Description

• Rooftop Photovoltaic (PV) Solar is not a Roofing System, but rather, a Mechanical System built on rooftops to take advantage of the typically excellent exposure to sunlight.
• Attachment Details – Like other mechanical installations (such as water tanks, HVAC, communications equipment), attaching PV panels to a rooftop demands careful detailing of the roofing system to prevent maintenance problems.
• Layouts – Not all roofs are suitable for PV installations, due to layout efficiency considerations.
• Initial Cost – The panels themselves, electrical infrastructure and structural supports, create a relatively high initial cost.  This may be offset by energy savings in the long term.  
• Structural loads – Wind loads and robust connections to existing slabs must be included in design. 
• Security – Many NYCHA roofs are accessible via stairhall bulkheads.  Although residents are not supposed to go to the roofs, fire exit requirements typically prohibit locking the roof doors.  This poses a security risk to the panels or electrical infrastructure. 
• Where site constraints and budget permit, photovoltaic (PV) solar panel installations can offer environmental and resiliency benefits, such as providing emergency power in the event of an electrical grid outage, and lowering energy costs. If NYCHA residents participate in the installation, it can provide a basis for future employment in the green-infrastructure technology economy. 
• In April 2021, NYCHA completed installation the largest community solar project in New York City, at Queensbridge Houses.  The project installed 1.8 megawatts of solar arrays across 27 rooftops, with NYCHA residents helping to power the solar team. 
• In April 2023, Mayor Adams and NYCHA announced plans for the installation of new rooftop solar panels on NYCHA Buildings, advancing commitment to ACCESSolar, which aims to achieve 30 megawatts of solar by 2026, reducing electricity rates for low-to-moderate-income households. The solicitation invites partners to submit plans for 10 megawatts of solar panels to be installed on NYCHA buildings beginning in 2024. This trailblazing green energy initiative builds on the Adams administration’s PlaNYC while advancing NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda.

Strategies

Optimize Performance, Operation & Maintenance of Buildings, Systems & Assets

Prioritize Sustainable Materials, Technologies & Practices

Innovate Adaptive & Resilient Solutions

Last Updated on October 23, 2024 at 1:27 pm