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Another Alfred E. Smith resident, 40-year-old Shavone Goodwin agreed. “They should be spending money on keeping this place up,” Goodwin said.
Some say that using energy efficient appliances will ultimately help get residents the improvements they are looking for. “Owners who use energy efficient appliances and use proper insulation will save money,” says Gita Nandan, president of the board of GreenHomeNYC, a nonprofit seeking to spread the use of sustainable building practices among builders, homeowners and residents. “That money can be used to fix things in the building, and tenants will have lower utility bills.”
Others worry that in the face of its $225 million deficit, NYCHA can’t afford the short-term costs of replacing aging refrigerators, stoves and water heaters. But Lopez contends that many of the initiatives she will spearhead as part of her new position will not necessarily cost NYCHA money.
“There will be some creative financial decisions. NYCHA might not put in any of the upfront money. We have partnered with other companies and agencies before and we will definitely look into that for our new programs,” says Lopez. She’s excited about working with NYCHA residents, as she says their being conscientious energy users is critical to meeting PlaNYC goals.
