Mayor de Blasio’s Bold Energy Efficiency Program will Cut Pollution, Upgrade Buildings

(NEW YORK, NY – September 28, 2015) Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today the launch of an ambitious program to upgrade 20,000, or 15 percent, of New York City’s private buildings – 40 percent of which will be low-income housing. This new ‘Retrofit Accelerator’ effort will provide resources for buildings to take advantage of opportunities to improve their energy and water efficiency.

“From solar energy to smart technologies, we have the technology to transform our cities in ways that cut pollution, save money, create local jobs and improve quality of life,” said Andy Darrell, New York Regional Director of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). “By combining targeted outreach with technical assistance and connections to financing, the Retrofit Accelerator aims to catalyze energy efficiency work citywide. By doing it here, New York City can pioneer innovative, energy efficiency solutions that serve as a model for cities around the world.”

The Retrofit Accelerator is modeled after the successful NYC Clean Heat program, which gave the Big Apple its cleanest air since the early 1960s by helping building owners replace dirty heating oils with cleaner fuels. The Clean Heat program took root in 2012 when EDF partnered with the City of New York to convene a broad coalition of city officials, nonprofit organizations, and private sector banks to launch the $100 million financing program.