Newsletter April 2022
Electrify Brooklyn
Heat/Cool Smart Brooklyn encourages you to visit our website to explore how our programs could make your home cleaner and more comfortable and energy efficient. To date, we have installed air source heat pumps, hot water heat pumps and done some envelope improvements in over 60 smaller buildings with 1-4 units. We are currently working on several projects with multifamily buildings with 10 to 40 units. We also offer information and advice on NYSERDA, Con Edison and National Grid incentive programs supporting a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofits for all building types. Visit us at: https://heybrooklyn.org.
New York City Budget Hearings
The NYC Council concluded their Preliminary Budget hearings this month on Mayor Adam’s proposed $98.5 billion FY2023 budget. On April 1, 2022, the NYC Council issued their response to the budget with some positive changes affecting LL97 and the capacity of the NYC Dept. of Buildings to implement the carbon reduction regulations. They recommend adding $450,000 to the FY2023 budget to hire an additional six positions in the Office of Building Energy and Emissions Performance that will bring the staffing level to 12 which is still short of the capacity needed to implement LL97. They further recommend the restoration of funding to the Dept. of Buildings, $6.2 million in FY2023 and $6.5 million in FY2024 to restore the 81 positions to be eliminated by the PEG (Program to Eliminate the Gap)
.
The report further advocated for a restoration of funds to the NYC Dept. of Sanitation to promote recycling and composting that divert waste from landfills:
- $18.2 million for staff including those supporting the expansion of the curbside organics program; restoration of $3.5 million for organic drop-off sites
- $3.6 million for staff for the curbside E-Waste collection program
- $3.1 million for Zero Waste Schools and Stop’N’Swap Program
- $793,000 to expand the School Organics Collection Program
- $1 million for a Save-as-you-Throw study; increases the waste diversion rate, currently at 20%
- $1million to construct a new city organic processing facility;
Other items include:
- Installation of large-scale solar array and energy storage on Rikers Island
- Invest and accelerate the installation of renewable energy resources to reduce carbon emission reduction goals.
To read the full report go to: https://council.nyc.gov/budget/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2022/04/Fiscal-2023-Preliminary-Budget-Response-.pdf
Oversight Hearing on LL97
The NYC Council Committees, Housing and Buildings and Environmental Protection will hold an oversight hearing on Local Law 97 on April 13, 2022 at 10:30am.
to: https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/Calendar.aspx
Here is the link to read the document and comment https://climate.ny.gov/Our-Climate-Act/Draft-Scoping-Plan
The Climate Action Council will hold public hearings in New York City as follows:
Tuesday, May 3, 2022, 4pm: NYC College of Technology, The Theater at City Tech, 285 Jay Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201
Additional information, including instructions for joining each event remotely to view the proceedings, will be made available prior to each event on the Climate Action Council Meetings and Events page.
New York State Budget Still Under Discussion!!
Advocate for the Renewable Heat Now Legislative Package
Renewable Heat Now is a coalition of 17 organizations working towards an equitable transition to clean energy in all buildings. Reducing use of fossils fuels in our buildings is essential to meeting New York State and City’s targets to reduce carbon emissions by 85% by 2050. While buildings emit one-third of New York State’s gas emissions, in New York City they emit 68%. Statewide, the Climate Action Council estimates 1-2 Million homes must convert to heat pumps or geothermal systems if New York is to reach its targets. Renewable Heat Now developed a legislative and budgetary agenda to address these needs:
Legislative Package Materials can be accessed here: https://renewableheatnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/RHN-legislative-package_final.pdf
If you have any interest, to fill out a very brief form on: https://fifthave.org/affordable-solar/ or call 646-820-1301!
News From our Partners
DSNY’s Curbside Composting Program
Celebrate Earth Day all month long by joining fellow New Yorkers in signing up for DSNY’s curbside composting program! The program has returned to Brooklyn Community Boards 1,2,6,7; Manhattan 6, 7; and Bronx 8. Already signed up? Share the sign-up form on social or send it to a neighbor @ nyc.gov/curbsidecomposting!
Three reasons why composting is so important for our city and the environment!
1) Food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard waste comprise one third of all the trash New Yorkers throw away. All of these items can be composted in your brown bin!
2) By using the sturdy brown bin and its latching lid, you can keep your neighborhood clean and healthy by reducing rodents, pests, and street litter.
3) By reducing waste to landfills and creating compost, you can make NYC more self sufficient and resilient.
Don’t just take our word for it! Hear from both new and experienced composters from small family homes to high rises who are currently composting!
Barrio Solar: Affordable Solar for Brooklynites
Nonprofits Solar One, Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) and Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) have partnered on Barrio Solar, a new solar campaign designed to support 1-4 family homeowners, particularly Low-Moderate Income (LMI) homeowners, in the direct acquisition of solar energy.
The campaign provides FREE technical assistance to individuals on solar basics, installation viability for their buildings, costs, savings, financing options, and the permitting and installation process– all of the guidance one needs to determine if solar is the right choice for their families. Interested homeowners are bundled together to achieve greater purchasing power and reduced installation costs. So ALL Brooklyn Homeowners are encouraged to submit an interest form. Homeowners that make less than 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI), for example family of 4 should make less than $143,160 a year, to be eligible for a $3,500 cash subsidy toward the cost of their solar installation, which can be used for related expenses like roof repairs or electrical system upgrades. This program is designed to support equitable access to the benefits of solar for all homeowners.
If you have any interest, to fill out a very brief form on: https://fifthave.org/affordable-solar/ or call 646-820-1301!
Upcoming Events:
| Join Regional Heat Smart Teams, Renewable Heat Now, community partners, and special guests for a lively and interesting webinar series on building electrification. We’re kicking off the series on St. Paddy’s day with a presentation on induction cooking by chef Rupert Spies of Ithaca and a cooking demonstration by sustainable fishmonger Sasha Bernstein Skon of Tarrytown who will be frying up some Guinness Battered Pollock. |
| Spring Webinar Series Schedule-All events are at 7 pm April 14 – Heat Pumps for All – Benefits for Low-to-Moderate Income April 28 – Energy Efficiency: Comfort and Savings at Home May 12 – Don’t get left out in the cold: Get Heat Pump Ready May 26 – Getting to Scale: Welcome to the GeoGrid |
