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Contact Info

43-10 11th Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
Map and Directions

718 784 1444 (phone)
718 784 8347 (fax)

Send us an email

Press Inquires

Press inquires should be directed to Alexis Greene (x156) and Evi Blaikie (x119).

Speakers

If you are interested in having someone from CEC speak to your organization, please use our contact form. Also view our AIA accredited seminars.

Affordably Green in NYC

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Affordably Green in NYC

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About Us

The not-for-profit Community Environmental Center (CEC) was founded in 1994 by Richard M. Cherry to address the housing and energy efficiency needs of low- and middle-income communities.

The buildings in these neighborhoods were frequently run-down and unsafe. Residents spent their wages heating poorly insulated rooms in winter or cooling them in summer. Boilers and furnaces often did not function properly, and the resulting damage to the environment was immense.

Clearly there was a need for an organization that could improve the dwellings of New York City’s residents and at the same time benefit the natural world around us.

Since 1994, CEC has grown into the largest not-for-profit energy-conservation organization in New York State and holds the state’s largest contract for weatherization assistance services.

Through weatherization CEC has helped over 300,000 people save more than $270 million in utility costs and prevented the emission of over 750,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

Today CEC is a leader in the burgeoning energy-efficiency field. The company is a major provider of consulting and technical services for green buildings. CEC has expanded its programs to include green jobs training for the new green economy, the salvaging and reuse of building materials, and educating young people about their role in the future of the planet.

The climate crisis is the determining circumstance of our time, and addressing the environmental impact of people’s energy use is fundamental to addressing community health.

With skill, dedication, and foresight, and commitment to environmentally sound public policy, CEC is in a unique position to fulfill that goal.

Affiliates

Built It Green NYC is a program of the Community Environmental Center. Through Build It Green!, CEC continues to provide New Yorkers with resources to enhance their home and community environments. Build It Green! NYC offers all New Yorkers a one-stop-source for green building products, resources, and services. By providing an outlet for affordable green building products and services BIG! prevents waste, improves our environment, creates jobs, and spurs local economic development.

The cornerstone of this program is a 17,500 square feet warehouse in Astoria, Queens. The Build It Green! Warehouse offers a wide variety of affordable, used and surplus building materials, plus a line of reasonably-priced new green building supplies.

Build It Green! is not just for building, as it also provides Deconstruction Services. To date, BIG! has completed two large-scale commercial deconstruction projects which have saved over 45 tons of reusable building materials from being discarded, and appropriately managed 12 tons of recyclables destined for the landfill. Build It Green! will be integrating green building consultancy into its service offerings.

CEC encourages all of NYC’s businesses, non-profits, and residents to not only shop at and/or donate to the BIG! Warehouse, but to take advantage of our growing line of resources and services.

Hours:
Wednesday through Saturday, 11am – 6:30 pm.

Donations:
Drop-off and pick-up donations are by appointment only.

Check out the BIG! NYC website for more information on services or to shop for green or recycled building supplies.

Solar One and adjacent Stuyvesant Cove Park have been delighting visitors since 2003. Stuy Cove Park, managed by Solar One, is the only all native plant park in Manhattan. It is one of the more rare places on the Manhattan side of the East River with public park access.

Education programs at Solar One have reached thousands of students–both young and old. Solar One has extensive lessons in partnership with schools in energy, water, and ecology. They also hold a variety of fun/educational family friendly events and programs like their Green Renter lecture series.

Every summer Solar One hosts many outdoor events ranging from their pioneering Solar Powered Dance Festival (and Solar Powered Film Festival) to their fund-raising gala Revelry by the River to the huge music and interactive art festival Citysol. Thousands more have come to events at Solar One.

Looking toward the future, Solar One will be replacing their building, Solar1, with an advanced education center dubbed Solar2 (for now). Solar2 will be the most advanced building in New York when it is completed. It will include geo-thermal wells, photovoltaic panels, waste-water recycling, and much more.

Key Staff

Richard M. Cherry, President and CEO

Richard M. Cherry has nearly 40 years in the New York affordable housing field.  He is founder and President of Community Environmental Center, Inc., (CEC).  He has overseen the expansion of the firm from primarily a Weatherization program contractor to a firm with in depth expertise in energy analysis and new technologies and in green building design consulting.  Prior to founding CEC, Cherry was Executive Vice President and General Counsel and President of Housing Subsidiary Companies at the New York Housing Coalition.  Cherry has served on the boards of over 15 not-for-profits and was founder of 6.  He currently serves on the board of the new community-based northwest Queens charter school, “Growing Up Green” which seeks to promote environmental awareness.   Cherry was one of 15 Purpose Prize winners in 2007, a national award that recognizes leaders who are ushering in a new age of social progress.

Ken Daniels, Director of Finance

Ken manages all fiscal operations and supporting staff. He is responsible for financial reporting and controls, budgeting, and audit oversight of independent and State auditors. Ken also advises management on business opportunities in terms of financial impact and general business planning and oversight matters. He holds an M.B.A in Accounting and is CMA-accredited. Ken contributes over twenty years of senior-level accounting and managerial practices.

Olga Lucia Souto, Director of Outreach

Olga manages day to day program operations and supporting staff, and ensures program requirements are implemented in accordance with DHCR and NYSERDA regulations. She coordinates CEC’s in-house contractor team, while overseeing all phases of administrative and on-site work implementation, including audit review, work order preparation, client/contractor coordination, and delivery of work-site materials. Olga offers 13 years of experience in outreach programming and weatherization for family homes.

Thelma Arceo, Director of Technical Services

Thelma administers energy efficiency measures for 5+unit residential and commercial buildings, providing auditing, assessment, diagnostics, and construction oversight under the DHCR-funded Weatherization Assistance Program, and NYSERDA-funded Multifamily Performance Program. She holds a Master’s Degree in Energy Engineering and is a Ph.D. candidate in Energy Management and Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. Thelma offers over 13 years of experience in the fields of Energy Management and Engineering.

Katherine R. Careddu, Director of Green Building Services

Kathy manages all new construction energy consulting and projects seeking LEED™ certification. Kathy and supporting staff work closely with project teams to analyze energy reduction measures, establish LEED™ goals, provide guidance with regards to credit compliance, and prepare all documentation as required. As External Relations Manager, she maintains relationships with professionals in the green building community to expand CEC’s contribution to the field. She holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, and offers 30 years of experience in working with engineers, architects, the U.S. Treasury Department and small businesses of all types.  Kathy is a LEED AP.

Leroy Anthony, Director of Construction

Since CEC’s inception, Leroy has been the Director of the field teams that insulate, air-seal, perform testing, and weatherize buildings.  Over those 15+ years, CEC has weatherized over one hundred thousand units, worked with hundreds of owners, and saved millions in energy bills for homeowners and managers.  Leroy’s skilled teams include inspectors and blower-door specialists, cellulose insulation technicians, and air-sealers, among others.  Over many years, Leroy and his managers have created a track record of excellent quality, safety, and accountability, as evidenced by CEC’s numerous awards for safety and performance.  Leroy has BPI certification in Shell, Heating, and Building.

Board of Directors

Chairman of the Board
Gregory Pressman
Senior Real Estate Partner
Schulte, Roth & Zabel

Treasurer
Lawrence Graham
Senior Vice President
Brookfield Properties Corporation

Secretary
Karen Ansis
Fund Manager
New York Landmarks Conservancy

Richard M. Cherry
President & CEO
Community Environmental Center

Rudy Richardson
President
Chards Diversified International, Inc.

David Pagan
Executive Director
Southside United Housing, Los Sures

Corporate Counsel
Schulte, Roth & Zabel