Brooklyn Navy Yard proves to be a leader in sustainability after Hurricane Sandy

Lights in Northern Brooklyn continue to serve as a focus on sustainability in a post-Sandy New York City, writes Daniel Stein-Sayles in the Gotham Gazette. Brooklyn Navy Yard has taken on a new persona in recent years. Once a port for workers building US Navy ships, environmental management was never top of the priority list, however today tells a very difference story. The grounds are home to a number of sustainability efforts, including a rooftop vegetable garden growing kale, bok choy, carrots and other produce, whilst the yard is powered purely by solar lighting.  The Yard is now home to over 40 buildings, 330 tenants, and a commitment to environmentally friendly initiatives.
It is understood that many of the companies that occupy the yard have wholeheartedly embraced sustainability and now operate in an eco-friendly fashion, creating products that help others to do the same. BNYDC’s Vice President of External Affairs said “we figured if we’re getting all this money to invest in the Yard, we had better think about developing sustainability…it was almost a no-brainer.”

At The Refinishing Touch, we are also pleased to see businesses tackling green issues head on and not being afraid to change methods and practices to fall in-line with sustainability. Bien Heco, one of the companies on the Yard that markets itself as a sustainable company. Similarly to Bien Hecho, The Refinishing Touch uses non-toxic lacquers that contain no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) so are safe, and clean and non-carcinogenic.