What Is A 15-minute City?

What makes a city liveable? For many, it comes down to choice. We want to be surrounded by options without having to stray too far to reach any of them. Making choices accessible is the goal, but getting there is harder than just building a new megastore.

Developed in 2010, the 15-minute city has urban planners rethinking their technique. The basic premise is that all amenities should lie within a 15-minute walk or transit ride from home. This decentralized urban planning model ensures each local neighborhood meets the basic social functions for residents to live and thrive. 

This has yet to be tried in the Big Apple, but that’s about to change. Recently approved plans show New York City will begin constructing its own version in 2023. This has created a small stir amongst conspiracy theorists. 

The concept was first developed by Parisian urbanist and scientist Carlos Moreno. The premise is simple: everyday destinations should be close to home and easy to get to. By developing neighborhoods with schools, stores, and offices only a short walk, bike, or bus ride away, communities and individuals can experience a higher quality of life while saving time usually spent commuting to dedicate to what they actually want to be doing.

15-Minute Cities Around The World

Influenced by European cities like Paris, this method of city planning maximizes convenience and quality of life while minimizing pollution and traffic. The model echoes back to a hundred years ago when cities were established and expanded around a central area containing all needed amenities. In today’s version, we have the added advantage of being digitally connected. 

“A 15-minute city neighborhood offers convenience and quality of life, but not isolation,” describes the C40 website, “Physical and digital connectivity must be at the heart of any 15-minute city strategy, prioritizing equitable access to social and economic opportunities.”

Existing examples include Portland’s Complete Neighborhoods, Melbourne’s 20 Minute Neighborhoods, Bogota’s Barrios Vitales, and, of course, Paris’s original 15-Minute City. 

Some cities are going large in their transition. Portland specifically has committed to refashioning its land use so that 80% of residents will live in complete neighborhoods by 2035. As of now, less than half of Portlanders are in a complete neighborhood.

Calling Paris a 15-minute city feels tongue in cheek to some; Paris has always had greater accessibility to amenities than most cities. Many consider Paris a “5-minute city” with daily conveniences less than a five-minute walk for the average Parisian. One survey tallied 1,180 bakeries and 516 butcher shops within the 40 square miles of Paris’s 20 neighborhoods.  

Transitioning toward complete neighborhoods takes a lot of planning on behalf of local and government officials. While the idea was slow to take hold in 2010, the 2020 pandemic provided a major driving force for cities to take action. 

COVID-19 Impact on 15-Minute Cities

During the rise of Covid-19, an organization of globally networked mayors, called C40, united in action against climate change. This group of city leaders established the Global Mayors COVID-19 Recovery Task Force. Active participants of C40 include nearly 100 major cities: Madrid, Amsterdam, Berlin, Austin, Houston, New Orleans, Seattle, Los Angeles, and many others around the globe.

Amongst the actions these mayors committed to taking: Supporting essential workers, creating green jobs, providing fundamental public services, building with nature, and evolving to create 15-minute cities. 

“[We] committed to providing the swiftest and strongest possible rebound for their citizens and reaffirmed commitment to the principles of the Global Green New Deal,” says the C40 project website, “to protect our environment, strengthen economies and build a more equitable future – [we] reached out to other cities, youth, unions, business, and civil society to join in this effort.”

By reimagining streets and public spaces to best benefit local people of all abilities, backgrounds, and ages, the city offers itself in a more equitable and inclusive manner. Communities thrive when pedestrians “live locally” and are able to spend more time on foot, bike, or transit. 

15-minute Cities Reduction of Environmental Impact

Upsides to the 15-minute city were initially environmental. Reclaiming and reformatting space is a means to decrease car use, reducing carbon emissions. A decrease in traffic and car dependency equates to more free time for residents. Access to walking routes, parks and other outdoor conveniences mobilizes people to spend more time outdoors, boosting both physical and mental health.

“It puts people and the environment at the centre of urban planning,” said The Conversation, “Key elements are: the proximity of necessities; local participation and decision-making; community solidarity and connection; and green and sustainable urban living.”

A manifesto published in 2020 from Barcelona, backed by 300 architects and 160 academics, iterated four key elements to city organization: reorganization of mobility, renaturalization of the city, de-growth, and de-commodification of housing. So how would this translate in the hustle and bustle of New York City? 

Innovation QNS, NYC’s 15-Minute City

In 2022 the NYC Council approved a 15-minute city masterplan for the Queens’ Astoria neighborhood. The plan, called Innovation QNS, was brought forth by ODA Architecture and includes a number of major perks.

Built between 35th and 36th Avenues, the neighborhood will repurpose large surface parking lots, vacant spaces, and underutilized industrial and commercial buildings to shape an area that meets residents’ needs in a more concrete way.

“Innovation QNS will expand the adjacent Kaufman Arts District and build on Astoria’s rich cultural fabric including its existing cultural assets,” details the ODA Urban Plan website.

The 5-block plan will include over 2,800 units of mixed-income housing, of which 700 are permanently coded for affordable housing. Beyond that, 200,000 square feet will be dedicated to neighborhood retail and 250,000 square feet dedicated to creative industry and small business. Two acres have been set aside for intentional open space, community health and wellness facilities, arts and culture hubs, not to mention a multiplex cinema and grocery store.

Despite difficult negotiations, the project was finally approved in late 2022, with construction slated to begin in 2025. The $2 billion dollar development nearly came to a halt as the opposition called for even more affordable housing to be woven into the plan. Developers and housing officials finally agreed to double the affordable units to 45% of the project, equating to 1,400 units.

“This is exactly the kind of historic work we must do to tackle the housing shortage at the root of our affordable housing crisis,” said Democratic Mayor Eric Adams about regarding the negotiations.

Pressure continues to mount as officials fail to meet an urgently growing housing shortage crisis. Council members advocating on behalf of affordable housing were relieved the project has expanded to include more units.

“From Day 1, I have stood with my community in demanding deeper affordability from this development,” said Ms. Won of the Council’s progressive caucus, “There [were] more parking spots being offered than affordable units.”

 Supported by Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, council members continue to pressure developers to meet the needs of local communities first and foremost. 

But while the common thread of 15-minute cities carry the sentiment of community-first principles, that hasn’t stopped conspiracy theorists from demonizing the concept, creating major backlash. 

Conspiracy Theories of 15-Minute Cities

Starting in 2023, Mr. Moreno’s 15-minute city began to attract the wrong kind of attention. QAnon conspiracy theorists and climate change deniers quickly labeled 15-minute cities as “Prison camps” and “Climate change lockdowns,” stoking fears that proximity was a form of entrapment. 

