BP MARKOWITZ, BROOKLYN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LAUNCH "BROOKLYN GREENS" INITIATIVE ON "COOL ROOF" IN SOUTHSIDE WILLIAMSBURG
On Wednesday, August 10, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined the Brooklyn Community Foundation, elected officials and community groups to launch Brooklyn Greens, an initiative that uses customized approaches to help make three key Brooklyn communities--Southside Williamsburg, Bedford Stuyvesant and Cypress Hills--greener by engaging young people, adults and community institutions.
The event took place on a "cool roof" atop 106 Gerry Street in Southside Williamsburg. Painting rooftops white greatly increases energy efficiency and cuts down on peak energy demand by reducing roof temperature by up 80 degrees Fahrenheit, lowering the interior temperature by up to 30 percent and saving up to 40 percent on electric bills.
In photo (left to right): Adam Friedman, executive director, Pratt Center for Community Development; Marilyn Gelber, president, Brooklyn Community Foundation; Colvin W. Grannum, president, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation; Ibrahim Abdul Matin, Mayor's Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability; BP Markowitz; New York City Councilmember Diana Reyna; Ramon Peguero, executive director, Southside United; Katia Reyes, El Puente youth volunteer
Photo by Kathryn Kirk
