As the nation’s largest public housing authority and residential landlord, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) provides permanently affordable housing to more than 400,000 New Yorkers. NYCHA manages 328 developments--178,000 apartments in 2,550 buildings--60% of which are more than 50 years old.

In 2015, NYCHA released NextGeneration NYCHA, its 10-year strategic plan to create safe, clean, and more connected communities, by focusing on changing the way the Authority is funded, operates, looks, and engages with residents. As an extension of this plan, NYCHA released in April 2016 the NextGeneration NYCHA Sustainability Agenda that includes 17 targeted strategies to manage energy, water, and waste more effectively and efficiently. NYCHA’s commitment within the NextGeneration NYCHA Sustainability Agenda is to create healthy and comfortable homes that will withstand the challenge of climate change.

Focusing on resident health and comfort, and working hand-in-hand with sister agencies and community partners, NYCHA aims to achieve the following by 2025:

• Eliminate the root causes of mold by fixing leaks in roofs, façades, and pipes and by modernizing ventilation systems;
• Eliminate overheating and unplanned heat and hot water outages;
• Start on the path to meeting the City’s goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2050;
• Address climate adaptation and resiliency in all capital planning; and
• Incorporate sustainability into day-to-day management of all properties.

To meet those goals, NYCHA will implement strategies that directly relate to achieving the Better Buildings Challenge goal. By 2025, NYCHA will retrofit all master-planned developments, which account for 87% of NYCHA’s apartments and consume 40% to 50% more energy per square foot than the average multifamily building in New York City. To that end, NYCHA will develop a series of large-scale Energy Performance Contracts to provide modern, brighter, and more efficient lights; modernized ventilation systems; and consistent and comfortable heating. NYCHA will also enhance resident health, safety, and comfort by retrofitting 5,000 apartments in scattered site developments through the Weatherization Assistance Program and utility sponsored energy efficiency programs.

In addition to its engagement in the Better Buildings Challenge, NYCHA is committed to achieving New York City’s goal to reduce citywide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 percent by 2050. NYCHA will measure its progress on energy savings and GHG emissions reductions over time, and to be set up for success beyond 2025, NYCHA will pursue opportunities and pilot programs to test “deep retrofit” technology and construction methods on rehabilitation projects.