Jonathan Spooner (Stacks and Jewels) on building automation for nonprofits

There we go.

Good afternoon, council members.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

I'm Johnson Struner, co-founder of Stacks and Jewels.

We work at the intersection of building technology and community impact in New York City in partnership with Henry Street Settlement, NYC ETC, and the Green Economy Network.

Nonprofits across this city quietly operate a major portfolio of real estate.

Shelters, health clinics, community centers, affordable housing.

They're mission driven, but they're also building operators.

And that role carries real cost.

Energy is often a nonprofit's second largest expense after staffing.

For an organization running a domestic violence shelter or mental health clinic, every dollar lost to an inefficient boiler is a dollar not reaching the people walking through the door.

Add local law 97 penalties and the financial pressure competes directly with their mission.

But building automation, smart controls, sensors, energy management, can cut energy use by 30%.

But the upfront cost and complexity put it out of reach for most nonprofits without public support.

Here's the opportunity for the community.

A coordinated funding program for building automation does two things at once.

First, it creates a durable workforce pipeline installing and maintaining these systems as a skilled, well-paying job that can't be offshored, and we can train New Yorkers from the very communities these nonprofits serve.

Second, the energy savings can be redirected back into those social services, meaningfully replacing operating budget and restoring to mission.

This needs three things, a capital funding mechanism, a workforce training partner, and a champion in this chamber.

We are asking this committee to be that champion.

Thank you very much.