How New York Became Sustainable

A category I hurricane hit New York in 2012. As it lashed many Caribbean countries and New Jersey and New York states in the U.S., it was renamed to a Superstorm, surpassing even category I storms.

When it hit New York, Subway lines flooded, suburbs drowned, fires erupted, power outages occurred city-wide, road tunnels entering Manhattan got waterlogged, and 53 people died. The state underwent a loss of 19 billion USD. It was a warning; a disaster could end a state balancing on the edge of an ocean. Since then, the state has focussed on redeveloping safer water-front housing, enacting policies, reducing carbon emissions, and planning green building projects.

The Problem with New York

New York rests in a scenic but dangerous location. Its 8.4 million people are packed in a 738 sq. km. area. Tall buildings populate the city. The buildings produce 53.8 million metric tons of GHGs every year. It takes up about 94% of the state's electricity consumption and 85% of its water usage. On the map, New York should look like a pinpoint of fire. Surprisingly, it is not. New York has become a global community leader in sustainability. Here is how they did it:

Better Transport

New York used its compact size as its strength. It improved its transport facilities. The state charges a congestion fee for vehicles traveling into the city. They made traffic violations stricter, improved bus transport, and ensured the metro system covered every corner of the metropolitan area.

Now, 2 percent of the entire population uses public transport, cycles, or travels on foot. This is the highest dependence on public transit seen in the country. Due to its mercantile history, it made good use of the already well-developed road structure and has made all essential shops, hospitals, and eateries available within walking distance for its locals.

New Policies

Mayor Bloomberg enacted a plan titled "PlaNYC" which addressed the administration's 100 policies and initiatives in 2007. After the hurricane, Bill de Blasio, the next mayor, strengthened the prior plan with 80X50 goals. Its ambitious goal aimed to reduce greenhouse gases by 80% of the 2005 level. It meant redeveloping greener buildings and rewriting policies and requirements for already

existing structures.

Local Law86 requires new buildings to obtain a silver certification to achieve a LEED rating. In 2009, Bloomberg proposed a Greener Greater Buildings Plan. It aimed to decrease energy usage by pre-existing buildings. The plan introduced Local laws 84, 85, 87, and 88. This law focussed on submetering, audits, new energy conservation codes, and benchmarking. Another rule in 2011 York City Department of Environmental Protection rule, disallows the use of unfriendly number 4 and number 6 oils.

Greener Buildings

Many households are encouraged to intertwine smart and green architecture. Solar panels, installing rainwater harvesting systems, and renewing healthier insulation systems have been encouraged. Folks are now requested to create green spaces wherever they can -- balconies, public areas, and terraces. Many contaminated spaces, like Brownfields in New York, have undergone cleaning and renewal, providing safe housing for about 3,500 units.

A storm sped processes that would have taken a longer time to finish. The

Compared to a hurricane, we are small and fragile. The wind can break households, damage companies, and kill buildings. The government and people can do their bit in reducing the chances of such an occurrence. Becoming sustainable is our only collective option. A storm should not have to help us realize this.

References: - New York Govt on Urban Sustainability - New Yorker on Green Manhattan - ISD on New York's Sustainability - Harvard on New York's sustainability