Noelle Francois

Noelle Francois is an innovative nonprofit leader and social impact strategist dedicated to using technology and data to address systemic challenges in underserved communities. Most recently she served as the co-founder and Executive Director of Heat Seek, where she pioneered the use of sensor technology to address New York City’s heating crisis and improve housing code enforcement. In that role she oversaw the installation of temperature sensors for more than six-hundred and fifty New York City families at risk of displacement, and successfully advocated for legislation that established the Heat Sensors Program within the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Noelle is also a founding member of the Housing Data Coalition, a collective of data scientists, technologists, academics, and tenant advocates who collaborate on the use of public data to further housing justice in New York City. She holds a Master of Public Administration from NYU Wagner and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Cultural Studies from The College of William and Mary.

Project Description NYCHA is working to decarbonize its buildings while addressing fundamental housing quality needs across its portfolio.

Launch a Waste Heat Recovery Program: NYCHA will analyze the potential for waste heat recovery efforts. Possible projects include analyzing site-specific waste heat sources such as ejected heat from the MTA subway system, or developing a challenge related to energy recovery ventilators for NYCHA apartments, with a goal of launching a pilot within the fellowship term.
Implement an Electric Vehicle Charging Partnership: Building on a previous study of the financial feasibility of third-party electric vehicle charger installation and operation on NYCHA property, the fellow will work with the solar leasing team to turn the study’s recommendations into an active leasing program, with a goal of having chargers installed before the end of the fellowship term