How NYC resists energy conservation

This article is from 2000; hope things have changed.

http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/00/000513.html

"...Both New York City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the lender, Community Preservation Corporation, specifically forbade Chris Benedict to design anything energy-efficient in next year's round of the CityHome project. They explained that they wanted to closely monitor energy use in these buildings for a few years before they decide whether to go energy-efficient again. To date, no monitoring has been done. NY/Enterprise CityHome does not seem interested in monitoring the buildings themselves. We would really like to see an independent party monitor these buildings and compare their energy use to that of rehabbed buildings that are not built to be energy-efficient..."

true of course; the large view is certainly pertinent.

But this inside view is interesting, like looking at the cells in a microscope because I think this is where it all plays out, these microcosms of community and local government--obviously influenced by the larger forces. I keep thinking where did the resistance come from here to a process that, if implemented, would likely save the city millions. Were the usual material suppliers and other power brokers put out of the loop? Like to know what's happened since with the oil increase. I wonder if the boiler mechanic on that job, Henry Gifford, has been to the wall? What's the expression, "No good deed goes unpunished." It must be a fluke that the city had the sense to get Dan to do that big steam job some years back. Wonder how THAT housing project is doing.

David