Climate change is a polarizing subject, but I think we can all agree that we would power our way of life without fuel if we could. NYC announced its Green New Deal in 2019 requiring 50,000 large buildings to reduce their energy consumption and emissions or face steep penalties. The majority of these buildings are heated with fossil fuels - it's one of the biggest expenses. And shortly after the announcement and related laws were passed the price of this fuel skyrocketed. The owners of these buildings would gladly reduce their energy consumption without new laws or threats.
In the late 19th century, at the mouth of what was once a creek on Brooklyn's East River waterfront, the Astral Oil Works refined what was advertised as odorless, safe kerosene. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration "coal was the largest source of U.S. energy ... until 1950, when petroleum surpassed it." Charles Pratt, Astral's founder (and Pratt Institute's), was a pioneer who lit the way for many other refineries in Brooklyn. Bayside Oil stored heating oil in large tanks there after the refinery closed. James E. Hanley states in Cold Reality that "currently, natural gas is the most commonly used source for residential space heating in New York." In fact, Bayside sold their depot in 2016 to make way for Bushwick Inlet Park. Due to advances in energy NYC transitioned from coal to natural gas, a less expensive fuel that produces 50% less CO2 and is much less toxic to burn, without threats.
NYC has a long history of innovation in the field of energy. Many NYC buildings have boilers with Heat-Timer heating control systems. Heat-Timer Corporation, originally from Manhattan, has been an innovator in this field since 1937 when they introduced the first weather actuated heating control system for buildings. I visited Heat-Timer's factory in New Jersey where they continue to manufacture products that improve the performance of building heating systems while reducing energy emissions. They've been around this long because there is and has been a market for their products.
On the other hand, NYC Accelerator, offered by the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice, is a free resource that helps building owners and industry professionals improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. They educate building owners on the steps they can take to comply with new laws relating to the Green New Deal. Prescriptive measures, including installation of boiler controls and sensors that Heat-Timer makes, are relatively affordable and have good ROI.
Debates about climate change are often divisive, but I'm convinced there's common ground. After all, everyone would be happy if it were possible to live in a cleaner, healthier world without using any fuel whatsoever. Does it matter if those who believe that climate change is an existential threat and those who want to lower costs achieve the same result? The many creative, ingenious, entrepreneurial, not to mention genuinely good people packed into this city don't need to be imposed upon. With education and incentives, we can innovate our way to a better future. Who knows? If NYC really lets loose there may be more to advance alternatives like geothermal and heat pumps like they're doing at 1 Java Street in Greenpoint.