Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
AGENCY TESTIMONY
Cost and implementation challenges for air quality centers
0:12:58
ยท
45 sec
The testimony outlines significant cost and implementation challenges associated with establishing clean air centers as part of the cooling center program.
- Estimated initial cost of at least $260 million for retrofitting, with ongoing annual costs
- Most air quality alerts in NYC are due to high ozone, which traditional air conditioners and HVAC systems do not filter
- Facilities would require extensive retrofitting to meet clean air standards
- Even LEED certified buildings, including Emergency Management headquarters, do not meet the proposed standards
- The high costs and technical challenges could deter current cooling center partners from continuing their participation
Christina Farrell
0:12:58
Asking them to verify that the air is clean within their facilities is scientifically fraught and comes at significant cost.
0:13:06
The estimated cost for the legislation at hand starts at at least $260,000,000 for initial retrofit and increases each year in perpetuity to maintain the clean air standard.
0:13:18
This cost reflects the science that most air quality alerts that New York City Emergency Management amplifies are due to high ozone rather than smoke.
0:13:27
Traditional air conditioners and HVAC systems do not filter ozone nor fit the standard and facilities would have to be retrofitted.
0:13:37
Even LEED certified buildings such as New York City Emergency Management headquarters do not fit the standards being asked.