Community Corner
The Delta: The Building That Powers Itself
A new sustainable building in Carroll Gardens paves the way for more green construction in the area.
This week, Metrofocus profiled The Delta, a new “100 percent self-sustainable” building in Carroll Gardens constructed by Voltaic Solaire, a Brooklyn-based alternative energy company.
The building – currently a studio and triplex, with a bed-and-breakfast coming next month – features solar awnings, a solar thermal system and a vertical axis wind turbine atop, and on its surface.
“We wanted to build a building with all the parts running efficiently to conserve and produce energy,” architect and designer Rolzes Diaz told the blog.
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During the day, the building is completely powered by solar and wind energy. What is left is sent back to the power grid, and used by other area sources. The power company then pays the building for that energy.
“A house with a solar installation is actually selling the electricity back to the utility and back to the city’s electrical supply,” Diaz explained to the blog.
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The Delta, located at Hamilton Avenue and West 9th Street, is estimated to be able to produce 18,000 to 20,000 kilowatt hours of energy throughout a year, much more than the 2,700-square-foot property needs, making it completely “self-powered.”
In addition to the Delta, Voltaic Solaire has also started the city’s first solar-powered brownstone in Park Slope, which is expected to be completed next year.
