Our sustainability roadmap

Prospect-Seeley Housing Corporation is committed to investing in sustainability projects that reduce our carbon footprint and increase our energy efficiency and reliance on renewable energy sources.

Our active board keeps track of legal/regulatory housing trends, which has allowed us to take timely advantage of incentives and tax breaks for building upgrades and green initiatives. The result is a history of sustainable practices that promote environmentalism, support short- and long-term cost management objectives, and enhance the value of our property.

Among the sustainability projects we’ve completed are:

  • Participation in the ReFashion NYC clothing recycling program since 2013

  • In-building collection of electronics for green recycling since 2013

  •  Installation of LED lighting in public areas of the buildings in 2015

  •  Solar panels in operation since 2020

  •  Conversion from gas to induction/electric range tops and ovens in 2021

  • And of course we recycle glass, plastic, and paper and participate in composting.

Case study: Conversion from gas to electric stoves

Older buildings present homeowners with a mix of charms and challenges. In recent years, some New York City homeowners have faced the challenge of discovering that the gas lines powering their stoves no longer met the inspection standards detailed in New York City’s Local Law 152 (Gas Piping System Periodic Inspection). In some buildings, the gas lines simply failed. Both scenarios forced those homeowners to make expensive emergency decisions about how to repair or replace those gas lines, a process that can take months to complete.

Our board of directors researched the structural, legal, and financial implications of maintaining gas stoves in our buildings’ kitchens and presented findings and remedial proposals at an annual meeting of the coop. Shareholders then voted to take preemptive action to convert the buildings from gas to electric stoves. This decision put us ahead of the curve in sustainable practice on this issue and protected shareholders from the risk of months-long disruptions to their household routines.