Buildings account for 67% of NYC’s emissions. We won’t reach the City’s 80x50 target without major improvements in all buildings, including affordable housing. The largest and perhaps most challenging type of affordable stock are those subject to New York’s rent stabilization law, which limits rent increases but allows landlords to pass on many capital improvement costs to tenants. Rules that historically encouraged efficiency upgrades now raise the specter of sizable rent hikes.

This session will examine this housing sector’s footprint and how its energy use compares to market rate properties. We’ll discuss barriers to efficiency and explore policy strategies that balance the need for upgrades with preservation of affordable housing. Panelists will discuss this challenge from a range of perspectives, including tenant advocates and building management.