Legislation Allowing Installation of Remote Heat Sensors in the Works

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams recently joined affected tenants and housing lawyers in announcing a lawsuit based on data from a technology partnership that monitors heating-related harassment in Brooklyn apartment buildings. They discussed how residents across the borough are utilizing sensors from Heat Seek NYC, the winner of the NYC BigApps 2014 contest, to remotely track the temperature in their homes during the winter months.

The technology uses sensor hardware and web applications to help ensure that heat levels in apartments fall within the legal range while providing data-based evidence to verify heating code abuse claims in housing court.

Adams also stated that he will be working with the City Council, in particular Councilmember Ritchie Torres, on legislation that would allow the city to proactively install heat sensors in buildings whose owners have shown a pattern of heat-related abuse or harassment. Additionally, Adams announced a training partnership between New York City Housing Court and Heat Seek NYC that will train housing court judges on how to interpret data collected by heat monitors.

In a statement, Torres said, “Technology such as heat sensors can help policymakers better understand how tenants are being impacted by heat violations in their own homes, and help inform new legislation. I look forward to partnering with Borough President Adams to ensure tenants are protected and violations are tackled properly.”