The Manhattan Clean Energy Hub was created as a free service to help tenants, nonprofits, small businesses, and affordable housing owners in Manhattan learn about low- and no-cost renewable energy upgrades that improve indoor air quality and reduce utility costs. We also connect interested jobseekers to clean energy careers.
WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a community-based organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is a New York State public benefit corporation that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate economic growth, and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers equitably.
Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD) builds community power to win affordable housing and thriving, equitable neighborhoods for all New Yorkers. As a member organization of 80-plus community groups across New York City, we use research, advocacy, and grassroots organizing to build equity and justice in low-income, historically marginalized neighborhoods and citywide.
Kinetic Communities Consulting (KC3) is a M/WBE-certified firm that works with energy and affordable housing industry partners, to connect, educate, and simplify energy efficiency opportunities for under-represented communities. We want to help New Yorkers save money, feel safe, and live in a cleaner environment.
USL Technology is an New York City and New York State MWBE-certified engineering, energy efficiency, and sustainability consulting firm that adopts a comprehensive approach to champion a sustainable New York City. Through the transformative power of technology, innovation, education, and equity, we strive to lead the way in promoting Healthy Buildings, Healthy People, and Healthy Communities. Our unwavering commitment to creating a better future drives us to collaborate with communities, businesses, and our partners; and empower them with cost-efficient solutions, ensuring a greener and healthier environment for all.
Green City Force’s (GCF) AmeriCorps program prepares young adults aged 18-24 who reside in affordable housing with a high school diploma or equivalency for careers through green service. The Service Corps responds to climate resilience and community cohesion through environmental stewardship, building green infrastructure and urban farming, and community education. We have a holistic approach to sustainability and pride ourselves in training our corps in various areas, from composting techniques and energy efficiency to behavior change outreach. GCF’s programs are rooted in the belief that young residents of affordable housing are uniquely positioned through leadership, training, and service to drive change in the community while building skills, earning certifications, and gaining experience to help achieve economic prosperity.
CLEAN ENERGY JUSTICE PARTNERS
Our Clean Energy Justice Partners support outreach for the Manhattan Clean Energy Hub, ensuring the Hub’s services reach frontline communities across the borough. For six months, grassroots community organizations participating as Clean Energy Justice Partners receive stipends to provide local outreach to meet the needs of low-income New Yorkers throughout Manhattan. Outreach takes the form of flyering, canvassing, phonebanking, social media posts, email blasts, newsletters, in-person events, and webinars.
Through community development, Asian Americans for Equality advances racial, social and economic justice for Asian Americans and other systemically disadvantaged communities, guided by our experiences as Asian Americans and our commitment to civil rights.
BOC Network’s mission is to improve the economic prospects of entrepreneurs and community business owners, with a focus on low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs and their communities, and thereby create genuinely brighter futures.
Cooper Square Committee works with area residents to contribute to the preservation and development of affordable, environmentally healthy housing and community/cultural spaces so that the Cooper Square area remains racially, economically, and culturally diverse. We have spearheaded significant neighborhood victories in our history, comprising over 50 years of tenant organizing, community-based planning, advocacy and development. We rely on the active involvement of our members in the organization’s work to advance our affordable housing agenda.
The Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) is a multi-service, community development organization dedicated to supporting and empowering the economically disadvantaged residents of Washington Heights. CLOTH’s holistic approach to community development provides a comprehensive framework of social and neighborhood services to stabilize and strengthen family life.
Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation’s (NMIC) mission is to serve as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of the people in our community on their paths to secure and prosperous futures.
Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) empowers low- to moderate-income residents to take control of their housing and enhance communities by creating strong tenant associations and lasting affordable co-ops.
University Settlement’s mission is to empower families by building on their strengths and knowledge through the provision of comprehensive quality services that meet current needs, innovative programs that anticipate future needs, and advocacy on behalf of families.
The Yemeni American Merchants Association (YAMA) seeks to educate and elevate Yemeni-American merchants and their families through education, civil rights advocacy, business and social service support.
In New York City, 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions – the emissions that cause climate change – come from buildings burning fossil fuels. And studies show that climate change impacts communities of color the hardest, from extreme heat to flooding.
“WE ACT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE HAS BEEN WORKING TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.”
As part of WE ACT’s Solar Uptown Now program, we installed 415 kW of solar panels on HDFC affordable housing co-ops, and trained community members to do the installations, creating good jobs in the process. We also helped install 1.2 MW of solar on the roofs of 40 New York City Housing Authority buildings, including Carver Houses in East Harlem, as part of the Community Power community solar project. And we have been advocating for legislation to reduce emissions, like Local Law 154 of 2021, which will ensure that new buildings built in our community are all electric and won’t burn fossil fuels.
“WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS A JUST TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY, ONE THAT ALL NEW YORKERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN AND BENEFIT FROM.”
That is why the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) selected WE ACT to host and manage its Manhattan Clean Energy Hub, helping residents of Manhattan take advantage of clean energy jobs, energy efficiency improvements in their homes, and rebates for businesses and personal transportation. The Hub helps Manhattan residents on the frontlines of climate change save money and access affordable energy efficiency upgrades and job opportunities.
“NYSERDA IS A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION COMMITTED TO ADVANCING ENERGY AND CLIMATE JUSTICE THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN OUR ECONOMY AND WORKFORCE THAT ADDRESS HISTORIC INEQUITIES AND IMPROVE HEALTH AND RESILIENCE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS, ESPECIALLY HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.”
The purpose of NYSERDA’s Regional Clean Energy Hubs is to help New York County residents, community organizations, and small businesses access and navigate – free of charge – the many opportunities created by this transition, including clean energy careers, renewable energy installations, energy efficiency improvements, and transportation alternatives.
The Manhattan Clean Energy Hub is a virtual resource backed by a team of trusted, knowledgeable, community-based organizations here in Manhattan. We have decades of experience with clean energy, energy efficiency, workforce and economic development, education, health, and housing. We are available to help individuals, nonprofits, small businesses, and affordable housing owners learn about the benefits of the clean energy economy, ways to reduce energy use and costs, and how to make more informed energy decisions.