DA Green
CASE STUDY — BROOKLYN
A tenant-in-place energy retrofit of 13 Pre-War buildings in South Williamsburg, showing how simple, cost-effective efficiency measures can revitalize the city's older affordable housing.
- Location
- 247 South 3rd Street, Brooklyn
- Program
- Section 8 preservation
- Units
- 348
- Buildings
- 13, built 1912–1920
- Budget
- $5M
- Schedule
- 2023–2025
- Role
- Construction Manager
- Contracting entity
- Atlas Supreme
The Building
DA Green is made up of 13 separate affordable apartment buildings, built between 1912 and 1920 in South Williamsburg. It is home to hundreds of low- to moderate-income, multigenerational households, and it is an example of Pre-War affordable housing that remains vital to the cultural and economic fabric of the neighborhood. Each building runs on its own electrical and mechanical systems.
The Challenge
The portfolio's last major retrofit was 20 years earlier, and energy use and operating costs had been climbing ever since. Because every building has independent systems, the work had to be planned and carried out building by building, with residents at home throughout.
Scope
Re-roofing with R-33 insulation, above code
High-efficiency gas condensing water heaters
Elevator modernization with VFD motors and controls
LED lighting in common areas
In-unit low-flow aerators for faucets and showerheads, plus LED lamps
Quality of Life
New roofing
Better insulation and a more reflective surface keep indoor temperatures steady and cut heat transfer.
Operational savings
LED lighting and low-flow fixtures reduce electricity and maintenance costs.
System upgrades
High-efficiency water heaters reduce emissions to comply with Local Law 97, and the modernized elevators lower maintenance costs, help avoid fines and cut down on tenant complaints.
Outcomes
144,996
kWh of electricity saved per year
3,969
MMBtu of gas saved per year
$90,365
annual utility cost savings
$652,317
in avoided Local Law 97 penalties, 2024–2050
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