In a city where buildings are the primary source of air pollution, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is implementing an ambitious program of green initiatives that reduce greenhouse gasses and conserve energy. These initiatives are placing NYCHA in the forefront of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's PlaNYC 2030 campaign to promote a sustainable living environment. In addition, the cost savings from reduced energy consumption are vital to the continued preservation of public housing, particularly during difficult fiscal times.

In partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative and other organizations, NYCHA has substantially reduced its carbon footprint by replacing 178,000 conventional light bulbs with energy-efficient compact florescent lamps and will replace thousands more in the coming years. Within the next three years, 56,000 refrigerators will be replaced with energy efficient models. NYCHA has replaced 450 hot water tanks with fuel-efficient instantaneous hot water heaters, and deployed advanced building technology to remotely monitor boilers for more efficient operation and better service. As part of Mayor Bloomberg's MillionTrees initiative, 10,700 trees will be planted on development grounds, further enhancing the City's greenbelt, reducing cooling costs in apartments and improving air quality.

In addition to safeguarding our 340 housing developments and investing in green technologies that will further extend the life of our housing stock, we have also cultivated 2,300 acres of development grounds with trees and shrubs, landscaping a significant part of the City's greenbelt with park-like open spaces that beautify neighborhoods and purify the air. These are all ways that NYCHA is going green.