Misinterpretations of the concept ran rampant, and conservatives vilified the idea as a government takeover, accusing supporters of advocating repression and government surveillance. The oppositional narrative is dystopic at best. Opponents paint pictures of a fictional future where gated communities keep residents locked in, and limited access to vehicles prohibits people from moving freely. 

Mr. Moreno was attacked both digitally and physically. Harassment and threats through email and online forums mounted, with some calling Moreno a criminal and a dictator. Soon the death threats began to pour in, terrifying both him and his family. 

“I wasn’t a researcher anymore, I was Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler,” Mr. Moreno told the New York Times, “I am not a politician, I am not a candidate for anything — as a researcher, my duty is to explore and deepen my ideas with scientific methodology. It is totally unbelievable that we could receive a death threat just for working as scientists.”

So far, none of this doomsday foreshadowing has proven true. In fact, local communities have flourished under newly completed neighborhoods, with small businesses gaining more traction than before. Advocates of 15-minute cities are quick to dismiss any rumors, ensuring the concept is not driven by any sort of restrictive mobility or monitoring.  

As New York constructs its own version of a complete neighborhood, we will soon experience firsthand what the model has to offer. Coming from the midst of both an economic and housing crisis, this movement toward the 15-minute city may help New York emerge from the pandemic even stronger than before.

The post What Is A 15-Minute City and How It’s Coming to NYC appeared first on CitySignal.

The Real Estate Board of New York recently conducted a study revealing that thousands of properties will soon face higher operational costs and large fines due to new climate legislation going into effect as early as 2024.

In 2019, the City Council passed Local Law 97 as part of a larger legislative package focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Sweltering temperatures, frequent rainfall, and rising sea levels have all placed mounting pressure on NYC to act quickly and efficiently on the issue. 

The city’s response was to create a law setting limits on emissions emitted by the city’s largest buildings. The reason being, that NYC’s one million buildings account for about 70% of its total carbon emissions. Much of the energy used to heat, cool, and light these buildings comes from fossil fuels. 

In a statement made to the public, NYC’s chief climate officer, Rohit T. Aggarwala, confidently stated that “Local Law 97 is telling everyone in the real estate business: Climate change is your problem,” and that forming a part of the real estate industry in NYC meant “moving to a carbon-free future.

But, with Mayor Adams allowing select building owners to bypass Local Law 97’s emission caps, the administration’s conviction on the issue is being brought into question. Climate advocates believe that the law is being defanged before it can even begin to sink its teeth, raising serious concerns over its effectiveness. 

On the other side of the aisle, building owners and landlords have expressed their frustrations with Local Law 97, claiming that they don’t make enough money from tenants to cover the transition to eco-friendly energy sources. Some owners have gone so far as to sue the city for Local Law 97 in hope that they can at least buy themselves more time to make their buildings compliant. Although owners and landlords will be directly affected through increased costs of operation, it’s likely that tenants will be affected indirectly through higher rents. 

Overview of Local Law 97

Local Law 97 is a part of the Climate Mobilization Act, passed under Mayor de Blasio. The former mayor had pledged to make the city carbon neutral by 2050 and planned to do so through the New York City Green New Deal. Local Law 97 aims to take a stab at the city’s biggest culprit of greenhouse gas emissions, its buildings. The goal of the law is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. 

Come 2024, tens of thousands of New York’s largest buildings would have emissions caps placed on them and face fines if they were to go over said limits. These buildings include several commercial structures, such as bank headquarters and hotels, as well as apartment complexes. 

The law also states that most buildings over 25,000 square feet, whether commercial or residential, are required to meet emission caps and new energy efficiency requirements by 2024. These requirements are supposed to become stricter in 2030.

Would It Just be Cheaper for Landlords to Ignore Local Law 97?

Engineering consulting firm, Level Infrastructure, conducted a study estimating that over 3,700 buildings could face penalties upwards of $200 million a year come 2024. The Real Estate Board of New York estimates that a total of 13,500 buildings could face penalties of more than $900 million by 2030.

The city estimates that 50,000 buildings will be in compliance by the January 2024 deadline. However, there are an estimated 2,700 buildings that are not expected to be compliant by then. This will require building owners to replace windows, tune up HVAC systems, and/or install energy-efficient lighting to avoid hefty fines—an expensive and unplanned endeavor for many NYC landlords.

By 2030, emission caps are set to fall significantly, forcing building owners to not just repair building features but completely replace them in order to make their buildings compliant. For this reason, it’s expected that the second deadline will require owners to pay much more in fines. Crain’s New York reports that in order to avoid the fines, landlords will have to spend about $3 billion a year in carbon cuts, $20 billion over the next decade. 

It’s worth noting that the estimated budget for carbon cuts by Crain’s New York ($20 billion) is much higher than the penalties landlords would be responsible for ($900 million). Depending on their finances and how far they are from achieving compliance—some owners may just ignore the new climate law altogether and instead treat the fines as a business tax. 

Although this may work for landlords, this certainly does nothing to reduce gas emissions emitted by NYC buildings, and will most likely result in Local Law 97 falling short of its ambitious climate goals. 

Pushback from critics, ‘too much, too soon’

Advocates of Local Law 97 believe that the city should use even stricter measures to move NYC buildings towards a more eco-friendly future, while its critics claim that the law is already too harsh. Some say that meeting the emission limits during the timeframe outlined in the law would be near impossible and that millions would have to be paid in fines regardless of their efforts. 

According to the Real Estate Board of New York, even if every building were to reduce its energy consumption by 30%, more than 8000 properties would still face fines up to $300 million each year. 

Vice president of policy at REBNY, Zachary Steinberg, told Bloomberg that the organization hopes “the city will take action over the next 12 months to avoid damage to our local economy and unfair penalties to property owners in 2024,” adding that buildings owners will simply be unable to meet emission limits “even if buildings take meaningful steps to comply and use the tools provided by the law.”

In May of 2022, an owner of a mixed-use property in Manhattan and two garden apartment complexes sued the city, asking for the enforcement to be blocked. They claimed that the law would impose “draconian” fines that would significantly harm their ability to generate profits on their buildings. 

City officials have responded with understanding, promising struggling owners who show “good faith” efforts some wiggle room. The city is considering waiving fees and lowering fines for building owners who demonstrate a willingness to comply, but may need more time to reach denoted emission caps.

Mayor Adams Allows for the Purchase of Renewable Energy Credits Amidst Pushback from Landlords

Building owner advocacy groups caught the attention of Mayor Eric Adams. He recently announced that two-thirds of large office buildings and one-quarter of multi-family buildings would be allowed to bypass Local Law 97’s emission caps through 2035.

