As Climate Week kicks off in New York City, the city is preparing to launch its “Electrify NYC" program, which offers support to property owners looking to invest in green and renewable energy.
“This is good not just for our planet, but it helps make our homes more comfortable, can reduce our electricity bills and really is a win-win for the planet and for peoples families and pocket books,” Ben Furnas, director of the city’s office for climate and sustainability, said Monday on "Mornings On 1."
The effort is designed to help homeowners and renters of small, one- to four-family housing put solar panels on their roofs and help electrify heating systems to shift away from fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, which heat the planet and cause global warming, Furnas said.
The city will offer free consultations on the benefits of green properties, and connect owners with contractors ready to install green technology and equipment.
While Climate Week is an event that's happened every year since 2009, it takes on renewed importance this year, after Hurricane Ida brought major flooding to the city weeks ago.
The intensity of that event has widely been attributed to climate change by elected officials and climate scientists.
Furnas said the contributions the city makes to climate change can also help improve air quality and reduce asthma in neighborhoods with high pollution.
He said the city is also working on an electric vehicle initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, and will be rolling out curbside charging in the near future.