Nation’s Largest Housing Development ‘Goes Green’

Long Island, NY – Residents of the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City, today received nearly 10,000 energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that will help promote savings in utility costs for the Authority. NYCHA, Citi, N.A., RelightNY, Ameresco, Inc. and the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), joined together at the development for a kickoff event to celebrate this partnership and begin the installation of the CFLs at the largest housing complex in the City and the nation.

This is NYCHA’s first major initiative following the announcement in December 2007 of the historical sustainability partnership with the City of New York, CCI and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Since then NYCHA has developed a comprehensive ‘green’ agenda that includes apartment and common area CFL upgrades as well as building retrofits and modernizations to current boiler and heating systems. The goal is to make NYCHA’s 343 developments more energy-efficient and educate residents about energy conservation and its importance in saving our planet and in preserving public housing.

The CFL lamps were purchased by RelightNY with a generous $20,000 donation made to the youth-run not-for-profit by Citi. NYCHA is replacing an average of six incandescent light bulbs per dwelling unit with CFLs, which use one-fourth the amount of electricity and last ten times longer.

“Queensbridge is the largest development in our real estate portfolio, and as such, is also the largest consumer of electricity and other utilities. The installation of CFLs is a sure and immediate way to lower our utility expenses, reduce our output of greenhouse gases, and in the process, contribute to the Mayor’s PlaNYC efforts to reduce carbon emissions and guarantee the sustainability of our great City,” said NYCHA Chairman Tino Hernandez.

“Citi is proud to support the New York City Housing Authority’s Queensbridge South energy-efficient lighting project and its partners, Relight NY, Ameresco, and the Clinton Foundation,” said Eileen A. Auld, New York Community Relations State Director.

“At Citi, we are committed to promoting positive environmental change. We have established many programs and initiatives to support the environment, including a 10-year $50 billion commitment to combat climate change.”

Speaking on behalf of RelightNY, Avery Hairston, RelightNY’s founder said, “To make a positive difference, we are working to educate and motivate all New Yorkers to make the switch to CFL bulbs, as an easy step to living more environmentally conscious lives. Thanks to Citibank and their generous donation, we are very pleased to provide these bulbs to the families who live in Queensbridge houses.