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<\/a><\/p>\nLOS ANGELES \u2013 Mayor Karen Bass today announced a major milestone in implementing her Climate Action Plan with the installation of 1,066 energy-efficient air conditioning units for residents living at Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) properties.<\/p>\n
The announcement was made at Nickerson Gardens, where Mayor Bass was joined by Congresswoman Maxine Waters, leaders from HACLA and LADWP, and residents, underscoring the City\u2019s commitment to climate resilience and environmental justice.<\/p>\n
The investment demonstrates how the City\u2019s Climate Action Plan is delivering tangible benefits for Angelenos by helping residents adapt to increasingly frequent and severe heat, reducing household energy costs, improving energy efficiency, and expanding access to energy-efficient housing improvements and climate resilience investments in communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs temperatures continue to rise across Los Angeles, protecting residents from extreme heat is both a public health priority and a climate priority,\u201d said Mayor Bass. \u201cThis investment will help families stay safe, lower their energy bills, and improve residents\u2019 quality of life. That\u2019s what our Climate Action Plan is about \u2013 delivering practical solutions that improve people\u2019s lives today while building a healthier and more resilient Los Angeles for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so pleased to have been able to assist Mayor Karen Bass and HACLA with the installation of air conditioners for public housing residents as part of the City of Los Angeles\u2019 Climate Action Plan,\u201d said Congresswoman Waters. \u201cI am especially pleased that I was able to secure more than $4 million in federal Community Project funding to jumpstart this initiative for air conditioners in the Nickerson Gardens, Imperial Courts, Gonzaque Village, and Jordan Downs facilities in my district.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs extreme heat becomes more common, we have a responsibility to make sure every family has a safe, comfortable place to come home to, especially during dangerous heat events,\u201d said Councilmember Tim McOsker. \u201cBy expanding access to energy-efficient cooling, we\u2019re helping families stay healthy, lower their energy costs, and better prepare our communities for the challenges of a changing climate. Efforts like this remind us that meeting the needs of our public housing communities takes partnership, innovation, and a willingness to find creative solutions. This investment shows what we can accomplish when we work together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project is part of the City\u2019s Heat Mitigation Home Improvement Program (HMHIP), launched to help protect residents from increasingly frequent and severe heat by improving energy efficiency and indoor comfort in vulnerable communities. Through a partnership between the Mayor\u2019s Office, HACLA, and LADWP, the program upgrades public housing communities while helping residents maintain safe indoor temperatures during extreme heat. The program leverages rebates available through LADWP\u2019s Cool LA<\/a> initiative to purchase energy-efficient air conditioning units in bulk, reducing costs and accelerating installation across HACLA properties. The investment reflects the City\u2019s commitment to ensuring communities that have historically experienced the greatest environmental burdens are among the first to benefit from climate resilience improvements.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery family deserves a home that is safe, healthy, and resilient \u2013 especially as extreme heat becomes a growing threat across Los Angeles,\u201d said Lourdes Castro Ram\u00edrez, President and CEO of HACLA. \u201cThis partnership with Mayor Bass, LADWP, and our City leaders shows what is possible when we work together with urgency and purpose. By expanding access to energy\u2011efficient cooling, we are protecting our residents\u2019 health today while strengthening the long\u2011term well\u2011being of our public housing communities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs extreme heat intensifies, reliable access to cooling is no longer optional \u2013 it\u2019s essential,\u201d said David W. Hanson, LADWP Interim General Manager. \u201cThrough our Cool LA Initiative, we\u2019re proud to help deliver affordable, energy-efficient cooling solutions to families who need them most and ensure their health, safety and resiliency.\u201d<\/p>\n Mayor Bass released the City\u2019s Climate Action Plan for Los Angeles<\/a> in April 2026, establishing more than 50 measurable actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen climate resilience, expand clean energy, and improve public health. The Plan prioritizes investments that deliver immediate benefits for Angelenos while ensuring communities most impacted by climate change and pollution are among the first to benefit from the City\u2019s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future. To assist in implementing her Climate Action Plan, Mayor Bass recently appointed a new Director for the Climate Emergency and Mobilization Office and Chief Heat Officer Daniela Simunovic to coordinate citywide efforts to protect Angelenos from the growing impacts of extreme heat. Ms. Simunovic brings over twenty-years of experience working on environmental justice and climate issues in California.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s announcement builds on the City\u2019s broader climate progress under Mayor Bass\u2019 leadership. Los Angeles is now coal-free<\/a>, has completed the Eland Solar-plus-Storage Center<\/a>-one of the nation\u2019s largest solar and battery storage facilities- and has doubled the number of electric vehicle chargers across the city. Also the Groundwater Replenishment Project located at the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys is currently under construction and will purify up to 45 million gallons of water a day once operational in 2028. Together, these accomplishments underscore the City\u2019s commitment to implementing its Climate Action Plan through measurable actions that protect public health, bolster climate resilience, and improve quality of life for Angelenos.<\/p>\n