A Brooklyn condo owner has just won a state grant that will help them cut their building's carbon emissions and avoid fines under the city’s Local Law 97, reports Habitat Magazine.
The Brooklyn condo, a recently constructed 43-unit building in Bed-Stuy, was one of six statewide grant recipients of the Low Carbon Pathways program instituted last summer by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
The new grants are targeted at multi-family buildings in Brooklyn to help them cut carbon emissions. The program aims to provide financial support to buildings that are looking to make energy-efficient upgrades that reduce their carbon footprint with six grants totaling over $1.9 million of the program’s $7.8 million budget.
The grants can be used for various upgrades, such as energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, insulation, lighting and ventilation systems.
These upgrades not only help to reduce carbon emissions but also result in significant cost savings for building owners and tenants.
“We got $281,000 from NYSERDA to help pay for repairs to our facade, roof, windows and balcony doors,” said Amit Shah, board president at the Bedford Place Condominium in Brooklyn, which has been plagued by construction defects since it opened in 2003.
“Compliance with Local Law 97 is not easy,” he said. “It’s an arduous process, but the state and the city are trying to help buildings lower their carbon emissions.”
According to a statement released by NYSERDA, multi-family buildings are responsible for a significant amount of carbon emissions in the state. By providing financial support for energy-efficient upgrades, the program aims to reduce these emissions and create a more sustainable living environment for residents. By incentivizing sustainability, this program has the potential to create a more sustainable living environment for Brooklyn residents.
Despite this, the Low Carbon Pathways grants weren't the first time the Brooklyn condo had tapped into NYSERDA’s various carbon-reduction funds.
While helpful, the grants do not solve all the problems buildings face as they struggle to comply with the complexities of Local Law 97. But some would agree the grants are valuable pieces of the larger puzzle and another step in the right direction for city officials.
“I wish our grant was bigger, with inflation going up,” Shah said. “But I can’t complain. It definitely helps.”
To learn about how to apply for a grant, click here.
