Can Solar Power Heating Work in NYC Buildings?

New York City is home to 8.4 million people, all who use utilities every day. In an effort to improve NYC’s green thumb, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability published a report on the city’s water and energy usage back in 2013. The main finding of the report? Multi-family properties account for over half of the energy consumed by the city’s buildings, with ⅔ of that energy going towards heating and hot water. The main cause of this was inefficient steam heating systems that use a high amount of energy. One suggestion on how to fix this problem came from a California-based nonprofit, which suggested using solar water heaters instead.

Would It Work for NYC?

The Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) noted that for buildings that have high daily hot water usage, solar water heating can be used to supplement existing systems and reduce heating costs by 60-80%. There was some speculation about whether or not the system could work during New York’s more dreary months. Nicholas Oliver, a project manager with the CSE, resolved that the solar technology is actually better at catching indirect sunlight as opposed to direct, so it would work wonderfully for New York.

Real Solutions

Since the system works best on buildings where there’s plenty of roof space in relation to the size of the building, low-rise buildings would probably benefit more than tall apartment towers would. To remedy this, Paul Gottsegen, president of the Halstead Management Group, suggests solar sharing programs. He believes, “this is the way to go, because not every building has the roof print to accommodate enough solar panels.” In solar heating programs like these, community members help cover the cost of placing the panels somewhere else. Once the energy is collected, those who contributed get a reduction on their energy costs.

What’s Next?

Sustainability CUNY, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, and the New York Economic Development Corporation have teamed up to start an initiative called the NYC Solar Partnership. For now, it’s taking requests for information from potential suppliers of community solar power. Those homeowners who do opt for solar water heating can benefit from income tax credits and even grant money if they go through Solarize NYC.

We may see solar panels popping up on the roofs of NYC buildings in the near future. Do you want to keep up to date on NYC buildings and news? Connect with AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

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