opinion-editorial
Why the Bronx can lead on electrifying
buildings for community health, jobs
BY NATHALIA FERNÁNDEZ AND
KEITH KINCH
January’s fi ve-alarm fi re that
tore through the Twin Parks North
West building brought grief throughout
our community for the 17 neighbors
and their homes that were lost.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, we
heard that tenants had frequently
issued complaints about the building’s
lack of heat, and an emergency
space heater helped spark the fi re.
Recent research from Renthop found
that out of the 20 neighborhoods with
the most unique heat complaints, a
shocking 85% were in the Bronx.
This is unacceptable. Bronx residents,
no matter if they are low-income,
immigrants, Black or brown,
deserve basic rights inside their
homes— including the right to reliable
heating and cooling. That’s why
we must move quickly to upgrade
our buildings to be smarter, greener,
healthier and prevent further tragedies.
The Bronx can lead New York City
on electrifying buildings by ripping
out oil and gas burning heating systems
that frequently break down and
replacing them with modern, allelectric
and safe equipment, like airsource
heat pumps as well as induction
or electric stoves. When building
owners electrify their homes, businesses
and houses of worship, we
can provide solutions for three compounding
issues facing our community
today: health and safety,
economic opportunity and climate
change.
There is more and more evidence
that every time we burn oil and gas to
heat our homes or use gas stoves, we
are damaging our lungs with harmful
toxins like nitrogen dioxide. A
study published last month by Stanford
University found that methane
is leaking from gas stoves even when
they are turned off. Children living
in homes with gas cooking have
a 42% increased risk of developing
asthma.
Fossil fuels are already taking
a grave toll on the health of Bronx
residents, and especially children.
FOUNDED IN 1981 BY: Michael Benedetto and John Collazzi
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER
CEO AND CO-PUBLISHER
BRONX TIMES PUBLISHER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
REPORTER
REPORTER
DIGITAL EDITOR
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
PRODUCTION
Victoria Schneps-Yunis
Joshua Schneps
Laura Guerriero
Christian Falcone
Jason Cohen
Robbie Sequeira
Aliya Schneider
Leonard Vigliotti, Donna Marzi
Mauro DeLuca
SCHNEPS MEDIA • PO BOX 610257 BAYSIDE, NY 11361
PH: 718-224-5863
BRONX TIMES R 12 REPORTER, MAR. 4-10, 2022 BTR
The South Bronx has an asthma rate
eight to 12 times the national average
due to its proximity to three major
highways. This is an environmental
justice crisis, and gas-burning stoves
and HVAC systems inside homes are
only making matters worse.
As an alternative, heat pumps
work by absorbing heat from the outside
air, even on cold days, and pumping
it indoors. They can also run in
reverse, providing cooling in the
summer and eliminating the need for
an air conditioner. Heat pumps are
2-4 times as effi cient as conventional
gas, oil or electric resistance. They
are also quiet and clean.
Electric stoves are already gaining
steam in the Bronx. An exciting
pilot project between Columbia University
and WE ACT for Environmental
Justice just kicked off in Mott
Haven to provide induction stoves
to residents who want to make the
switch from gas stoves to induction.
Right now, BlocPower offers building
owners an innovative fi nancing
model that makes replacing this aging
equipment affordable and easy.
Building owners can enjoy the immediate
benefi ts of heat pumps, without
paying a tremendous amount of
money (or any in some cases) out of
pocket. To reduce the cost of retrofi
t projects, BlocPower’s experts also
take advantage of energy rebates and
tax programs like New York state’s
Clean Heat Program and the NYSERDA
Multifamily Performance
Project.
The upfront costs to upgrade large
buildings to all-electric can be expensive,
and might seem like a barrier for
many low-to-moderate income building
owners. But there are fi nancial
and political solutions in front of us
that will ensure that all Bronx owners
have access to building electrifi -
cation over the next few years.
In 2019, New York state was a
leader in passing the Climate Leadership
and Community Protection Act,
a historic law that promises to reduce
climate pollution in the state by
at least 85% by 2050. However, it has
yet to be fully funded by the state. A
whopping 67% of all greenhouse gas
emissions in NYC comes from our
buildings. That’s why we must pass
another bill, the Climate and Communities
Investment Act, to secure funding
in this year’s budget by charging
polluters for their harmful and dirty
emissions. We can then use those
funds to modernize and electrify the
Bronx’s aging heating and cooling
systems.
