Greening A Block is an urban showcase of energy efficiency, pollution reduction, job development, and community sustainability organized by members of New York City's Neighborhood Energy Network. The project proposes to transform a city block near the Con Ed 14th Street East River Generating Station into a model of community-scale sustainability, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.

Bright Power has provided technical expertise, research skills, and report preparation for Greening A Block. In partnership with the Neighborhood Energy Network, Jeffrey Perlman and Charles Komanoff conducted the Feasibility Study and prepared the subsequent Implementation Plan.

In 2002, as part of a settlement permitting Con Ed to expand the 14th Street Power Plant, the utility set aside $2,750,000 for a “Fuel-Switching Account.” The original purpose of the account was to purchase natural gas, which burns cleaner than oil but is more expensive. The Greening A Block project proposes to use these funds instead to develop a community model for energy efficiency. This model will achieve 30% energy savings by educating building owners, occupants, and supers about energy efficiency and sustainability; installing energy improvements to buildings, apartments and storefronts; and monitoring to ensure that the improvements perform as intended. Improvements will include: heating system optimization, Energy Star lighting and appliance upgrades, insulation, solar panels, green roofs, and street trees.

These documents and updates about the project can be found at http://www.greeningablock.org/.

This project is under the fiscal sponsorship of the Association for Energy Affordability.