(I03) Low-Carbon Affordable Communities for a Sustainable and Equitable Society

Faced with affordable housing shortages and a rapid need for decarbonization, new housing developments need to address both social and environmental issues. This session addresses technologies and design strategies utilized in BDC Redevelopment that can be replicated in future projects to achieve affordable, livable communities while minimizing environmental impacts. Situated on a 28-acre site at the edge of NYC, BDC Redevelopment is an ambitious masterplan that transforms a decommissioned state psychiatric hospital into a wellness-oriented resilient urban development designed to address the chronic social, economic, and health disparities in a historically underserved area. The development fosters habits for health and wellness by providing opportunities to exercise; access to healthy food choices; and engage in communal activities. Medical, shopping, recreation, cultural and exercise facilities are all located within a walkable "15-minute" neighborhood. Based on all-electric designs and built to Passive House standards, the residential buildings have highly efficient envelopes and generate minimal operational carbon, providing a healthy indoor air environment and low utility bills for occupants. Several state-of-the-art technologies used include photovoltaics, geothermal wells, water-source heat pumps, and an innovative wastewater system that recovers heat from domestic wastewater before returning it to the city sewer system – achieving an efficiency over 4 times greater than the most efficient domestic hot water boiler systems. The project is one of the lowest energy users of its size and scale in New York City, and strategically positioned to benefit from a future carbon-neutral grid. This session will review how the building designs and system technologies work together to increase efficiency, decarbonize the buildings, and contribute to a healthier environment. The result is a development that is sustainable and equitable, and one that offers ways to integrate sustainability, wellness, and technology into a community that meets the needs of today and tomorrow.