The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles has installed 1,066 air conditioning units across its public housing properties, city officials announced Monday. The rollout is part of a Heat Mitigation Home Improvement Program designed to keep residents safer during increasingly severe heat spells and to reduce household energy burdens.
Mayor Karen Bass unveiled the effort Monday morning alongside Rep. Maxine Waters and officials from HACLA and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, according to MyNewsLA. Bass framed the installations as both a public health and climate priority, saying they will help families stay cool while lowering energy costs. Waters, who represents South L.A., told reporters she helped secure federal funding to get the program off the ground.
How the Units Were Procured
City officials say the air conditioners were bought in bulk using rebates available through the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Cool LA program. LADWP lists rebates for ENERGY STAR window and through-the-wall air conditioners, along with other cooling measures, which helped bring down procurement costs for large orders. The utility also runs income-qualified programs that can be paired with other grants to reduce per-unit prices for vulnerable households.
Where the Money Came From
HACLA has been piecing together local and federal funding to pay for cooling upgrades. Its recent summary of congressional awards includes a $1 million allocation for air conditioner installation at Nickerson Gardens. HACLA has also tapped other grants to support cool roofs and energy efficiency projects at public housing sites.
Part of a Bigger Climate Push
In April, Mayor Bass released a Climate Action Plan that outlines more than 50 measurable actions to cut greenhouse gas emissions and expand cooling strategies such as tree planting and cooling centers, according to the mayor's office. The city also appointed Daniela Simunovic as chief heat officer on May 31 to coordinate heat protection efforts, a move reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Local elected officials are treating the new units as concrete relief rather than a flashy climate announcement. Councilmember Tim McOsker said the program helps families stay healthy and lower energy costs, and stressed the need for partnership and innovation to protect public housing communities during climate extremes, in a statement obtained by MyNewsLA.
Next Steps
HACLA planning documents describe a multi-year push to add cooling across the agency’s portfolio, including a goal to install air conditioning units at all public housing developments by the end of 2026. HACLA board materials note that electrical upgrades and building-by-building assessments will be needed at older sites before units can be connected.
For residents, the immediate impact should be cooler homes during heat waves. Longer term, officials say success will depend on securing enough money for wiring work, efficiency improvements and ongoing maintenance. City leaders say they plan to monitor the installations and pursue additional funding to expand the program where needed.
