Integrating renewable energy into NYCHA Developments: Coney Island case study
Project Overview
After Superstorm Sandy hit New York, many buildings were left without electricity due to damage on the electric grid. As described by the Green Building Council report “Lack of electricity after Superstorm Sandy was a bigger problem for many people than the storm itself, affecting 20 percent of New Yorkers.” (Building resiliency task force, 2013). It is desirable to have backup electricity generation systems in emergency scenarios. Renewables are a good candidate since they don’t require fuel and can be easily integrated into buildings. Furthermore, most renewable technologies are well suited for off grid conditions and appropriate for areas with poor electric infrastructure.
This paper explores solar and wind based technologies and the potential impact they could have in New York City public housing. We determined possible scenarios and design strategies for energy reduction for a specific NYCHA building in Coney Island Brooklyn, NY. By using Sefaira, cloud based design software for architects, I quantified production scenarios and determined possible energy savings/production.
Pratt PSPD Course - Retrofitting existing buildings
Timeline: August - November 2013
Reviewer: Gita Nandan RA (Adjunct Professor)
My role: Building surveying, 3D modeling, Sefaira energy modeling and report writing
