The Goal of a Greener NYCHA
On May 17, NYCHA’s Vice President of Energy and Sustainability Vlada Kenniff participated in a White House virtual roundtable organized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The event, titled “Accelerating Building Decarbonization: A White House Roundtable with Government & Industry,” was moderated by Mark Chambers of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
As the largest housing authority in North America, NYCHA is committed to make its buildings more energy efficient and climate ready. In their remarks in response to the roundtable, NYCHA’s Chair & CEO Greg Russ, Executive Vice President for Capital Projects Steve Lovci, and Vice President for Energy and Sustainability Vlada Kenniff presented the current state of decarbonization efforts of the Authority’s buildings (that is, the efforts to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of NYCHA’s buildings). They also expressed hope that with the introduction of additional funds the President’s administration will help NYCHA make further steps towards carbon-free energy.
“With the advent of a new administration in Washington, housing authorities across the United States are hopeful that an infusion of new federal funds will make it possible for agencies like NYCHA to do the right thing at the right moment: weatherize and electrify our buildings wherever practical while providing healthy and comfortable homes to our residents,” the NYCHA leaders noted.
Currently, NYCHA is installing 25 megawatts of photovoltaic panels on its rooftops. In doing so, NYCHA makes sure that its residents can participate in the clean energy transition, requiring its solar partners to train and hire NYCHA residents for solar panel installation jobs. In addition, to address energy challenges across its developments, NYCHA is working with regional partners to establish a Clean Energy Training Academy to prepare staff and residents for new technologies and job opportunities.
Building decarbonization is one of the climate solutions that the federal government recommends for building a clean energy economy. The White House is investing in more jobs for a greener economy: up to $30 million in new investments to support organizations that train and support career paths for a workforce that enables high-performance green buildings.
Greening efforts are also underway in New York. In 2019, the New York State Legislature passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which sets targets to reduce carbon emissions 85 percent by 2050 and produce zero-emission electricity by 2040. Additionally, New York City’s Local Law 97 of 2019 requires building owners like NYCHA to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050 from a 2005 baseline.
Core members of the Biden administration who participated in the virtual roundtable included Gina McCarthy, National Climate Advisor on the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy; Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy; Michael Regan, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and Katy Kale, Acting Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration.
Photo caption: NYCHA VP of Energy and Sustainability Vlada Kenniff (last row, second from the right) during a virtual White House Roundtable on Building Decarbonization.