This means that about half of the pollution cuts outlined in the law would not even come close to being met, allowing owners to forgo the need to upgrade their properties for an entire decade. Property owners would be allowed to, instead, purchase Renewable Energy Credits, or RECs, and essentially buy themselves out of the responsibility to make their properties energy-efficient. 

The idea isn’t completely revolutionary, seeing as the local government already allows for use of such credits. However, environmental advocates claim that such generous limits would “defang Local Law 97,” and encourage “future shoddy enforcement.” 

Activists believe that although Local Law 97 may be strong on paper, the administration’s extensive leniency with the industry is a grave mistake. They argue that providing real estate companies with the opportunity to purchase RECs will establish a weak precedent for the new law, causing it to fall apart in practice sooner or later. 

The Mayor’s administration has clarified that RECs are not a get-out-of-jail-free card for the real estate industry and that further limits on RECs will be placed in the near future, starting as early as 2024. As the main culprit of energy pollution in the city, it’s unlikely that the city’s intentions are to let building owners off the hook forever. However, letting them off the hook, for now, can still be dangerous to the survival and efficacy of Local Law 97

Not all Building Owners are Affected Equally

The city’s leniency for certain property owners has upset many environmental advocates, who claim that without strict accountability and adequate enforcement of the law, NYC will remain far from achieving its climate action goals. 

But, the truth is not all building owners will be affected equally. 

Large real estate companies often have the resources and capacity to invest in sustainability initiatives. In fact, many of them already have personnel dedicated to such initiatives, which would explain why 50,000 buildings are expected to be in compliance by the first deadline. 

However, for smaller real-estate companies that are often family-owned and operated, meeting the same emission limits will be a serious challenge. Many older buildings still run on oil or gas furnaces, requiring them to completely revamp their energy infrastructure in less than a year. 

Property owners like Debbie Fechter are wondering how they’re going to pay for capital projects they hadn’t planned for, and are even struggling to understand exactly what their new responsibilities will be. She’s been trying to get into contact with an energy audit consulting firm with no success. 

“We don’t really know what our obligations are and what our penalties are going to be,” Fechter told the New York Times. She’s a partner at Digby Management, a family-owned real estate business that owns four buildings in Manhattan subject to Local Law 97.

Who will be most affected? 

REBNY reports that condo, co-op, and rental apartment building owners will be among the most impacted by Local Law 97, should it be enforced as is. This is because of their landlords’ limited ability to fund and coordinate compliance in alignment with the stipulated deadlines. An estimated 60% of non-compliant buildings on January 1st, 2024, will be residential. 

Chances are that in order to either afford the fines or afford repairs, landlords will increase rents wherever possible, causing renters to bear the brunt of a potentially inefficient climate law.

Although some real estate businesses have sought alternative ways of complying with Local Law 97, city officials have claimed that methods such as carbon trading will not be permitted. Carbon trading is an arrangement where one building owner buys credits from a property with lower emissions. 

Purchasing renewable energy credits or certificates from the local government is currently the only way building owners will be able to legally curb responsibility for emissions. RECs would allow property owners to fund projects that will bring clean energy to one of the five boroughs. However, only a limited number of RECs will be available in the near term. 

Reducing gas emissions is a crucial component in the city’s ability to meet its climate change goals. With 1 million of its buildings contributing to more than two thirds of the city’s gas emissions, there’s no way around it—real estate companies have to be engaged. The question is how quickly, and to what extent?

The post Local Law 97: A Controversial Environmental Fix appeared first on CitySignal.

Buildings are responsible for two-thirds of New York’s greenhouse gas emissions, pushing officials to scramble for sustainable solutions. Recent laws passed to curb emissions have created momentum for building green, and a looming 2024 retrofitting deadline has builders adjusting their plans to comply.  

Sustainability has become a popular topic, even in New York. At nearly sea level, in a region prone to hurricanes and storms, New York is more fragile than it would like to admit. Mayor Bill de Blasio, called the Climate Disaster Mayor, has enacted a number of laws to combat climate change, including the Climate Mobilization Act of 2019. While passing the act, De Blasio pledged to make New York City a carbon-neutral city by 2050 while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80%. Sustainable building is the path to this reality. 

Is NYC a Sustainable City?

Sustainable Building As The End Goal

Compared to the rest of the United States, New York is not doing poorly. With less greenhouse gasses per capita than any other city, New York is one of the most energy-efficient places in America. New Yorkers travel mostly by foot or mass transit, leading to a minimal transportation footprint, while in the United States, the majority of greenhouse gasses come from transportation, mainly single-passenger vehicles. Even so, any gains made through mass transit are quickly lost through the high-energy use of buildings. 

Multifamily and office buildings use 87% of the energy benchmarked for buildings. Half is in the form of electricity, with space heating, mostly by natural gas, as the largest end use. The US would save $20 billion in energy costs through green-improved buildings. Environmentally friendly design techniques, eco-friendly materials, and advanced technologies all save on both energy and money.

Among the laws passed within the Climate Mobilization Act is Local Law 97. This law requires buildings over 25,000 square feet to meet new energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission requirements by 2024, followed by another set of more stringent requirements in 2030. Buildings that fail to comply will be issued steep fines.

Some folks were already prepared. A number of realtors and developers went green long ago. With “passive house” and LEED certification becoming selling points for the wealthy- this is likely a growing trend.

Sustainable Apartments and Homes in NYC

Sustainable apartments sound like a thing of the future. But people are seeking them out to reduce the overall carbon footprint. Real estate firms that list thousands of residences a month are seeing eco-friendly features on the rise- Douglas Elliman reports about 5% of listings include eco-friendly features. This number was zero in 2016.

Features like closed foam insulation, low-emission windows, solar paneling, sealed attics, energy-efficient utilities and heat pumps, and complex framing techniques all work together to reduce costs and save on energy. Not to mention green homes have higher resale value than regular homes.

Sustainable buildings are denoted through the coveted LEED certification, a globally recognized symbol, and standard of sustainability achievement and leadership. Another green term, “Passive House,” is an energy-efficient building using 1/10th the energy of a regular house. Known for being both practical and comfortable, these buildings are well-insulated, airtight, and maximize heating and cooling efficiencies to keep energy use at a minimum 

A number of green residential properties already exist. Manhattan’s first passive house was Perch Harlem, located at 542 West 153rd Street in Hamilton Heights. The building uses waste heat from appliances to warm the building, leading to a 90% reduction in energy use. 

