Putting Attention Where it is Needed Most - Building Resiliency in Multi-family Affordable Housing

A number of multifamily affordable housing developments in the New York City area were hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Affordable housing organizations have learned from that experience and are working to improve the resilience--and sustainability--of their facilities, in ways both large and small. Alex Wilson and Jim Newman have been facilitating some of this work. This session reports on these efforts and presents practical strategies for making multifamily affordable housing--and all multifamily buildings--more resilient. Along with the importance of building based improvements (boosting envelope energy performance, reducing cooling loads, incorporating islandable solar energy systems, installing sewer backflow preventers, etc.); this session also addresses the social and cultural aspects of resilience, including how to encourage community building so that residents will look out for each other and work together during times of emergency.

Session Speaker(s): 

Event Time: 

Wednesday, March 4, 2015 - 4:00pm to 5:30pm

Room / Location: 

Harborview 3

CEU Information: 

1.5 AIA, BPI, GBCI Continuing Education Units Available.

Learning Objectives:

Session Documents: