GREEN IS COOL!
 NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea (far right) and Commissioner Margarita López (second from right) join Mayor Michael Bloomberg (center) at Betances Houses in the Bronx to coat the one millionth square foot of rooftop white by the NYC Service Cool Roof Initiative. |
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has proven to be a valued partner in the fight against global warming. The Authority has helped Mayor Michael Bloomberg reach a significant milestone by participating in the coating of the one millionth square foot of rooftop as a part of the NYC CoolRoofs Program. On the morning of October 13, Mayor Bloomberg, NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea and NYCHA Environmental Coordinator Margarita López celebrated this accomplishment at Dr. Ramon E. Betances Houses in the South Bronx, wielding paint rollers and wearing bright orange t-shirts.
By adding a white, reflective coating to one million square feet of rooftop, which includes more than 100,000 square feet of rooftop on NYCHA facilities, the NYC CoolRoofs Program is helping landlords reduce cooling costs, energy usage and curb buildings' carbon dioxide emissions. The program is one of the original initiatives of NYC Service and will support the City's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030, a principal goal of PlaNYC, the City's comprehensive sustainability plan.
As part of the CoolRoofs Program, the roofs of 105 public, private and non-profit buildings were coated white. The reflective white coating can reduce rooftop temperatures by up to 60 degrees, which leads to reduced cooling costs and reduced carbon emissions into the environment. A cool roof also absorbs 80 percent less heat than traditional dark colored roofs and can lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees on hot days. The decrease in temperature reduces the need for air conditioning, lowering electric bills and reducing energy consumption. The white reflective coating also can extend the life of a roof by five to 10 years by reducing the stress caused by extreme heat.
Several corporate partners support NYCHA in their cool roof efforts, including Bloomberg LP, Disney, Ernst & Young LLP and Moody's. Nearly 300 employees volunteered to coat the roofs with materials donated by the companies.
NYCHA not only has been recognized as a valued partner in sustainability efforts, but also for promoting its Green Agenda. On October 6, NYCHA was recognized at the American Institute for Architects -- New York / Center for Architecture's Heritage Ball for its achievements in energy efficiency and greening in partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative, a foundation established by former president Bill Clinton. This annual award given by the Center for Architecture Foundation recognizes an individual or organization that improves the built environment through education and community involvement. It was presented to the Clinton Climate Initiative for its work on energy efficiency in buildings in New York City and around the world. NYCHA's Green Agenda was one of the featured projects, with special emphasis on the energy improvements at Castle Hill Houses in the Bronx, which include new boilers and replacing incandescent light bulbs and existing hot water tanks with instantaneous hot water heaters.