MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF MARGARITA LOPEZ AS ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR AT NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman Tino Hernandez today appointed NYCHA Board Member Margarita Lopez to spearhead environmental initiatives at the Authority. In her expanded role, Commissioner Lopez will guide NYCHA in setting aggressive goals to improve sustainability and ensure that those goals are met through new operational and administrative programs.

(Media-Newswire.com) - Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and New York City Housing Authority ( NYCHA ) Chairman Tino Hernandez today appointed NYCHA Board Member Margarita Lopez to spearhead environmental initiatives at the Authority. In her expanded role, Commissioner Lopez will guide NYCHA in setting aggressive goals to improve sustainability and ensure that those goals are met through new operational and administrative programs. The new initiatives will further advance PlaNYC, the City's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make New York City the world's first great sustainable city of the 21st century.

"With 2,653 residential buildings across the City, the Housing Authority can play a vital role in achieving our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Mayor Bloomberg. "With her dedication and intelligence, I can think of no better person than Margarita to lead NYCHA in this important effort."

Commissioner Lopez will lead a NCYHA team that will develop and implement a series of environmental programs aimed at making NYCHA a leader in green initiatives for public housing agencies across the country. Its strategies to enhance sustainability include the purchase and installation of energy efficient systems, as well as programs to educate and engage residents in adopting energy efficient practices in their homes. NYCHA, with 343 developments located throughout the City, is the nation's second largest landlord behind the U.S. Army with nearly 180,000 apartments providing housing to over 408,000 New Yorkers.

"Margarita Lopez is clearly an excellent choice for the Housing Authority," said Chairman Hernandez. "Her understanding of these complex issues and championing of green initiatives at NYCHA has been evident since she joined the Board. I welcome her leadership in helping not only NYCHA, but the entire City, in achieving our environmental goals."

"I am honored that Mayor Bloomberg has chosen me to head this important initiative," said Commissioner Lopez. "NYCHA's size and location throughout the City make it an important resource in achieving the goals set by the Mayor. NYCHA is going to be an integral part of PlaNYC and the global effort to help ensure a healthy and environmentally-sound future for everyone."

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