Bright Power Completes Installation of 575 kW Solar Electric System at Ocean Bay Apartments
Far Rockaway, NY – Ocean Bay Apartments is shining light on how to combine affordable housing preservation and climate change mitigation. The 24-building, 1,395-unit complex now boasts a 575 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system, designed and installed by Bright Power. The system produces enough power to offset the emissions from 104 cars driven for one year.
As the first New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) property to undergo a conversion under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), Ocean Bay Apartments is leveraging private funds to preserve and improve affordable public housing. RDC Development, a joint venture between MDG Design + Construction and Wavecrest Management, rehabilitated and operates the property. After the complex was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, RDC Development worked with Bright Power to install energy efficiency and storm resiliency measures. In addition to the 575 kW solar PV system, these include the conversion to building-specific hydronic heating from a centralized steam distribution system and relocating the boilers to avoid floods.
“Sustainability is a key consideration in how we must approach the revitalization and long-term viability of our housing stock, and was paramount in our work at Ocean Bay. Bright Power’s partnership was instrumental in the seamless design and implementation of our energy-efficient measures and solar power system. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, over 4,000 residents at Ocean Bay will experience lower utility costs and a healthier, greener place to call home,” said Michael Rooney, Jr., Principal of RDC Development.
“RDC Development’s commitment to resiliency, sustainability, and long-term affordability enables thousands of Ocean Bay residents to have safe, comfortable and affordable homes. We’re proud to have partnered with them on this project.” said Jeffrey Perlman, President & Founder of Bright Power.
About Bright Power, Inc.
Bright Power provides strategic energy solutions to building owners and operators in NYC and across the nation. Specializing in multifamily apartment buildings, Bright Power has worked with over 1,400,000 apartments that cover 1,180,000,000 square feet. Bright Power’s energy management solutions include EnergyScoreCards benchmarking software, energy audits, energy procurement, on-site generation, green building design services, turnkey installation of energy improvements, and ongoing energy management. For more information, please visit www.brightpower.com.
About MDG Design + Construction
MDG Design + Construction (MDG) is a leading real estate firm that develops, constructs, and manages quality affordable housing. MDG specializes in the moderate rehabilitation and new construction of residential apartment buildings in New York City and Long Island, and is the industry leader in occupied rehabilitations. For nearly 30 years, our hands-on approach and people-first philosophy has resulted in effective collaborations with developers, tenant organizations, community groups, and staff to produce high quality homes that residents are proud to live in. To date, MDG has created or preserved 17,000 units of affordable housing and is responsible for nearly $1.6 billion in construction and development. Learn more at www.mdgny.com.
About The Wavecrest Management Team
The Wavecrest Management Team Ltd (Wavecrest Management Group LLC) is a full-service management company that manages approximately 20,000 residential units in over 350 buildings in the New York metropolitan area. Our specialty, for over 30 years, has and is the management of affordable housing, with a majority of the buildings located in The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. Wavecrest employs over 100 full-time individuals to carry out the services necessary to properly manage its portfolio of units. Our main office is located in Queens and we have site offices in The Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn. The cornerstone of our management strategy is a firm belief that given the necessary resources we can and have been successful in the management of the residential buildings that we have been chosen to manage. http://www.wavecrestmanagement.com/
About New York City Housing Authority
NYCHA’s mission is to increase opportunities for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers by providing safe, affordable housing and facilitating access to social and community services. Over 390,000 New Yorkers reside in NYCHA’s 316 public housing developments and PACT/RAD developments formerly managed by NYCHA around the five boroughs. Over 190,000 receive subsidized rental assistance in private homes through the NYCHA-administered Section 8 Leased Housing Program. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/nycha, and for regular updates on NYCHA news and services, connect with us via www.facebook.com/NYCHA and www.twitter.com/NYCHA.
Media Inquiries
Bright Power: Betsy Harbison – bharbison@brightpower.com
MDG Design + Construction: Alison Berg – aberg@groupgordon.com
See the release in Solar Power World.