Over the last year, UHAB has teamed up with Solar One, Sustainable CUNY and WE ACT for Environmental Justice on the Solar Uptown Now campaign. Together we worked towards educating the HDFC community about its opportunities to go solar. This campaign offered affordable housing residents in Upper Manhattan the opportunity to create their own renewable energy and reap the benefits of electricity savings. At least 65 buildings began exploring the possibility of installing solar panels, and 8 have already committed to go solar through the campaign!

UHAB’S SPRING SCREENING PARTY In April, UHAB hosted the first of a series of events designed to bring together affordable housing stakeholders. To kick off our celebration of 44 years of resident-driven solutions, HDFC co-op shareholders, residents, tenant association members and activists, affordable housing advocates, City government representatives, and UHAB staff and friends all gathered for a free short film, panel discussion, and party.

CHTU FOUNDINGMEMBER HONORED FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH “It was an honor to be nominated by the Black History Month Committee at Medgar Evers College,” says Donna Mossman, a founding member of the Crown Heights Tenants Union (CHTU). “ The work of CHTU with the support of UHAB is crucial in educating and empowering tenants to fight back and understand that housing is not a luxury, but a right.”

LOWER YOUR HEATING BILLS WITH THIS CON EDISON INCENTIVE PROGRAM! “Having six to seven engineers in the cellar evaluating our heating system—that was huge,” Keith Williams, a shareholder and superintendent in a 9 unit HDFC in West Harlem told us. He was describing his experience with Con Ed’s Multifamily Incentive Program, which offers cash incentives and rebates for energy efficiency improvements and heating system upgrades. If your HDFC co-op is a Con Edison gas customer, your building might also qualify for a free or reduced-cost heating system overhaul, including a boiler tune-up, master venting, and the installation of Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) to control the temperature within apartments.

THANK YOU HDFC TREASURERS HDFC treasurers have a valuable role in the building; they manage a co-op’s financial health. An engaged, knowledgeable treasurer can make all the difference in preserving a building’s affordability. The first step towards financial health is learning about the duties and habits of a responsible treasurer. UHAB offers trainings geared towards treasurers and any shareholder with an interest in the financial strength of their building. See our trainings calendar to learn what workshops we’re offering this month at uhab.coop/calendar.

GOING SOLAR FOR NO MONEY DOWN 67-69 St. Nicholas Ave HDFC signed a contract this fall to go solar through a Power Purchase Agreement. This HDFC in Northern Manhattan is using a smart financing mechanism to get solar panels on their roof for no money down. They’ll start saving right away and contribute to a greener, healthier city. A third party company, Sunwealth, will pay for and own the panels, and sell the electricity they produce back to the HDFC at a cheaper rate than Con Edison. After ten years, the HDFC will have the option to buy the panels for a discounted rate.