Retrofitting NYC Apartments for Energy Efficiency - Spring

 To support New York City’s “80 by 50” greenhouse gas reduction goal, this capstone analyzed strategies to accelerate energy efficiency retrofits in multifamily buildings, which account for nearly half of the city’s building-sector energy consumption. Through interviews with 16 stakeholders, review of regulatory proceedings under Reforming the Energy Vision (REV), and comparative analysis of six North American cities, the team identified systemic barriers to retrofit participation. Key challenges included fragmented program branding, complex incentive structures, regulatory uncertainty, and limited access to innovative financing mechanisms.

The team recommended unifying multifamily program branding under a coordinated “one-stop shop” model to simplify participation and reduce transaction costs. Additional recommendations included designing outreach strategies grounded in behavioral insights, improving stakeholder coordination across energy agencies, and aligning financing tools with building owner decision-making priorities. By emphasizing consumer confidence, streamlined communication, and institutional collaboration, the project provided actionable guidance for scaling retrofit programs. The final report positioned BEEx and city policymakers to expand energy efficiency participation and reduce emissions across NYC’s largest residential building segment.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Capstone Workshop.