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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Mold remediation and ventilation improvements
1:14:41
ยท
94 sec
NYCHA has made progress in mold remediation and ventilation improvements across its properties. The agency has implemented new procedures and invested in infrastructure to reduce mold complaints and improve air quality.
- NYCHA has maintained a low mold recurrence rate using the 'Mold Busters' standard procedure
- Mold complaints have decreased from a peak of 1,500 per month in 2021 to around 600-900 per month in 2024
- The agency invested in new roof fans and comprehensive cleaning of bathroom ventilation systems, impacting over 74,000 apartments
- Airflow is now measured in each bathroom to ensure proper ventilation
Brad Greenburg
1:14:41
Slide 11, the next slide shows a snapshot of some visualizations we have developed to report on the agreements requirements related to mold and residence apartments.
1:14:50
The first graphic shows that we have thanks to our mold buster standard procedure developed with our partners in the bias case, sustained a low recurrence rate, ensuring mold is not coming back to a residence apartment soon after work is initially completed.
1:15:04
The second graphic shows we are struggling to meet the requirement to remediate mold conditions within 7 or 15 days, depending on the complexity of the case.
1:15:12
But what it also shows when you look at the green bars that the number of mold complaints from residents has steadily declined month over month since peaking in 2021.
1:15:20
In 2021, we peaked at more than 1500 mold complaints a month from residents.
1:15:25
This year, we are steadily around 6 hundred molds complaints per month, peaking in the more humid summer summer months at around nine hundred complaints.
1:15:32
Again, any one complaint is a problem, and we need to continue to respond faster and more effectively every day.
1:15:38
But bending this curve and reducing the occurrence of mold is critical to protecting residents' health.
1:15:43
The next slide shows pictures of one of the investments we made to help bring down the number of mold complaints by reducing moisture in our buildings.
1:15:51
Our investment in new state of the art roof fans and comprehensive cleaning of the lateral ductwork for our bathroom ventilation systems using a HEPA vacuum, which eliminates the dust and debris that collected over many decades.
1:16:03
This program impacted more than 8000 individual roof fans, more than 74,000 apartments with mechanical ventilation.
1:16:10
When this work is performed, we then measure airflow in each bathroom to ensure the system is now working properly.