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These Brooklyn Homeowners Couldn’t Afford to Go Green. Then Help Arrived

Summary

Brooklyn homeowners in historically disinvested neighborhoods are benefitting from EnergyFit, a program retrofitting two- and three-family homes with energy-efficient upgrades. The initiative, led by the Pratt Center, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, and IMPACCT Brooklyn, aims to address maintenance issues while transitioning homes partially off fossil fuels. Upgrades include heat pump water heaters, induction stoves, and insulation. This effort, funded by federal and private dollars, prioritizes lower- and middle-income residents who often face high costs and limited resources for such transitions. While only 12 homes were retrofitted in 2024, the program aims to serve 70 properties within two years, helping to reduce carbon emissions and improve living conditions.

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