By Katelyn Villatoro

On Earth Day, the New York City Housing Authority released their 2026 Sustainability Agenda. It comes 10 years after its last agenda, and NYC has made many incredible strides in climate policy since then. Building on the work they have already done, NYLCV is excited about what this agenda proposes and supports the goals set forth.

NYCHA sustainability centers on six key priorities: 1) promoting resident health and well-being; 2) addressing NYCHA’s priority physical needs; 3) increasing funding for property upgrades and operations; 4) reducing energy and water usage and greenhouse gas emissions; 5) increasing resiliency to flooding; and 6) increasing resiliency to extreme heat. 

Through this, the 2026 Sustainability Agenda commits itself to turn these principles into action with 9 goals that will be accomplished in the next five years, specifying a quantitative target for each goal, and laying out the specific strategies that will be undertaken to reach these targets by 2031. NYLCV dives into these goals below, explaining how NYCHA plans to execute them and what they mean for the environment.

Goal 1: Install heat pumps in 20,000 apartments over the next five years  

Heat pumps run on electricity and heat and cool individual apartments under the direct control of residents. They also allow NYCHA to move away from its dependence on boiler rooms, which are vulnerable to flooding. Converting to electric heat pumps means NYCHA buildings would move away from steam heat pumps, which are energy inefficient and predominantly use fossil fuels. This is a win for lowering greenhouse gas emissions reductions and improving individual housing conditions. As part of this larger goal, NYCHA has also committed to developing a comprehensive plan for cooling by 2028, and is exploring opportunities to utilize geothermal and waste heat recovery systems. Goal 1 is projected to cost $650 million.

Goal 2: Install high-efficiency lighting and water fixtures at 45,000 apartments 

This will achieve reduced electricity and water consumption, generating savings,reducing emissions, and improving residents’ quality of life. NYCHA has accomplished much of its efficiency work by making use of outside funding and financing, such as through New York State’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), a Federal program funded by the Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) program, thereby delivering upgrades to the Authority at little to no upfront capital cost. 

Goal 3: Install induction stoves in 10,000 apartments 

Gas burning stoves worsen indoor air quality and increase the risk of illness over long-term exposure. NYC reports that 19% of asthma in children, which disproportionately affects Black and Latinx children, are attributed to gas stoves. Using electromagnetic fields, induction stoves only create heat when in contact with cookware, which means they do not produce emissions created from open flame stoves, nor waste heat. After a successful pilot program in partnership with WE ACT for Environmental Justice, NYCHA will install induction stoves in 10,000 apartments over the next five years. Goal 3 will cost $35 million.

Goal 4: Modernize waste infrastructure at 144 NYCHA properties 

Every year, approximately 140,000 tons of waste are produced by NYCHA developments alone. NYCHA plans to install modern waste infrastructure across 144 properties by April 2031, including upgrading waste yards, interior compactors, adding convenient disposal and recycling points near building entrances, and adding more facilities for organics drop-off or processing. This goal is also key in NYC’s effort to achieve zero waste by 2030. 

Goal 5: Protect 146 buildings from climate-related disruptions  

Drawing on lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy, NYCHA plans to advocate and secure funding to support mitigation and disaster recovery at all levels of government, maximize its participation in competitive grant programs, and will standardize and scale its resiliency by considering present and future flood risk, the danger of extreme heat, and the risk of climate-driven power outages into its design and construction scopes. From flood protections, to stormwater management, to battery energy storage, NYCHA is taking meaningful steps towards more resilient and prepared protection plans. 

Goal 6: Pilot and scale-up Waste Plumbing Initiative at 15 properties  

The ongoing issue of mold and leaks due to NYCHA’s waste plumbing systems is in desperate need of addressing. This goal will target the plumbing lines with the worst performance in order to address the root cause of mold comprehensively and improve building quality. The Waste Plumbing Initiative will save water and reduce leaks and mold, totaling $500 million.

Goal 7: Provide 150 public electric vehicle charging stations in NYCHA parking lots   

Drawing on PlaNYC’s commitment to ensure every New Yorker lives within 2.5 miles of a fast-charging EV hub by 2035, this goal not only encourages a more climate-friendly method of transportation but addresses accessibility inequities for NYCHA and non-NYCHA residents where there are less charging stations, this includes many for-hire vehicle drivers who can utilize more EV charging hubs.  

Goal 8: Achieve NYCHA’s 30 megawatt solar installation goal  

6.8 megawatts (MW) of solar has been installed so far on NYCHA rooftops. In the next five years, NYCHA will complete the 30 MW goal set in the 2021 NYCHA Sustainability Agenda. Solar energy is an essential component in the City’s efforts to move away from fossil fuel-generated electricity, improves air quality, and offers the potential for green jobs.

Goal 9: Create economic opportunity for at least 1,300 NYCHA residents through NYCHA sustainability work 

Green jobs in NYC are win-win opportunities for the city and its residents. NYCHA plans to train residents in building operations and clean energy technologies, employ NYCHA residents in their sustainability projects, and empower residents as champions of environmental change in their communities. Creating these jobs is an estimated cost of $1.6 million, an important commitment that must be made.

Combined, a projected $2.46 billion is needed to implement these capital projects. NYCHA has secured or anticipates securing funding to fully achieve five of the agenda’s nine goals, equaling about $1.27 billion. This leaves a funding gap of just under $1.2 billion across four goals, specifically for NYCHA’s Section 9 properties: installation of heat pumps including domestic hot water and window renovations ($650 million), installation of induction stoves ($35 million), scale-up of waste plumbing renovations ($500 million), and resident economic opportunities ($1.6 million). 

NYLCV applauds NYCHA for prioritizing energy efficiency, building decarbonization, and clean jobs in this new Sustainability Agenda and we look forward to its implementation.

Katelyn Villatoro has been the NYC Policy fellow for the New York League of Conservation Voters since September 2025. She holds a B.A in Politics from New York University, where she obtained her Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in Advocacy & Political Action in May of 2026. To learn more about Katelyn’s background, view her LinkedIn here.