NYC Health + Hospitals and DCAS Celebrate Completion of Major Energy Efficiency Projects at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens And NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
Sep 25, 2026
Today, NYC Health + Hospitals, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced the completion of comprehensive lighting modernization projects at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens in Jamaica, Queens, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler on Roosevelt Island. The projects, announced during Climate Week NYC, mark the latest milestone in the public hospital system and its partner agencies’ ongoing efforts to optimize energy use and decarbonize building operations by implementing technologies that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
A nearly $10 million combined investment, together the two projects replaced more than 16,000 light fixtures with high-efficiency LED technology paired with modern occupancy, vacancy, and photocell controls. The lighting upgrades are projected to save about 2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and approximately $461,000 in energy, maintenance, and related costs each year. The resulting emissions reduction — roughly 600 metric tons of CO₂ annually — is equivalent to taking approximately 130 cars off the road.
“Modernizing and upgrading our city building’s infrastructure is a critical component of our efforts to reduce emissions,” said DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei. “Through our partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals and NYPA, this work at Queens and Coler Hospitals will reduce carbon emissions, upgrade our needed healthcare facilities, and save New Yorkers money — a win-win for the air we breathe and our wallets.”
“Replacing more than 16,700 fixtures across two of our campuses that never close required diligent planning and close coordination with our clinical teams,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Vice President of Facilities Manny Saez. “As a result, we completed this work without interrupting care at Queens or disrupting the daily routines of Coler’s residents. Now our patients, residents, and staff can enjoy a brighter, more comfortable environment while these upgrades help avoid over 600 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. These projects show that when we upgrade our facilities we deliver for our patients and planet.”
“Decarbonizing the buildings of a public health care system as large and complex as NYC Health + Hospitals requires practical investments that deliver measurable results while supporting reliable patient care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Decarbonization Officer Omer Cabuk. “These lighting upgrades at Queens and Coler Hospitals demonstrate how proven LED lighting and control technologies can significantly reduce energy use, operating costs, and carbon emissions while also improving the environment for our patients, residents, and staff and moving our health system closer to the City’s decarbonization and sustainability goals.
“With the implementation of the lighting modernization at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, we are enhancing the healing environment for our patients and supporting the well-being of our staff,” said Neil J. Moore, MBA, MPA, FACHE, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “By investing in energy-efficient lighting, we are creating a brighter and more inviting space that aligns with New York City’s broader sustainability goals while reducing our carbon footprint.”
“Investing in energy-efficient infrastructure at Coler Hospital is an important part of modernizing our 700,000 sq. ft. nursing facility on Roosevelt Island, creating a safer, more comfortable environment for our residents and staff,” said Nataliya Yakovleva, LNHA, LMSW Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler. “The lighting upgrades will support safer mobility and improve visibility for our residents and staff, enhance energy efficiency, and help us reduce operational costs and adverse environmental impacts while protecting and improving resident care.”
“From schools and shelters to sanitation garages, police precincts, and now public hospitals, DCAS’s Direct Install Lighting Program is making City facilities brighter, safer and more efficient for the New Yorkers who work in and depend on them,” said DCAS Chief Decarbonization Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Energy Management Brian Chang. “We’re proud to partner with NYC Health + Hospitals and NYPA to deliver these upgrades at Queens and Coler Hospitals, lowering operating costs and emissions while improving the spaces where patients receive care.”
“The New York Power Authority joined with DCAS and NYC Health & Hospitals to make large-scale lighting improvements that brighten and improve the patient experience in New York City’s public hospital system while making energy use more efficient,” said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “By modernizing essential infrastructure with reliable technologies, we’re reducing energy use, lowering operational costs, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions — all while supporting NYC Health + Hospitals’ ability to deliver high‑quality care to New Yorkers for decades to come.”
“These lighting upgrades represent an important investment in the modernization and sustainability of our health care facilities,” said Mina Abdelmasih, Energy Manager at NYC Health + Hospitals. “Through our partnership with NYPA, we are improving the efficiency of Queens and Coler Hospitals while reducing energy consumption, operating costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. I am proud to be part of this meaningful initiative and to contribute to creating more sustainable, energy-efficient healthcare environments for our patients, staff, and communities.”
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, located in Jamaica, is a nine-building campus serving New Yorkers in central and southeast Queens. The lighting upgrades covered over 720,000 square feet across the Main Building, the Pavilion, the N Building, the E&F Building, and the S Building, which together house inpatient units, emergency services, radiology suites, behavioral health units, clinics, and support space that operate around the clock.