255 Columbia Street, located in Brooklyn, was the first residential building to earn passive house status in the boroughs at large. This 13-unit condominium features triple-paned windows, mechanical ventilation, advanced insulation, and innovative heating and cooling technologies.

Another green building is 160 Schermerhorn Street, an 11-story, 116-unit building housing low-income members of the community. This building optimizes energy through a high-efficiency boiler, recycled building materials, and a rooftop garden to help with air quality and insulation.

New York City’s most sustainable condominium, Charlotte at the Upper West Side, has been turning a lot of heads lately. Located at 470 Columbus Ave, this eight-story seven-unit building is Passive House Institute certified. Other attributes include triple-layered windows, extra insulation, non-toxic finishes, and energy-efficient appliances. All marble has been locally sourced, and air within community spaces is UV treated.  

Last to look at is a Brooklyn property called Toren. Located at 150 Myrtle Avenue, this LEED Gold-certified building won certification for its rain screen system, basement cogeneration plant, and fresh air initiatives.

Sustainable Buildings

“We were doing sustainable development before there was investor pressure, but now there is investor pressure,” Sara Neff, head of sustainability at Lendlease, told the NYTimes.

Investors are beginning to prefer high-performance green assets. The effect of natural disasters on real estate has many aware of climate change. Over 88% of large companies have had at least one physical asset impacted due to extreme weather.

Sustainable buildings seem a vision of the future, but really, they’re popping up all around us! With technology continuing to advance, tenant emissions can now be offset through 100 percent renewable energy. Increasingly, sustainability is a core feature of financing plans as investors begin to request sustainable components for their projects.  

Sustainable buildings are constructed to conserve water, materials and energy. The common features of a sustainable building are close proximity to public transportation, all-electric components, and solar paneling. Metrics tools are also important, allowing customers to monitor and analyze performance while calculating how much energy and money are saved. Feedback is used by developers to continue optimizing technology. 

“Carbon counting and the focus on carbon will define the decade ahead, without a doubt,” said Dan Winters, head of the Americas region for GRESB, a real estate sustainability benchmark used to analyze $5.3 trillion in assets globally.

You might be surprised by who is green and who isn’t. Some of the greenest buildings in New York City include iconic giants such as the Empire State Building, the Bank of America Tower, and One World Trade Center. If these buildings have secured sustainability status- why aren’t others making the move as well?

The Empire State Building is LEED Gold-certified, one of the few National Historic Landmarks with this title. Recycled carpets, green cleaning supplies, low off-gassing wall covers, and ultra-low-flow water fixtures helped earn this certification.

When One World Trade Center won the LEED Gold certification in 2016, it became the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere also LEED certified. The building is skinned with insulated spandrel, allowing natural light into 90% of office areas, reducing light and heat needs. The glass is designed with low-E glass coating, minimizing heat gain.

The Bank of America Tower is LEED Platinum-certified, with an emphasis on daylight, fresh air, and other natural inputs. Broadway’s first green theater, run by Stephen Sondheim, is included with an urban garden room.

Co-Op That Embraces Food Waste And Recycling

Some buildings are combating waste in other arenas through food waste and recycling. Every residential building in New York City has to recycle and have recycling containers, per law. Buildings face a fine of several thousand dollars for non-compliance. Some buildings are taking that even further with food waste.

Morningside Heights Housing Corporation, a New York cooperative building at various addresses, including 100 and 80 La Salle, was selected to participate in NYC’s Organic Food Waste Recycling Pilot Program. Designed to reduce post-consumer waste and landfill occupancy, the pilot was a major success. Convenient, on-site scrap collection reduced the building trash load by 35%.

Food scrap containers were made available to residents for free, allowing the Department of Sanitation to collect food waste and turn it into renewable energy and compost. Officials are looking at expanding this program throughout the city and teaching residents how to reduce their waste. 

The Downtown Alliance Compost Program, operating in Manhattan, features 10 public compost pins around the city. With 24/7 access to composting, residents can sign into an app to unlock the bin. Each food scrap donation moves us slightly closer to a sustainable future.

Ways You Can Help Improve Energy Efficiency

Not everyone has the resources to move into a sustainable building- some of them are quite expensive! If you’re a New Yorker looking to reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to the cause- here are three ways you can reduce energy consumption within your home:

• Improve heating- through refurbishing or replacing steam heating systems.
• Reduce AC energy loss- Repair window and wall leaks surrounding AC units to reduce heating and cooling expenses.  
• Efficient Lighting- Investing in newer, energy-efficient light bulbs and light systems reduce can drastically reduce the amount of energy spent.

Every little bit helps. Any investment towards sustainability now will be money saved in the future. “Today, you don’t sacrifice returns for sustainability, you create returns with sustainability,” added Stephen Tross, CIO at Bouwinvest, a Dutch investment firm. Perhaps LEED and passive house status will become the benchmarks of the future.

Now, how do we get rid of plastic bags?

The post Sustainable Real Estate In NYC Makes Everyone Green appeared first on CitySignal.

In Staten Island last year, Hurricane Ida helped pave the way for a massive sinkhole to form near Randall Manor. A portion of the sidewalk washed away, creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians and those residing in the neighborhood as fears of the sinkhole growing grew more intense. Ten years before that was another severe sinkhole in Staten Island along Ramona Avenue.

The sinkhole took over a year to fix and was the subject of many car damage scenarios. And right in the middle was a sinkhole in a Staten Islander’s backyard that threatened to take his home under. The presumed cause? An overworked drain between Brady’s Pond and Cameron Lake after heavy a period of rainfall. All of this to say, sinkholes in New York are not an isolated event and rather something that continually targets vulnerable areas, coinciding with the rise of adverse weather.

The fear continues to mount for residents of this particular Bronx neighborhood, with many worrying when a new disaster strikes. As mentioned in Spectrum News, one concerned resident says, “I don’t know if it’s going to happen next year, maybe in a few hours, maybe next week, when?”

The Relationship Between Sinkholes and Climate Change

For those who don’t know, sinkholes can occur when a space beneath the ground hollows out. When that happens, the ground level, whether it be a road, sidewalk, trail, or other finish, can cave in on itself due to the hollowness beneath. What makes sinkholes worse? Eroded drains and sewers that damage lines under the city – a problem already targeting New York and the rest of the country with a jump from 2,839 documented instances to 3,921 year-to-year – a 38% increase!

