NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a $38.4 million investment to install heat pumps at the New York City Housing Authority’s Beach 41st Street Houses in Edgemere, Queens.
The project will bring new heating and cooling systems to 712 apartments as part of the city’s Clean Heat for All initiative. The heat pumps will replace an aging gas boiler system that has exceeded its useful life.
City officials said the systems are designed to provide more consistent heating, efficient cooling in bedrooms and living rooms, and individual temperature controls for residents. The project is also expected to improve hot water reliability.
The installation is part of a broader effort to expand Clean Heat for All to more than 10,000 New York City Housing Authority apartments by 2030.
The heat pumps being installed at Beach 41st Street Houses were developed through the Clean Heat for All Challenge, launched in 2021 by the New York City Housing Authority, the New York Power Authority, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Following the challenge, manufacturers Midea and Gradient were selected to develop 30,000 heat pump units designed for public housing buildings. The systems are designed to be installed through existing windows and require minimal electrical upgrades, allowing them to serve older multifamily buildings.
The city has already installed 150 units at Woodside Houses in Queens and has purchased an additional 5,000 systems.
Early demonstration results from the program showed that apartments equipped with heat pumps maintained more consistent indoor temperatures during winter compared with apartments using a traditional steam system.
Program data also showed an 86% reduction in energy required for space heating and about a 50% reduction in heating energy costs, despite higher electricity costs relative to gas. Surveys found that 89% of residents who received the units reported satisfaction with the systems.
NYCHA officials said the Beach 41st Street installation is part of ongoing efforts to expand heat pump deployment across the public housing system. Studies are underway to evaluate additional developments for future installations.