When we upgrade buildings to be
all-electric, we also create good, green
job opportunities for Bronx residents.
In September, BlocPower partnered
with the Mayor’s Offi ce to launch a Civilian
Climate Corps, which is ensuring
that climate tech jobs are going
to communities like the South Bronx
that need it most. Just several months
into the program, the company has already
prepared more than 1,000 individuals
for careers in climate technology,
including heat pump, solar and
community WiFi installation.
In Assembly District 80, for example,
BlocPower has enrolled nearly 60
participants, the majority of which
are still active in the paid training
program. More than 75% of the participants
have earned their OSHA
cards, and a dozen graduated and are
now working in a local, climate tech
job. Imagine the career opportunities
when we expand this program to
more Bronx residents.
It’s clear that the need to move
quickly to electrify the Bronx’s buildings
is not only a matter of health and
safety, it is also a win-win for those
seeking to be part of the clean energy
revolution in New York. The Bronx
doesn’t just need building electrifi cation
— it deserves it.
Nathalia Fernández is a member
of the New York State Assembly representing
the Bronx’s 80th District. Keith
Kinch is the general manager and cofounder
of BlocPower, a Brooklynbased
climate technology company.
Display Advertising Rates & Deadlines: A copy of The Bronx Times Reporter Advertising Rates is available on request. Display
deadline is the Friday prior to publication. Camera ready copy deadline is the Monday preceding publication.
Classified Deadlines: To place a Classified Ad call (718) 260-2555 or email classified@schnepsmedia.com. Deadline: 3 p.m. Tuesday prior
to publication.
Legal Notice Deadlines: For Legal Advertising call (718) 260-3977 or email legal@schnepsmedia.com. Deadline: 12 p.m. Monday
prior to publication.
Letters To The Editor: Readers are encouraged to send us their viewpoints. Name and address must be included, but will be withheld
upon request. Letters should be as brief as possible, not exceeding 200 words.
News Items: Readers are welcome to suggest news items of interest. Call the Editorial Department at (718) 260-4597 or e-mail to
bronx times@schnepsmedia.com.
Around Town: Announcements of birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc. will gladly be published. All announcements must be
mailed to the Bronx Times Reporter 3604 East Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465, before the Friday preceding publication. No
phone calls please.
Community Calendar: Civic organizations, churches, synagogues and special interest groups can have their special event dates announced
free of charge. Mail should be addressed to Community Calendar and received no later than the Friday preceding publication.
Subscription Rates: Yearly subscriptions are $26.00; 2 years for $40.00, within Bronx county. Out of county subscriptions are $50.00
per year.
Change Of Address: Any problems or inquiries regarding a present subscription must be accompanied by the mailing label from your
newspaper showing complete name, address and subscription number (top left corner).
Copyright © 2022 by Bronx CNG LLC. All rights reserved. Neither this newspaper nor any part thereof may be reproduced, copied
or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, recording or by an information retrieval
system without the express written permission of the publisher. This copyright is extended to the design and text created for advertisements.
Reproduction of said advertisement or any part thereof without the express written permission of Bronx Times Reporter, Inc.
is strictly prohibited.
Subscribing Community Groups
• Throggs Neck Home Owners Association • Pelham Bay Taxpayers Community Association
• Allerton International Merchants Association • Ferry Point Civic Association
• Ferry Point Community Advocates • Chippewa Democratic Club
• Throggs Neck Merchants Association • Bronx Chamber of Commerce
• Korony American Legion Post 253 • Locust Point Civic Association
• Spencer Estate Civic Association • Country Club Civic Association
• Waterbury/LaSalle Community Association • Samuel Young American Legion Post 620
• Westchester Square/Zerega Improvement Organization
• Morris Park Community Association • Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance
• Chester Civic Improvement Association • Liberty Democratic Association
A DIVISION OF
FDNY respond to a 5-alarm fi re in the Fordham
Heights section of the Bronx on Sunday,
Jan. 9. The massive blaze claimed the lives
of 17. Photo | Lloyd Mitchell
link
link
link
link
link
link