Catalyst Award Winner: Market Transformation
Lisa Gomez
Chief Executive Officer, L+M Development Partners
Our Catalyst Award winner for Market Transformation is Chief Executive Officer of L+M Development Partners, Lisa Gomez.
Nominated for helping to create markets for clean energy technologies across New York State and beyond, Lisa is a true change maker.
As Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Gomez has positioned L+M Development Partners as a nationally recognized affordable housing developer on a mission to build stronger communities. L+M and its affiliate companies are responsible for over $20 billion in development and investment, and have acquired, built, or preserved over 57,000 high-quality residential units in a variety of urban markets nationwide.
Curiosity and Innovation
A defining characteristic of Gomez and her team is the culture of curiosity and innovation that underscores everything they do—particularly in the areas of energy decarbonization and improved building performance.
While L+M worked with NYSERDA for decades, the recent partnerships focus on more evolved initiatives such as the Empire Building Challenge and Buildings of Excellence. Through these efforts, L&M has been actively working to advance innovative technologies like geothermal systems and Passive House design. “We see NYSERDA as a key partner for us in pushing the boundaries of sustainable building and energy performance,” said Gomez.
“We see NYSERDA as a key partner for us in pushing the boundaries of sustainable building and energy performance.”
A Key Motivator
What makes Gomez tick, and one of the hallmarks of L+M as a company, is curiosity and restlessness to improve. From projects to the products used, L+M is always trying to both build and operate buildings more efficiently. Gomez notes, “We’re always looking for new solutions to help mitigate some of the costs.”
Revolutionizing the Energy Landscape
The work L+M is doing in geothermal and Passive House technologies is part of a long-term, incremental effort to make these solutions more cost-effective and widely available. The company is also exploring the use of prefabricated components to streamline building processes, particularly for retrofits.
The real challenge, though, lies in older buildings, especially in New York City, where many of L+M’s properties are located. These buildings, with their higher ceilings and large windows, often come with outdated systems like oil-fired boilers, making energy efficiency upgrades more difficult.
Despite the hurdles, L+M is experimenting with innovations, including in New York City Housing Authority buildings and retrofits like a Yonkers Housing Authority project. These efforts aim to address the significant system failures that can occur in older buildings, highlighting the need for advanced technology to tackle the unique challenges of retrofitting and maintaining older structures in a sustainable way.
Increasing Awareness Through Education
L+M’s work prioritizes providing their residents with greater comfort and reliable building systems. “Predictability is key — residents don’t want to experience disruptions like a broken boiler or lack of hot water. But, while reliability is essential, part of L+M’s role is educating residents about the value of sustainable solutions. While residents may not be concerned with the specific technologies behind the improvements, they care deeply about the outcomes, such as consistent indoor climate comfort and air quality.
It is up to the industry to bridge the gap in building resident awareness, ensuring that residents understand and appreciate the benefits of these changes for both their immediate living experience and the environment,” said Gomez.
The Power of Collaboration
When it comes to pushing forward great change, Gomez believes in a unified approach. “We’re all working toward a common goal, and the nature of the work requires collaboration—on the private and public side and on the profit and not-for-profit side. It truly takes a village.”