23 Borough Homes Are Going Solar Thanks To Solarize Brooklyn

Last April we reported on Solarize Brooklyn, a local non-profit with a goal of normalizing solar energy and matching neighbors with vetted solar providers.

Solarize Brooklyn began as Ellen Honigstock’s (of Sustainable Kensington-Windsor Terrace) New Year’s resolution to transfer her home over to solar energy. Over the course of 2013, Ellen collaborated with Anne Pope of Sustainable Flatbush and Max Joel of Solar One to vet solar providers and educate our community on solar possibilities.

We followed up with Ellen to find out about the success of Solarize Brooklyn.

23 Brooklyn Homes Are Scheduled To Install Solar Panels

23 private homes in Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, and Flatbush have been approved for solar panel installation. These homes will create 80 kilowatts of energy, covering 50-80% of those homes’ needs.

“To compare,” Ellen points out, “other homes pull 100% of their energy from the grid.”

The population of Brooklyn is growing rapidly; we’ve somehow managed to fit 60,000 more people into our borough since 2010. Our demand for electricity is growing with our population and our continued addiction to electronics. And so, Ellen says, “We thank these 23 homes for easing the demand on the grid for all of us.”

23 homes may seem like a drop in the bucket compared to 2.5 million Brooklyn residents, but more homes are going solar in 2014 because of Solarize Brooklyn and their community outreach in all of Brooklyn in 2012. In addition, residents of neighborhoods including Sunset Park have taken on the Solarize Brooklyn community network model and are going solar, too.

Hope Isn’t Lost For The Solar Panel Incompatible

Solar energy isn’t for everyone–of the hundreds of people who attended one of Solarize Brooklyn’s six information sessions and signed up for a free solar assessment, only 23 homes were able to make it happen.

My home, for example, is in a landmarked area of Ditmas Park, disallowing rooftop solar panels–and even though Ellen founded Solarize Brooklyn, her home was solar panel incompatible due to a furnace on her roof.

Undaunted, Ellen is weatherizing her home with the help of the Community Environmental Center and encourages other neighbors to do the same.

“I won’t be setting up another Solarize Brooklyn,” Ellen says, “but if people have questions about weatherizing, they can contact me.”

The Education Of Solar Energy

One goal of Solarize Brooklyn was to normalize solar energy.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there about solar energy,” Ellen explains. “We moved the needle toward normal just a little bit.”

Ellen says there are great products and providers out there, so if you are interested in solar, just do it. Don’t wait for another Solarize Brooklyn; just contact a provider and get an estimate.

Though Solarize Brooklyn has now dissolved, their informational website is still up and lists their vetted providers, including Solar One, who worked in cooperation with Solarize Brooklyn and is now using their model to reach people interested in solar energy.

Solar And Weatherizing Opportunities
If you’re interested in solar panels or other ways to create a more energy efficient home, here’s a contact list to help start you on the green path.

Weatherizing

• Community Environmental Center will assess the efficiency of your home and give you a customized weatherizing plan. Loans are available.
• Sustainable Flatbush has information from composting to solar panels.

Solarizing

• Ask for Max Joel at Solar One to discuss adding solar panels to your home.
• This map shows where solar panels have been installed as well as the installer.
• As mentioned, Solarize Brooklyn, as an active group, has been dissolved–however, their website is still running and full of good information.

Thanks to Solarize Brooklyn for all of their greening efforts, and for all the neighbors working to make their homes more energy efficient!

Photos by Ellen Honigstock (top) and Keka Marzagão (bottom)