Sinkholes are often confused with potholes, though the two are different. Potholes are usually caused by the seeping in of water, freezing and unfreezing, causing the ground to weaken over time and sometimes break. While potholes may slowly form over time as cracks form and the ground chips away, a sinkhole is often instant and catastrophic, usually with little to no warning for residents.

Both sinkholes and potholes have become the center of the climate change discussion as the conditions worsen. In the case of potholes, it’s easier to pinpoint with rapid freezing and thawing or general wear and tear on the surface level, but how exactly are sinkholes and climate change interlinked? There are a few moving parts that contribute to the perfect storm, and it begins with understanding the science behind sinkholes.

Long Island Expressway in New York City shut down due to flash flooding from Post-Tropical Storm Ida’s landfall.

Droughts largely coincide with extreme weather events. Often times that equals droughts. One study from the Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences suggests that instances of sinkholes in Florida followed periods of severe droughts with a 2–4-year lag. So, if a region were to experience a drought in 2020 and a sinkhole occurs in 2024, the correlation between the two phenomena may be linked. That’s because it takes time for the effects of that drought to set in and take effect.

In the case of New York, recent sinkholes have almost exclusively occurred right after stormy weather. The first was Hurricane Ida and the second was a particularly bad thunderstorm in the city. Those storms alone are causing the damage – they’re simply taking advantage of already worn-down infrastructure in New York City.

More on New York’s Infrastructure Problems

It’s no secret that New York has long been the victim of failing infrastructure. It’s evident every day from the long commute times to the blazing heat on summer days in the subway. With some key components created hundreds of years ago and an overwhelming population in the city, it’s only natural that things would begin to deteriorate, especially in the face of more intense storms.

According to the Infrastructure Report Card for New York, three areas in which New York fails are roads, transit, and wastewater. And not far behind are bridges and dams with slightly better grades, teetering on failing. Given the combination of high rises, underground systems, and everything in between, the promise of worsening storms hangs heavy over the heads of New York residents.

According to Daily News, one report by the White House found that “beyond commuting, New York is grappling with serious issues in housing, broadband, drinking water, child care, home energy and other public infrastructure systems.”

Each of the already burdened components of New York’s infrastructure is expected to get worse. Not only does the question of whether New York is equipped to handle the effects of adverse weather long after it’s happened, like sinkholes.

As infrastructure problems continue to exist unremedied, the added stress of increased storm frequency and severity spells out major trouble for the city. It’s a problem we’ve already seen and one that is expected to become worse as New York City continues to play catch-up on already deteriorating public structures and systems.

The post Do New Yorkers Need To Worry About Sinkholes? The Rise of the Sinkhole in NYC appeared first on CitySignal.

River water is gathered to fill and flush giant boilers and cool high-voltage electrical cables at the local Con Ed plant, then dumped back into the river. The dumped wastewater ranges from 90 degrees Fahrenheit and up, often containing toxic elements such as chromium, chloroform, and lead. 

Pier 98, at the edge of Hell’s Kitchen, is officially within the bounds of the Hudson River Estuarine Sanctuary. Created in 1998, the sanctuary protects 400 acres of in-water area and provides a critical habitat for over 70 species of fish and birds. 

The discovery was made public by Tom Fox, board member to the trust and leading member in the creation of the Hudson River Park. Fox had noticed a series of pipes snaking along Pier 98 and began to investigate their purpose, unlocking a moral paradox that he and the other board members of the park were not aware of. 

“The trust is getting paid rent to allow the pollution of the estuary they were established to protect,” said Mr. Fox. Backed by City Club, Tom Fox is currently working on suing Con Ed and the New York City Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for violations of the federal Clean Water Act. He also seeks an injunction to stop current and future wastewater dumping.

“Con Ed’s continued thermal and industrial discharge into the sanctuary – facilitated by the defiance of federal and state laws enforced by DEC and the Trust – represents a threat to the conservation and protection of those resources,” the notice said. Advocates say Con Ed should not be allowed to continue remaining and operating within the park.

While officials of the trust knew of the dumping, the appointed members of the trust’s council of advisers did not and were never told about the park’s agreement to rent a pier to Con Ed for this purpose.

“Nobody knew about it. I didn’t know about it, and I’ve been associated with Park for 40 years, from the very beginning,” said Fox in a recent interview with ABC news, “I think for whatever reason, it was not publicly acknowledged. Now that it is, we have a chance to fix the situation.”

Heated Waters Leads to Dead Fish

Con Ed denies many of the allegations brought forth by City Club. A spokesperson for Con Ed reported wastewater dumping occurred twice a week and said toxic elements within the released water were “minimal.”

Utility wastewaters generally undergo treatment in wastewater treatment plants, where testing, treatment, and remediation protect the environment from pollutants gathered within the water. It is still unclear to what affect dumping has affected the Hudson River specifically, but plumes of hot water are dangerous to marine life. 

Heated waters decrease the levels of dissolved oxygen, suffocating aquatic creatures and throwing off the migratory patterns of local fish and wildlife. The Estuarine Sanctuary also serves as a corridor for birds and other wildlife, indicating damage could reach beyond marine life. 

Among other concerns, advocates worry for locals who eat fish caught from the pier. Over the years, large groups of dead fish have mysteriously appeared along the Hudson. These fish, called Atlantic Menhaden (or bunkers) swim in large schools and are vulnerable to low levels of oxygen and pathogens. The DEC claims the dead Menhaden were caused by overcrowding and the warming of the water but claimed to not know the source of the problem. 

Con Ed Uses Pier 98 for Decades

Con Ed has a long history with Pier 98, but use of the space has changed dramatically over time. As New York’s largest utility company, Con Ed distributes electricity, natural gas and steam throughout the city and began operating on Pier 98 in 1959, originally docking oil barges there. 

Once the Hudson River Park was established in 1998, the utility company was grandfathered in, some claim out of necessity. Con Ed relies on Pier 98 for the millions of gallons of river water that it uses to cool cables in a substation on West 49th Street. When in use, Con Ed pumps more than four million gallons a day from the Hudson. 

In 2006 Con Ed requested permission from the DEC to allow the dumping of higher temperature waters, up to 104 degrees. The standard limit for dumping heated water into protected estuaries is 90 degrees Fahrenheit. After conducting a public hearing, permission was granted by the DEC in 2011. While a public notice was published by the trust in the City Register, the notice contained no mention of “water cooling” and did not indicate what exactly was being approved. The approval also violated standards set by the federal Clean Water Act.  

