. This showroom allows us to demonstrate what that future can look like today as we continue implementing the innovations that will help NYCHA meet its sustainability goals by 2031.”  

The showcased technologies are in various stages of product development and rollout. Electric-powered heat pumps are installed, or planned for installation, at Woodside Houses, Morrisania Air Rights, Claremont Consolidated, and Beach 41st Street Houses —  as well as at Bay View Houses and Campos Plaza II, which are undergoing comprehensive renovations through the PACT program. Far-infrared radiant heating panels are currently installed and providing heat to residents of Tilden Houses in Brooklyn. Copper’s battery electric induction stove is currently in development, and the manufacturer will produce 100 units for a pilot evaluation prior to the broader rollout.