NYCHA Thought Leader Events in June Address Energy, Sustainability  

As the largest public housing authority in the country, NYCHA is served by numerous thought leaders, employees whose expertise in a specific field can help shape policies and develop innovative solutions to challenging problems.  

NYCHA regularly participates in a variety of thought leadership events, which provide opportunities for staff to promote programs and initiatives centered on improving the lives of Authority residents and the greater community.  

Here are some of NYCHA’s thought leadership functions in June that focused on the themes of sustainability, energy usage, and Superstorm Sandy Recovery and Resilience:  

On June 1, the nonprofit WE ACT for Environmental Justice presented “Too Hot to Handle!,” a webinar on extreme heat, its impacts related to climate change, and steps that New York City residents can take to address them.  

Siobhan Watson, NYCHA’s Deputy Director of Sustainability Programs, spoke about the Authority’s efforts to address extreme heat within developments, including air-conditioning installations, cooling-related pilot programs, and natural cooling through improved care of trees and landscapes. Ms. Watson also discussed NYCHA’s goals to address extreme heat for vulnerable residents.  

As part of the webinar, WE ACT presented its findings from the 2021 Cooling Center Report, based on in-person audits of Northern Manhattan’s cooling centers, along with its 2022 Heat Plan, which includes recommendations to proactively prepare residents for rising temperatures and ways to mitigate any health risks.  

On June 8, the Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit research and education organization, presented the virtual panel, “Resilient Retrofits: Existing Buildings and Physical Climate Risk.” The session focused on how buildings of all types and sizes can be resiliently retrofitted to withstand natural hazards such as floods and wildfires.  

The panel addressed the funding challenges for building retrofits, and the implementation strategies for retrofit designers, policymakers, and others. Among the featured panelists was NYCHA’s Senior Vice President for Capital Programs Joy Sinderbrand, who spoke about the Authority’s resilient retrofit strategies and projects that mitigate against climate risks, as well as lessons learned. Ms. Sinderbrand previously served as vice president of NYCHA’s Recovery and Resilience Department.  

At the Equity in Energy Summit on June 16, energy industry leaders from across the state gathered to discuss how they can collectively ensure equity and inclusion in environmental, social, and economic issues for diverse communities. The event, presented by the multimedia news organization City & State and public utility National Grid, was held at the Marriott Brooklyn Bridge.  

NYCHA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability Vlada Kenniff participated on the Technology Innovation panel, covering the evolution of technology in enabling clean energy transition.  

Ms. Kenniff also attended the Electrification 2022 International Conference and Exposition in Charlotte, North Carolina, from June 28-30. The conference brought together thought leaders and professionals working across the electrification spectrum to explore efforts to meet decarbonization goals through clean energy programs. 

As part of a panel titled “Enabling Equitable Electrification – Is the Workforce Ready?,” Ms. Kenniff spoke about evolving local workforce training and development initiatives that support equitable and sustainable electrification programs in disadvantaged communities. 

Photo caption: The resilient retrofitting of NYCHA buildings to mitigate against climate risks was among the subjects of a virtual panel presented by the Urban Land Institute.