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NYC Building Resiliency Task Force Report Released with the Help of Experts from Steven Winter Associates

JUNE 27, 2013

Steven Winter Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce the recent release of The Building Resiliency Task Force Report, a publication providing solutions to advance structural resiliency and mitigate climate change. Steven Winter Associates’ Maureen Mahle, Vice President and Director of Sustainable Housing Services, Marc Zuluaga, Vice President and Director of Multifamily Energy Services, Grant Salmon, Senior Energy Consultant, and Jon Weiskopf, Senior Mechanical Engineer, served as members of the Task Force.

New York City’s Industry Experts
Urban Green Council convened the New York City Building Resiliency Task Force following Hurricane Sandy at the request of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. Task Force members were charged with making recommendations to improve building resiliency and maximize preparedness for future weather emergencies. Ms. Mahle, Mr. Zuluaga, Mr. Salmon and Mr. Weiskopf were asked to join a diverse group of leaders from a number of New York City industries to assess current building codes and operational practices. Working together, the Task Force was able to provide recommendations on how to prepare our buildings and infrastructure for future storms.

Improving Building Resiliency
The report represents the consensus of more than 200 Task Force members on how to strike the right balance between resiliency, cost and other issues that surfaced in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The final report includes 33 proposals addressing strategies that strengthen buildings, effectively utilize backup power, enhance public safety and improve emergency preparedness. All Task Force members were recognized for their hard work and dedication at a special celebration hosted by Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn on June 21, 2013.

The Next Steps
Urban Green will be hosting a number of educational events in the coming months, which will detail the recommendations, their impact, and New York City’s next steps. On July 23, 2013 the organization will host a Task Force event entitled, The New World of Backup Generators, from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM at Thornton Tomasetti. This technical roundtable discussion will provide an overview of the Task Force’s proposal regarding generator use and options for backup power. Steven Winter Associates’ Jon Weiskopf and Walter Mehl of Jaros, Baum & Bolles Consulting Engineers will serve as speakers and share their thoughts on how the proposed changes can affect the market and future installations.

Transforming New York City Buildings
Steven Winter Associates has already begun implementing resiliency recommendations at a 500-unit co-op in Queens, New York. The property manager enlisted SWA’s help in preparing the building for future extreme weather events and maximizing its energy efficiency. SWA previously performed an energy audit, and is currently in the process of assisting the co-up with a number of resiliency upgrades, including the installation of a back-up generator system with solar panels.

SWA is also responding to an uptick in resiliency engineering services from its clients to identify site-specific opportunities aimed at reducing risk and maintaining habitability after extreme events.

The Urban Green Council
A non-profit organization established in 2001, Urban Green is funded by contributions from foundations, its 1,100 members, and over 50 corporate sponsors. The organization’s goal is to help transform the built environment in New York City with models that can be replicated in urban centers nationwide.

For more information about The New World of Backup Generators event or to register, please visit http://www.urbangreencouncil.org/Events.

To view The Building Resilience Task Force Report, please visit issuu.com/urbangreen/docs/brtf_full_report.