Induction Stove Challenge Launched to Electrify Cooking Systems at New York City Public Housing Apartments

NYCHA, NYPA, and NYSERDA Partner to Issue Request for Proposals Seeking Manufacturers to Produce a New Class of Induction Stove

November 3, 2023

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams today announced that New York State is partnering with New York City to launch the Induction Stove Challenge through the release of a request for proposal calling on appliance manufacturers to design and produce energy-efficient, induction stoves to replace existing gas stoves while avoiding costly electrical upgrades in New York City Housing Authority buildings. NYCHA, the New York Power Authority, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority first announced the competitive innovation challenge in July, which promises to ultimately lead to the deployment of 10,000 induction stoves in NYCHA apartments.

“Every New Yorker deserves to live in a safe, healthy home," Governor Hochul said. “This innovative new partnership between the City and State will lead to the development of a new class of induction stovetops – ultimately providing NYCHA residents with state-of-the-art appliances in their homes. New York will continue to lead the nation with our commitments to climate justice and innovative clean energy solutions.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “After decades of federal disinvestment in public housing — a bedrock for so many working New Yorkers — it’s long past time to get creative about how we build NYCHA for the future. But our administration is and has been ready to go. The Induction Stove Challenge will deliver energy efficient and cost-effective stoves to NYCHA residents in more than 100 apartments, and we will use the results of this important effort to identify any next steps worth taking.”

The Request for Proposal (RFP) , which was issued by NYPA on November 3, invites manufacturers to submit proposals that include innovative solutions for new induction stoves that can be installed in older buildings using standard 120-volt, 20-amp outlets. Once one or two manufacturers are selected, they will have up to 24 months to design, prototype, and produce 100 units of the new product for testing during the challenge’s pilot phase. The units will be installed in up to 100 NYCHA apartments, with new cookware provided to each participating household, with the intent of providing best-in-class, comfortable cooking as well as health and quality of life benefits to NYCHA residents.

Manufacturers participating in the challenge are required to work with industry testing and safety standards organizations such as Underwriter Laboratories to achieve certification for novel technologies prior to the pilot phase.

Successful testing of the selected product will trigger a large-scale purchase order of at least 10,000 units from NYCHA. The effort will demonstrate to building owners the promise of an affordable conversion to efficient induction cooking, and to manufacturers regarding the potential of a broader residential market for the new induction stove products. The initial purchase will support dozens of NYCHA buildings in fully electrifying their energy systems and displacing fossil fuel use.

To ensure that the new induction stoves can serve a large, national market, NYSERDA is engaging other states, municipalities, and housing providers across North America to generate interest in the results of the challenge. In this way, the challenge will build a pipeline of potential demand from others pursuing cooking electrification, aligning NYCHA’s product specifications with the needs of the broader market. Twelve agencies representing more than 300,000 housing units have already signed up to support the initiative.

Responses to the RFP are due on January 9, 2024.

New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “The Induction Stove Innovation Challenge will lead to the development of electric stoves that can operate in buildings where electrical systems would be otherwise unsupportive, eliminating a barrier that has stifled the implementation of energy efficient appliances to date. The innovative induction stoves developed through this challenge will improve quality of life for NYCHA residents, enable residents to benefit from state-of-the-art new technology, and set an example for the rest of the nation as we collectively implement programs that further decarbonize buildings.”

New York State Energy and Research Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “NYSERDA is proud to partner with NYCHA and NYPA to advance the development of induction cooking technology, an affordable solution to lower emissions in buildings and create healthier living environments for all New Yorkers. This challenge, which is part of the State’s commitment to target climate action investments that benefit disadvantaged communities, will help bring latest energy efficiency stoves to thousands of NYCHA residents as New York transitions to an inclusive clean-energy economy.”

Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer said, “This collaborative effort to bring innovative solutions to NYCHA households combines several administration goals: providing safe and affordable housing, fostering creativity across industries, and investing in a greener future. Amid the growing impacts of climate change, this challenge will improve quality of life improvements for NYCHA residents, and advance green technology.”

New York City Housing Authority Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt said, “The Induction Stove Challenge is an exciting venture for NYCHA. We are proud to be working along our state partners to not only prompt an industry to create this progressive, energy-efficient cooking system to meet the needs of our buildings’ aging infrastructure, but also to show the rest of New York, the country, and the globe, that this type of innovation is possible.”

New York City Housing Authority Chief Asset & Capital Management Officer Shaan Mavani said, “The progress being made with the Induction Stove Challenge is very exciting. Bringing this new product to market would not only further NYCHA’s sustainability goals and improve resident quality of life, but can become a model for how sustainability and other building systems innovations are driven through public-private partnerships. If we can electrify stoves using 120-Volt outlets and limited electrical upgrades, electrification and decarbonization move one step closer for our buildings.”

State Senator Kevin Parker said, “The Induction Stove Challenge is a great opportunity to encourage manufacturers to develop an accessible and affordable product that will deliver health and quality of life benefits to NYCHA residents. This innovative program demonstrates the Governor’s commitment to addressing climate change and bringing investment and clean energy solutions to environmental justice communities.”

The Induction Stove challenge is modeled after another successful State-City partnership, the Clean Heat for All Challenge , in which NYCHA, NYPA, and NYSERDA invited manufacturers to develop and produce a new electrification product to better serve multifamily buildings’ heating and cooling needs and hasten the transition to fossil-free heating sources at NYCHA campuses.

The Induction Stove program is representative of NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda. Launched in 2021, the Housing Authority announced an ambitious recommitment to address climate change. Informed by 10 months of engagement with NYCHA residents, City agencies, community-based organizations, and technical experts, the Authority’s agenda focuses on taking a holistic approach to building renovations and community needs.

New York State’s Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State’s nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York’s unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $55 billion in 145 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.

About NYCHA
The New York City Housing Authority, the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 528,105 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. In addition, NYCHA connects residents to critical programs and services from external and internal partners, with a focus on economic opportunity, youth, seniors, and social services. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city.

About NYPA 
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 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 , Tumblr  and LinkedIn .

About NYSERDA
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook , YouTube , or Instagram .