This is not the first time the city has negotiated with Con Ed on wastewater dumping. In 2010 Con Ed paid $5 million in fines for wastewater violations in compliance with a consent order presented by the DEC. In the final order Con Ed agreed to pay $1 million in fines, while the remaining $4 million was set aside to build an education center for the Hudson River Park. Yet this center, called the Estuarium, was never constructed. Trust officials claim The Estuarium is still in the planning stages. 

Following 2010, department records indicate 21 known violations of wastewater standards and monitoring requirements. Both Con Edison and the DEC dispute these allegations.  

Effects on the Ecosystem and New York City Housing 

Damage to the Hudson River has been a long-standing problem for New York, dating back to the 1970s. Previously, General Electric (GE) was found guilty of polluting the Hudson River with mercury and untreated sewage, creating major environmental damage. Activists protested in a variety of ways; musician Pete Seeger created the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and the Clearwater Festival to garner attention to the problem. Eventually, nationwide activism led to the federal Clear Water Act, created in 1972, followed by the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. The federal government then designated the 200-mile contaminated portion of the river as a Superfund site in 1984. 

Water pollution does more than just harm the ecosystem; it also damages property values for surrounding businesses and housing. Studies have shown effective abatement of polluted waterways leads to major increases in the value of single-family homes situated on the waterfront. Lot values increase by 8 to 25%, and property values can be affected up to 4,000 feet away from the water’s edge. Previously polluted waterfronts that have received protection and been allowed to recover have been major contributors to real estate growth. 

More recently, the city has been busy implementing other projects meant to protect and bolster aquatic life within the Hudson River. In 2021, 11.2 million juvenile oysters were added to New York Harbor by the Tribeca Habitat Enhancement Project. Acting as nonstop water filters, oysters are a solution to rehabilitating the polluted waterways surrounding the city. While New York was once famous for its oysters, these cannot be eaten. The water is still too polluted for safe consumption. 

Residents now wonder about the safety of swimming or fishing in the Hudson River, but it will be a while until testing and results indicate to what extent the damage has done. Still, a legal battle between Con Ed and City Club could lead to an increase in protections for the Hudson River. 

The post Con Ed Dumps Wastewater With Toxic Elements Near Pier 98 appeared first on CitySignal.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and homeless services nonprofit Project Renewal have worked together to create this opportunity for New Yorkers who were previously homeless, for families impacted by mental illness and substance abuse, or for those living with HIV/AIDS. Phase I of the project has 71 apartments available for qualifying individuals or families. The other 46 apartments have been designated for low-income households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).

Unique Amenities at 2865 Creston Avenue

Located in Bedford Park in the Bronx, this building was constructed in 2019 and has a total of 117 rental apartments. Amenities in this 14-story building include a rooftop terrace, elevator, attended lobby, concierge, event room, bike storage, laundry room, and garden. Beyond the usual amenities, however, Project Renewal will provide on-site social services, including a greenhouse with aquaponic urban farming on the roof.

Aquaponics Farming System

The 1,500-square-foot rooftop greenhouse features fish, vegetables, herbs, and microgreens that will allow residents to grow fresh food all year long. The vertical farming system will allow residents to raise vegetables and edible fish in an ecosystem. The fish’s tanks are connected to a bio-filter that breaks down their waste and carries the nutrients to the plant roots. The space outside the greenhouse will be used for organic farming for vegetables that do not grow well via aquaponics. Residents will work with the horticulturist provided by Project Renewal to learn to grow their own food.

Environmentally Friendly

Greenery has been planted to grow from the top floors to the ground, reducing the energy use for the building and pollutants surrounding the building. Bedford Green House also features continuous exterior insulation, lowering energy use and reducing the building’s carbon footprint.

Streetscape

Bedford Green House’s streetscape includes landscaping along the sidewalk and seats at the setbacks that encourage residents and neighbors to gather outside the building. The colorful community playground will be accessible to the children who live in the building as well as other children of the surrounding neighborhood.

Social Services

Project Renewal will also offer case management, occupational therapy, and horticultural therapy. Phase II of the project will include even more amenities for the residents with 116 additional apartments, a 5,000-square-foot medical clinic, a fitness center, and a library.

Safe, High-Quality, Affordable Housing

The project’s goal is to create a safe and positive environment for its residents, who have previously struggled. Project Renewal hopes that shared activities that support healthy living will help bring residents of the building together.

Mayor Adams commented: “Affordable housing, homelessness, public health, and our environment are all connected, and Project Renewal demonstrates the kind of creative thinking we need to tackle all of them together.”

The building reflects the ongoing goals that the mayor has for getting New Yorkers into safe, high-quality and affordable housing.

The Neighborhood of Bedford Park

Bedford Park is a quiet community in the northern section of the Bronx with small residential streets that feature old Victorian and Tudor-style homes. Surrounded by parks like Jerome Park and the New York Botanical Garden, this area has plenty of green space. Bedford Park has several nearby bus stops and is close to the 4 subway line. Bedford Park is home to several prestigious colleges, high schools, and some of the city’s oldest churches, reflecting the diverse cultures in this community.

Future Housing Projects

There has been strong support for the vision of Bedford Green House, and those who are passionate about this project are hoping it leads to more of its kind. Studies have shown the healing benefits of being connected to nature, and that is what Bedford Green House serves to accomplish.

HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. says it serves as a model: “This development is a model for housing New Yorkers with dignity while providing the services needed to live healthy lives. Thanks to Project Renewal, our partners at the city and state, and the entire development team for making this innovative and sustainable project a reality.”

Future housing developments may take note of the special amenities and services Bedford Green House provides to its residents. These services are meant to stabilize their lives, so they can function in the community while also receiving the support they need.

The post Bedford Green House Provides Affordable and Eco-Friendly Housing appeared first on CitySignal.

The Founding of Earth Day

Leading up to this momentous day, the world had been polluting the air and oceans with no thought of the negative consequences. Oil, gas, plastics, and pesticides were among the biggest offenders. In fact, it wasn’t until the damage became so evident that some people in power could not ignore it. Oil spills in particular showcased incredible devastation occurring in and around our oceans, as a result. It was suddenly a priority to right these wrongs before more inevitable destruction could occur – but how? We had become completely dependent on the very products that would certainly be our demise.

Senator Nelson had been watching the college students and their anti-war protests and had the idea to somehow steer that energy into bringing public awareness to the environmental issue at hand. He suggested a “teach-in” (at the time, protests frequently involved a “sit-in”, where protesters would occupy the business they were protesting against) in American colleges, and pitched his idea to the press choosing April 22, between spring break and final exams, to maximize student attendance and participation. It was largely a bi-partisan event that brought individual groups and organizations fighting against things like toxic dumps, oil spills, pesticides, freeways, wildlife extinction prevention including the destruction of rainforests and others, together, in a worldwide concerted effort.

