NYCHA Celebrates Key Landmarks for Sustainability in 2022 

In a year when climate policy advancements took shape across the globe, NYCHA and its partners celebrated several local achievements that continue the Authority’s progress toward a more sustainable future. 

From the launch of a Clean Energy Academy and other programs supporting green careers, to the awarding of several grants and development of innovative projects, 2022 was marked by a variety of sustainability-related highlights at NYCHA.   

After releasing its Sustainability Agenda in 2021, a roadmap for creating safer and healthier homes for residents, NYCHA worked with its partners and stakeholders throughout 2022 to continue making strides on the goals of the sustainability plan. In October, the Sustainability Agenda was recognized as one of the most impactful initiatives to tackle the climate crisis from cities around the world, when New York City was selected as a finalist for the 2022 C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award.   

“It’s been a strong year of action for every part of the organization,” NYCHA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability Vlada Kenniff said. “On our own team, we’ve taken complex, never-done-before projects from conceptual to certain, and I continue to be hopeful that together we are developing the much-needed solutions NYCHA staff and residents can find efficiency and comfort in.”     

Here are several of the sustainability achievements reached by NYCHA and its partners during 2022:  

C40 Finalist: NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda made New York City a contender in the “United to accelerate immediate action in critical sectors” category for the C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award. Ms. Kenniff said the recognition “showcases that we’re at the forefront of NYC’s sustainability efforts.” 

Clean Heat for All: A $70 million initial investment was awarded for the development and production of 30,000 window-installed heat pumps for apartments that will provide affordable heating and cooling to residents while helping NYCHA to decarbonize. NYCHA, the New York Power Authority (NYPA), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) selected Midea America and Gradient as the project vendors.  

Pneumatic Waste Innovation: A $31 million design-build contract was awarded to install a pneumatic waste collection system at Polo Grounds Towers in Manhattan. The project will fully modernize trash collection and disposal methods at the campus by retrofitting the existing garbage chute in each building to enable vacuum-based depositing of refuse and recyclables through an underground pipe system. A team comprised of Navillus Contracting; Dewberry Engineers Inc.; Marvel Architects; Landscape Architects; Urban Designers, PLLC; and Atreo (Pneumatic Waste Collection Systems) received the contract. 

Waste Yards Revamp: NYCHA awarded a design-build contract to innovate waste yards at seven developments. The new waste yard system is expected to serve as a model that can be implemented across the Authority.  

Clean Energy Academy: NYCHA and the nonprofit Fund for Public Housing announced the launch of a Clean Energy Academy, a two-year program that will prepare 100 NYCHA residents for clean energy careers and jobs, helping the Authority to achieve its decarbonization goals. The $2 million program received funding support from NYSERDA, NYPA, National Grid, Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies, NorthLight Foundation and Rise Light & Power. Resident recruitment and training for the Clean Energy Academy is expected to start in early 2023.   

Green Careers: In December, NYC Speaks released its Action Plan, which identified a commitment by the City to invest in expanding NYCHA resident workforce development in green and resilient careers. NYC Speaks is a public-private partnership between the City and philanthropic and community groups.   

Farms at NYCHA: In collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture, nonprofit partner Green City Force (GCF) broke ground on the construction of its sixth NYCHA farm at Astoria Houses in Queens. Once completed, the urban farm will be the eighth across NYCHA’s portfolio and the first one in Queens. GCF is expected to be ready for spring planting, to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to residents of Astoria Houses and surrounding NYCHA developments. With support from the Mayor’s Office, NYCHA plans to add more farm sites and enhanced programming over the next three years to further expand healthy food access. 

Resident-led Sustainability Projects: NYCHA and the Fund for Public Housing launched the Climate Action Grants Program to support resident-led sustainability projects, such as building a new community garden or hosting a beautification day at their development. The program awarded five grants, worth $5,000 each, to residents at Wagner Houses, Red Hook West, Woodside Houses, Carey Gardens, and Mill Brook Houses.  

Federal Grants Awarded for Resiliency Work:  NYCHA received grants totaling $28.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support projects for upgrading infrastructure and preventing storm-related impacts. The funding included $28 million for the design and construction of cloudburst installations, which can help absorb or divert intense rainfall in flood-prone communities. The remaining funding will cover scoping of coastal flooding and resiliency hub studies.  

Green Infrastructure Projects: Throughout 2022, NYCHA, in collaboration with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, completed the construction of green infrastructure projects at 15 NYCHA developments and finalized project design at an additional 18 sites.  

Looking ahead, NYCHA aims to build on this progress in the new year, working with partners to pursue new opportunities to modernize buildings, advance green careers, and continue promoting a sustainable future.   

“2023 looks to be a year of many opportunities flowing out of federal, State, and City climate action,” Ms. Kenniff said. “We will continue to work ‘united in action’ with our internal and external stakeholders and partners.”   

Featured photo caption: The new Clean Energy Academy program will provide two years of training to residents to prepare for clean energy careers.