EDF’s US Climate and Energy Program takes to the airwaves
A lot has been happening with NYC Clean Heat lately. We have converted over 1,200 boilers to the cleanest available fuels and we have reduced over 150 tons of soot pollution, or particulate matter (PM2.5), from the air. That number is equivalent to removing over 800,000 light-duty passenger vehicles from the road for one year, or over 13 billion miles traveled!
And now we’re taking to the airwaves. We created a video to showcase our achievements and create a new outreach tool to propel us to our next accomplishment.
Source: NYC Clean Heat
To give you a little background, NYC’s Department of Health estimates that achieving our goal, reducing soot pollution by replacing highly-polluting No. 6 and No. 4 heating oils to the cleanest available fuels, will result in over 120 lives saved each year and prevent hundreds of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Approximately 1,500 buildings still need to complete conversions by the end of the year, and, roughly 2,000 permits for No. 6 oil are set to expire before March 2014, representing 232 tons of soot pollution. Here’s an astonishing fact – only 1% of all buildings in NYC use these heavily polluting heating oils, yet burning these oils creates more soot than all of the cars and trucks in NYC combined. The problem is grave, but the solution is within grasp.
This video showcases the incredible work NYC Clean Heat has accomplished and features testimonials from stakeholders who either converted to the cleanest fuels, saving money on fuel and electricity, or helped support the cause. One board member, Jerry Cohen, summed it perfectly: “Wow! We can save a fortune AND do great things for the environment.” (Without stealing too much thunder from the video itself, EDF’s own Isabelle Silverman is also featured.)There is still a lot of work to be done. This video will be a vital asset for our experts, as they work with more building owners to convert to the cleanest fuels. And it can be useful to you as well.
If you live in the New York City area, click here to see if the building where you live or work is burning No. 6 or No. 4 heating oil and, if so, get in touch with us by calling 311 and asking for NYC Clean Heat. If you don’t live in the New York City area, we hope you will view this program as a model partnership that successfully brings together government, non-profits, financing institutions, real estate and community groups.