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Solar One, New York City’s first solar-powered “Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center,” inspires New Yorkers to become environmentally responsible city dwellers. We do this through a variety of unique programs that seek to reach out to broad sections of the New York City population in order to connect people to the urban environment around them.

Solar One's mission is to empower people of all ages with the vision, knowledge, and resources to attain a more environmentally sound and sustainable future. We embrace this mission through unique initiatives that attract tens of thousands of people each year from throughout the five boroughs of New York City and beyond: Our Education programming engages residents through innovative courses and lectures that focus on renewable energy, green design, and environmental stewardship; Our clean energy-powered Green Arts programming presents an exciting series of high quality cultural events while demonstrating how we can integrate renewable energy within our daily lives; Our Outreach and Advocacy programming builds community around local environmental issues and organizes efforts to effect changes that promote a healthier and more sustainable urban environment.

Education

Since its inception in 2004, the Solar One education program has brought its innovative approach to students in all five boroughs, serving more than 10,000 students, at more than 42 schools and in 14 different after school and summer camp programs. For more information about classes and programming, click here.

Outreach

Distinct from our more traditional education programming, the Solar One outreach programs are designed to engage New York City residents with green energy options and strategies that they can put into practice right now in their everyday lives.

• TruLight The TruLight Project provides NYC high school students with everything they need to market and distribute

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) in their communities, raising awareness and lowering energy demands across the city. In partnership with the Manhattan Comprehensive Night & Day School, the 2006 TruLight class included 20 students who sold 2,000 light bulbs, saving 160,600 kWh of electricity. For more information about Trulight, click here.

• Citysol Solar One’s annual clean energy-powered music, art and community festival attracted 5,000 visitors

over four days in 2007. Featuring some of NYC’s best emerging bands and DJs, interactive art exhibits, games and plenty of green energy information, Citysol has hosted over 40 musical acts and 70 green product vendors. Over 200 people have also signed up for Green Power packages at Citysol. For more information about Citysol, click here.

• The Green Renter, Solar One’s lecture series, offers options and techniques for reducing one’s

individual energy impact suitable for the New York lifestyle of renting rather than owning an apartment, and using public transportation instead of driving a car. From environmental investing to understanding recycling, the Green Renter has covered more than 30 topics, and been attended by more than 1,000 people. For more information about the Green Renter, click here.

Green Arts

Solar One’s Green Arts programming creates a new approach to learning about green energy and conservation. The Green Energy Arts Festival is an annual event that attracts audience members who might not otherwise attend a green energy event. Other annual events include performances from Chinese Theatre Works, and Sun To Stars, a South Asian music, arts and culture festival based on traditional Indian festivals held along the banks of India’s Ganges River. The Green Arts program has included over 50 events, 150 performers and 3,500 attendees. For more information about Green arts programming, click here.

Stuyvesant Cove Park

Solar One is located in Stuyvesant Cove Park, the city’s only all-native plant park. Situated above a former brownfield site, Stuy Cove Park offers opportunities for the local community to become involved in the park and learn about its special features. The Park has been designated a Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation for providing a quality habitat by virtue of its standards of conscientious planning, landscaping and sustainable gardening. More than 150 volunteers and 65 student interns have spent more than 3,500 hours working in the park, planting, watering and weeding the more than 3,500 new plants that have been planted in the last two years. For more information about Stuy Cove Park, click here. SOLAR 2

In 2008, we hope to break ground on SOLAR 2, an 8,000 square foot 100% green-powered education and arts center that is slated to be New York’s first Platinum LED educational facility. SOLAR 2 was designed by the renowned green architecture firm Kiss & Cathcart, and engineered by the equally prestigious firm of Ove Arup. For more information about SOLAR 2, click here.

Carbon Emission Reductions Achieved by Solar One

Solar 1 Building

Monthly usage (kWh) 400

Yearly savings (kWh displaced from grid) 3,600

Yearly CO2 emissions saved (lbs.) 3.254