While New Yorkers struggle to pay their energy bills, one organization is trying to reduce those bills, help the environment, and help people get green jobs.

The Hope Program, a sustainable workforce development organization, partnered with the Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice and the Department of Small Business Services to create the "CoolRoofs" program.

It's a 10-week program, where participants paint roofs and learn critical skills to set them up for sustainable careers.

The "CoolRoofs" crews paint two layers of acrylic reflective coatings on roofs throughout the city to cool down the buildings.

This prevents the dark roofs from trapping heat in the buildings. Staff say its focus is on the Bronx, which has a high heat vulnerability index.

"We know that the urban heat island effect leaves New York City five degrees or more hotter than the surrounding communities. Cool roofs, tree plantings, cool corridors and other projects help to keep New Yorkers cool the over time.

This cool roof will ultimately potentially save people up to 10% to 30% of their energy costs," said Paul Onyx Lozito, the deputy executive director of the Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice.

News 12 tested the roof coating in action, using an infrared thermometer to check the temperature of the roof with and without the coating. Without the coating, the roof was 104 degrees. With the coating, the roof was 84 degrees.

"This is such an important mission. It's a great example of collaboration throughout the city, but it also shows that this is an accessible climate solution that also offers economic benefits for the communities," said Kendra Jones, director of programs at The Hope Program.

The Hope Program says its goal is to coat all of the existing buildings in NYC.

Click here to learn more about Cool Roofs and how to get involved.

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