By Steve Rizer
The first private, completely self-powered building in New York City will open this month, according to Darien, Conn.-based Soluxe Solar. The $700,000 Delta building will combine solar and wind energy to generate its own heat, electricity, and water, meeting all of its energy needs. The structure is expected to serve as a showcase for green building technologies and an ongoing educational resource for schools and tour groups.
The project, spearheaded by Voltaic Solaire, broke ground in 2010 and was built in cooperation with Ikea, Samsung, Sharp, Kingston Block, and Eemax. The Delta will triple as a bed and breakfast, restaurant, and residence.
“For many years, urban green design was defined by what people said couldn’t be done,” Soluxe Solar Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Mayer said. “Rather than being defined by limitations, The Delta highlights the incredible possibilities for urban green construction when ingenuity and determination combine and companies come together to create something revolutionary. It is the perfect project to be highlighted by our Solar Flare.”