On that first Earth Day, more than 20 million Americans demonstrated industrial development causing serious harm to our environment, which was a whopping 10% of the population at the time. Thousands of colleges and universities organized rallies and protests across the country. The first Earth Day resulted in the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as many other notable environmental laws. Some of these were the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act or OSHA, and the Clean Air Act. A short time later came the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. These laws are still in place today.

Earth Day at the United Nations

1990 was another notable Earth Day, and this time the campaign went global. This time, 200 million people were mobilized in 141 countries. This made environmental concerns a worldwide effort, boosting recycling and bringing these concerns to the forefront of public awareness. This led to the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992 being formed. Additionally, President Clinton awarded former Senator Gaylord Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his role in founding Earth Day. Over the decades since, other major campaigns have been launched, focusing on environmental conservation topics like global warming, climate change, green energy and numerous measures towards saving our unique, beautiful planet. It has ultimately brought hundreds of millions of people in 193 countries opportunities for engagement and volunteerism in these environmental causes.

Earth Day 2022

This year as we reflect on the state of our country, moving into a new era post-pandemic, another Earth Day is almost here – giving us a new opportunity for engagement in environment-saving activities. No matter where you live, there are a variety of things that contribute value which can be accomplished by groups and individuals alike. Environmental concerns today have never been more urgent, over half a century later. It’s already most likely too late, to reverse our course of irreparable damage to catastrophic levels. However, it remains an urgent priority to slow the pollution to negligible, in order to prolong the inevitable destruction of our atmosphere, which would be the end of all life on planet earth.

Because the need for a solution has reached a critical point, Earth Day has never been more important. The movement needs every person to do their part, not just on Earth Day, but every day. New Yorkers who live in the city have a unique opportunity to set an example for the rest of the major cities across the country. Some of the best opportunities are things like organizing a small committee to clean up the neighborhood you live in, promoting garbage separation and proper disposal and recycling of different types of waste or trash. Make up some flyers with good information on how to do this for each member to distribute as they go. The more the merrier!

How to Celebrate Earth Day

Here are some other great ideas of things you can do to show your support, and celebrate Earth Day, in NYC or anywhere:

• Donate to your favorite environmental cause.
• Share a ride to avoid excess pollution, in NYC we have the benefit of taking mass transit.
• Commit to reducing your carbon footprint (don’t buy plastics, walk instead of drive, invest in an EV, conserve energy, use sustainable materials, support causes etc.)
• Plant something (a tree, a houseplant, an herb garden, etc.)
• Buy produce from a local farmer’s market
• Pack a lunch (no plastics!) and go hiking – find a special place to be alone and commune with nature (yes, even Central Park or Prospect Park count)
• Find a local organization that promotes environmental causes you agree with, and donate some of your time
• Commit to practicing a new outdoor activity
• Start a local or neighborhood environmental movement
• Check out our sustainability tab for more ideas and news of environmentally friendly things.

These are just a few suggestions to get you started. Now that you know the origins, history, significance, and urgency of supporting Earth Day on April 22nd, let’s all join together and do our part to save the miraculous, life-giving planet we live on.

The post Celebrate Earth Day, History and More appeared first on CitySignal.

What is commonly found in tap water?

Mineral fluoride is one of the most common additives to tap water. This is the United States’ secret way of promoting good dental hygiene. Mineral fluoride helps your teeth to become stronger as proven by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). They say that mineral fluoride can assist in the prevention of tooth decay up to 25%. Chlorine and chloramine are also added to tap water in order to serve as a disinfectant. These two chemicals ward off any germs that may be hiding within the water. According to the CDC, chlorine levels up to 4 parts per million are safe. Then, there are other minerals in tap water that aid in positive human health. As stated in the Healthline article “… drinking a quart of tap water provides you with about 1 percent of your daily required copper, calcium, magnesium, and sodium”. Some other minerals that you can find in tap water that are good for you are: potassium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc. 

What Is Unsafe in Drinking Water?

On the other hand, there are a lot of unsafe components that could be swimming around in your tap water. For example, bacteria and parasites. The likelihood of this being the case is very low, but never say never, right? If E.coli, Cryptosporidium, or Giadira are found within your tap water then your local health advisory will put out a notice for a “boil water advisory”. If this is something that you are notified of, we highly recommend stopping by your local grocery store and picking up a case of water until you are in the clear. Both human-made and natural chemicals can also be detected in tap water. These are harmful to your health, but usually are filtered out before it reaches the tap. Again, better to be aware and safe than unaware and sorry. I believe what scared my sweet mother the most was the threat of our next contender: radioactive elements. This is also why we didn’t have a microwave as I was growing up (boring). When I say radioactive elements we’re talking about heavy stuff like: uranium, cesium, and plutonium. I know, I know I’m bringing you back to the days of dreaded high school chemistry with these words, but in the rare case of a dangerous situation you must beware of the repercussions! There are groups of people that are more vulnerable to these substances than others: infants, young children, pregnant women, those over the age of 65, those undergoing chemotherapy, people with HIV or AIDS, and immunocompromised individuals. So, if there is anyone that lives under your roof within one of those categories it may be best to buy a water filter just in case. 

Drinking-Water Regulation

Luckily, the U.S. passed the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 to guarantee a basic set of standards that tap water must meet in order to be drinkable. However, there are some states with better tap water than others. Water quality really just boils down to freshness versus outright contamination. Rhode Island finds itself at the top of purest water lists. This is due to their abundance of freshwater resources and the monitoring that ensues in order to make sure it remains the best. South Dakota is especially strict with their tap water standards which makes them sit comfortably at second best. Following is Minnesota with a plethora of grants that fund operations of water training management. Other states that are noted within the top 10 list published by Aquasana are: New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, and Massachusetts. 

What state has the worst drinking water?

As stated, we are also going to take a look at some U.S. states with the worst-tasting tap water. Still following the list pasted above, Arizona finds itself taking the number one spot. But how and why does the water taste so poorly? According to recent studies linked in the Aquasana article, Arizonian tap water contains high levels of both chromium-6 and polyfluoroalkyl substances. If this doesn’t sound very good, well, that is because it’s not. California comes in second place with arsenic, uranium, and nitrates infiltrating their water systems. Ohio takes third place due to their concentration of industrial centers causing large amounts of led to be found within the tap water. The other places on this list are: Washington, Puerto Rico, Georgia, New Jersey,  Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas. 

