New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)

(NYC CASE STUDY WORK PLAN: NET-Zero -FEW & NYC Food Distribution Network – Gowanus Case Study)

Goals & Objectives

The intent of the FEW/Net-Zero project is twofold: to bridge the gap between city-wide and building level greenhouse gas emissions reductions strategies through the lens of Food/Energy/Water, and to explore harnessing the Food/Energy/Water nexus to achieve net zero carbon districts.  With two teams working on the Gowanus Case Study, one team focused their efforts in Net-Zero Carbon Emissions while the other team dove into understanding the impact food has on the carbon footprint. The project aims to achieve the following: 

• Develop a methodological approach for the achievement of district-scale carbon neutrality through Food/Energy/Water using an exemplary inventory, engagement, and planning process. 

• Engage a wide variety of city and district stakeholders, design professionals, academic institutions, and policy makers to build capacity and understanding of low carbon district-scale development through the lens of Food/Energy/Water. 

• Outline targeted recommendations for consideration in municipal policy implementation, including the identification of conceptual road maps to realizing carbon neutrality at the district-scale through the lens of Food/Energy/Water. 

• In collaboration with identified experts and local stakeholders, the project’s work will identify unique Food/Energy/Water challenges of specific urban contexts that arise when attempting to achieve carbon neutrality at district-scale.

• Identify areas of research and investigation beyond the current project timeline with the intention of increasing the potential and rigor of the project. 

• Identify synergies between economic development and low carbon development strategies. 

• Coordinate with aligned initiatives in each district to leverage shared knowledge and resources towards common sustainability goals.

• Understand available food resources and source in NYC

• Assess food distribution and stages of food life cycle and calculate carbon footprint. 

• Assess impact of dietary pattern change on carbon footprint for different age group.

• Analyze impact of electrification of transportation routes, such as truck on fuel consumption and energy needs.

Methods & Tools Employed

 This Gowanus site is the subject of the Urban Design Studio at the New York Institute of Technology.  The specific concept plan boundaries of the study area will include the overall Gowanus district.  The student model shall primarily use off-the-shelf digital Parametric 3D modeling tools (Rhinoceros, Grasshopper - with Ladybug plugins), drawing from Weather Data (EPW) files. The ULI team 2050 development scenario inputs will be Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS) mapping.  The Planning and Design Intervention is generated by considering outputs from 2050 regulatory/land use assumptions developed by ULI.  Prior to the intervention, the design research includes:

• • • • Developing evidence-based urban design guidelines that include diagrams and physical configurations. Elements of the qualitative guidelines will be applied to the pilot site; 

      • Expected modeling outcomes from peer-reviewed research. Students will also make assumptions pertaining to density increase, based on projected population, planned housing and infrastructure development, and rezoning. That information is obtained from city agencies. 

Testing the site intervention through sustainability modelling with quantitative and qualitative flood/heat mitigation co-benefits at district scale for 2019 and 2050 projections:

• • • • Existing - 2019

      • Baseline -2050: Rezoning build-out

      • Best Practices-2050: Sustainable urban design

Curate data from available open sources for Gowanus case study. Example: NYC Open Data 

Visualize and map food source and distribution in NYC using ArcGIS.

Spreadsheet analysis of Gowanus Population for carbon footprint.

The final urban design intervention will be configured through the articulation of design goals responding to the complexity of context, spatial scales and systems; pointing to coherent design strategies and outcomes. The evidence for the recommendations will be based on the 2050 climate model. 

Planned Project Schedule

Phase I: Scoping and Assessing Dietary Pattern 

During the initial Scoping phase, the project is engaging local and global technical experts in research efforts and outreach that will facilitate project milestones. Another team assessed the impact of dietary pattern change on carbon footprint for different age group. Mapped food sources of NYC.

Phase II: Visioning Workshops and Assessing the Food Distribution System

The visioning stage remains a highly focused, curated set of activities. Participants represent key areas of expertise, as determined through the scoping phase. The other team focused on assessing the food distribution system, stages of food cycle and impacts on electrification of truck route for transportation of food.

Phase III: Dissemination 

Collected knowledge and findings from the visioning stage workshops will be presented publicly through presentations at the Center for Architecture in New York City, and various other modes of dissemination such as website and other online publishing. The audience to the public presentations will come primarily from the design community, stakeholders and experts who were engaged throughout the initiative, all of whom will be well-positioned and inspired to engage the wider community.   

Participants' Scope of Work

The team has been formed to collectively encompass the following skills:

• Research experience in urban design & planning, energy, food, and/or water

• Ability to configure urban systems and districts

• Ability to work with parametric design and mapping tools (e.g., ArcGIS)

The intended audience, participants, and knowledge resources should be understood collectively across the duration of the project, as well as discretely for each phase or work and/or event within the work plan outlined in our grant proposal: 

• Scoping 

• During the initial Scoping phase, the project is engaging local and global technical experts in research efforts and outreach that will facilitate project milestones. This outreach continues through the duration of the initiative. 

• Visioning Workshops 

• Participants represent key areas of expertise, as determined through the scoping phase. 

• Dissemination 

• Collected knowledge and findings from the visioning stage workshops will be presented publicly through presentations at the Center for Architecture in New York City, and various other modes of dissemination such as website and other online publishing. The audience to the public presentations will come primarily from the design community, stakeholders and experts who were engaged throughout the initiative, all of whom will be well-positioned and inspired to engage the wider community.   

At a national context for the United States, the priority of the proposal is to achieve Net-Zero greenhouse gas emissions nation-wide through a fair and just transition for all communities and workers.  The project Net-Zero Neighborhoods for NYC aligns with these goals and offers policymakers a well-timed NYC-based platform to test and operationalize net-zero GHG districts.