The $3.94 million project replaced more than 5,000 light fixtures — largely aging T5, T8, and T12 fluorescent lamps operated by manual switches, along with metal halide wall packs and area lights outside — with LED fixtures and integrated controls. The upgrades are expected to save nearly 900,000 kilowatt-hours and about $152,000 annually, and avoid approximately 300 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, located on Roosevelt Island, is a four-building, over 690,000-square-foot post-acute and long-term care facility. Its residents live on campus year-round, and its corridors, stairwells, and common spaces are lit continuously.
The $5.8 million project replaced more than 11,000 light fixtures — predominantly fluorescent wraps, strips, and troffers inside, and metal halide wall packs and area lights outside — with LED fixtures and integrated controls. The lighting upgrades are expected to save over 1 million kilowatt-hours and nearly $231,000 annually, and avoid over 300 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
At both facilities, light upgrades were made in interior common spaces, like hallways, vestibules, and stairwells, as well as offices, conference rooms, and exam spaces. Interior spaces are now controlled by occupancy or vacancy sensors, as permitted under the NYC Energy Conservation Code. Lighting power density at both facilities is now 0.42 watts per square foot — well below the 0.86 watts per square foot recommended by ASHRAE.
These lighting upgrades will help extend equipment life, improve lighting and environments for patient care, and increase energy efficiency, which realizes utility and operational cost savings. Reducing energy consumption also decreases greenhouse gas emissions and lowers the overall carbon footprint of both facilities.
Both projects were initiated by NYC Health + Hospitals, funded by the DCAS Division of Energy Management, and implemented by NYPA under its Energy Services Program, which retrofits existing fixtures on a one-for-one basis with pre-configured kits, reducing costs and project timelines by up to 70%. These projects support New York City’s broader goals of reducing emissions from municipal operations by 50% by 2030.
DCAS plays a critical role in supporting agency partners in meeting their energy reduction and emissions goals. Since 2014, DCAS has contributed nearly $1.6 billion in funding across more than 19,100 completed energy conservation measures, reducing emissions by 490,000 MTCO2e — an impact equivalent to removing 100,000 cars from the road — and reducing annual energy costs by an estimated $172 million.
The completed work at Queens Hospital and Coler rehabilitation facility follows a $37 million, two-phase energy retrofit at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx, which was named ‘Energy Project of the Year’ at the 2025 DCAS Energy Recognition Ceremony.
The project was made possible in partnership with DCAS’ Division of Energy Management, which provided $37 million in funding, as well as technical support. Completed as part of DCAS’ Accelerated Conservation and Efficiency (ACE) Program, this program provides funding and facilitates the implementation of energy efficiency and emission reduction projects through partnerships with city agencies. Other projects implemented through the ACE Program include solar photovoltaic (solar PV) panel installations, HVAC and building management system upgrades, and electrification of heating systems.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
A member of NYC Health and Hospitals, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens is a major health care provider in the borough of Queens. Its foremost mission is to provide quality, comprehensive care to all members of the public regardless of their ability to pay. In 2025, Queens Hospital marked its 90th anniversary of serving the communities of central and southeastern Queens, having first opened its doors as Queens General Hospital in 1935. Encompassing 360,000 square feet, it comprises 253 licensed beds, spacious ambulatory care suites featuring both primary and specialty services, and cutting-edge equipment. It also houses four Centers of Excellence: Cancer Care, Diabetes Management, Women’s Health, and Behavioral Health. The hospital has recently added a fully expanded Emergency Room, a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence accredited by the American College of Radiology, and a Total Hip and Knee Replacement Center, with plans underway to build the health system’s first Dialysis Center to train patients to perform their own at-home dialysis. To learn more about NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/queens.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler is an 815-bed skilled nursing facility located in Roosevelt Island, providing comprehensive skilled nursing, medical and rehabilitative care for more than 70 years. Coler is committed to serving New York City and the surrounding communities, while setting an example as a leader in memory care programming and rehabilitation. Ranked #10 in New York’s “Best Nursing Homes 2026” by Newsweek and received a rating of “High-Performing” in Long-Term Care and Short-Term Rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Nursing Homes 2026, the facility earned a Five-Star CMS rating which designates them among the top 10 percent of skilled nursing facilities in the country. The facility also ranks in the top 1st quintile in the New York State Department of Health Nursing Home Quality Pool. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/coler.
About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:
- Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees
- Managing 55 public buildings
- Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property
- Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies
- Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country
- Leading the City’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations
Learn more about DCAS by visiting nyc.gov/dcas or by following us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.
About NYPA
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 17 generating facilities and more than 1,550 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.