If you find yourself in a state with poor-quality tap water it is best not to take any risks. Sure, there are many members of these communities that come out unscathed, but it is important to note all feasible precautions when visiting/moving. Just remember my mom’s voice in the back of your head the next time you go to fill your glass with tap water – “Take it from the fridge instead”. 

The post Best (and worst) Tasting Tap Water Across U.S. Cities  appeared first on CitySignal.

What is LEED and Its Rating System?

LEED or the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a rating system that’s meant to signal the sustainability and efficiency of a building. Several factors are used to score buildings like energy consumption, waste management, water management, environmental quality, and more. Buildings are rated on a scale between 1-100. A building is certified when a building scores between a 40 and a 49, however Silver, Gold, and Platinum certifications can be given to buildings that score higher. The higher the score, the greener the building.

How Are NYC’s LEED Ratings?

So how is NYC doing in terms of LEED ratings? It’s actually looking pretty good so far! As of 2020, New York State ranked 5th in the nation for buildings with LEED certifications and NYC specifically is a big part of that. Over 40% of commercial buildings in the city have some sort of LEED certification, and over 2,000 residential buildings can say the same. Some of these buildings include The Greenwich Lane and 10 Hudson Yards. Manhattan, especially, is becoming more energy-efficient, especially with the expansion of Local Law 86 in 2016, which requires new buildings and renovations to receive city funding to meet certain design and energy use standards, specifically LEED.

These design and energy standards from the NYC government involve HVAC, boiler, lighting, and plumbing installations and replacements meeting guidelines that reduce energy usage and water waste. This is pretty easy when constructing a new building. After all, starting from scratch is much easier than replacing older equipment in prewar buildings. That said, there are still ways to make pre-war buildings energy efficient too. The US Green Building Council even has a special process for existing buildings seeking to get certified. Sometimes it’s as easy as getting a new boiler. However, not all buildings are as quick to comply. 

Till now, we’ve mostly been talking about buildings that receive government money. Those are the ones that Local Law 86, and its revisions, apply. However, New York City also has many privately owned buildings, especially ones that are residential. So far, the LEED requirements are unenforceable unless the building owners take government money. NYC is trying to combat this with Local Law 95, which ranks the energy efficiency of a building, gives said building a letter grade, and forces the building to post the letter grade on all entrances. This applies to all buildings over 25,000 square feet regardless of who owns/funds them.

NYC Buildings Are Getting Ds from LEED

These rankings have revealed that nearly half of the buildings that submitted data have a D rank or lower, which is the lowest rank a building can get (unless a building doesn’t submit data. Then they get an F). Granted, this is an Energy Star rating, but you do see correlation when it comes to scoring. The Empire State Building, for example, has a B as an Energy Star rating and is LEED Gold Certified. This is, essentially, the city’s way to try and shame privately owned buildings into aiming for LEED certification. Buildings don’t currently face a fine if they have a low energy star ranking, but that changes in 2024 when building fines will correlate with how much emissions they produce.

Despite that, private buildings are struggling to become energy efficient. There has been an increase in LEED buildings, but there has also been an increase in privately owned buildings not submitting energy efficiency data, which is not a good sign. However, there will always be stubborn landowners in NYC and everywhere else in the world. All in all, NYC, privately owned buildings included, are making moves to become LEED certified. It’s not happening as fast as the city would like. We probably are a tad behind in that carbon neutral by 2050 goal. But things are happening.

How Can You Improve LEED Scores?

So how can things happen a little faster? How can you help the process? First and foremost, contact your local leaders and ask them to be more vocal and transparent about NYC’s climate change goals. Local Laws 86 and 95 have made a lot of progress, but more clearly needs to be done if the city’s climate goals are going to be met. Push for more legislation that makes sustainable buildings receive benefits of some sort.

If you own your home, switch to energy-efficient light bulbs and windows. Those go a long way. Overall it’s still your management team’s decision to make changes to plumbing and heating, but make your voice heard if you’re on a co-op board. Additionally, make the benefits of living in a green building known. Though it might be expensive to replace some equipment, they are overall cheaper and easier to maintain than traditional buildings.

Overall, the gloom and doom that you see in many stories of New York are not found in this situation. Are things going as smoothly as they could be? No, but there are always a few bumps in the road. Overall, the future looks bright when it comes to LEED buildings in NYC, and the rest of the country. Many states are actively competing to have the most energy-efficient buildings, and it’s making a lot of positive change happen. That change will, hopefully, also be seen in private buildings, and things are still looking up there. Everyone needs to come together to prevent further damage from climate change. Thanks to LEED certifications, it seems like the city has a way to make that change possible.

The post A Guide To LEED Buildings in NYC appeared first on CitySignal.

“With this investment, New York will lead the nation on offshore wind production, creating green jobs for New Yorkers, and powering our clean energy future,” Governor Hochul said. “I am proud to make New York a leader in offshore wind and renewable energy. We must harness the potential of offshore wind to fuel our economy forward and meet our ambitious climate goals.” 

New York City hopes to capitalize on the Governor’s huge investment with a new, planned offshore wind facility in the Rossville section of Staten Island. The project will be at 2629 Arthur Kill Road, totaling 33-acres on the Arthur Kill Channel. The site includes 2,000 feet of shoreline and easy access to the West Shore Expressway, near the Outerbridge Crossing to New Jersey.

The new wind farm also falls in line with Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign promise to transform New York City into a major hub for wind energy and wind turbine manufacturing plants. Adams, as a mayoral candidate said, “New York City has always been a hub for innovation, new ideas, and progressive thinking. There is no reason New York City shouldn’t be a leader in wind power. We have the resources, and we can foster the talent — we just have not had the leadership to get it done.”

NYC’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) recently released a request for proposals (RFP) for developers to construct an offshore wind farm in Rossville. The EDC wants a developer to develop the facility and create good-paying manufacturing and industrial jobs for low-income individuals in the area. 

According to the RFP, the wind farm should “create a jobs center on the waterfront with an emphasis on good-paying manufacturing and industrial jobs, including the delivery of a comprehensive hiring and wage program that supports local communities and creates broad-based opportunity, with a focus on opportunities for low-income persons.”

It’s not clear yet how many jobs the site will support, but the planned Rossville wind farm is just the latest wind energy facility announced in NYC. In March, Mayor Eric Adams announced a deal with two petroleum companies to transform the vacant South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park, Brooklyn into operations and maintenance facility for an offshore wind project called Empire Wind 1. 

The Marine Terminal development will also serve as a power interconnection site for the Empire Wind 1. The project will generate an estimated 816 megawatts of power for New York City once it’s completed in 2026. 

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