Sustainable Flatbush » ConEd

SunBike to Debut Sunday June 26th at Cortelyou Greenmarket!

Jocelyn — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:38:08 +0000

In celebration of the summer solstice–the time of year when days are longest and energy from the sun is most plentiful–our Solar Team has been busy putting the final touches on the Sustainable Flatbush SunBike, our mobile solar-electric system that gets around on a retrofitted cargo bike. This Sunday, June 26, from 10 until noon, come see the SunBike in action for the first time at the Cortelyou Greenmarket, on Cortelyou Road between Argyle and Rugby, and get a taste of locally-grown sun-powered smoothies!

SunBike Build: Making Connections from Sustainable Flatbush Media on Vimeo.

We built the SunBike to show what renewable energy can do right now, encourage people to adopt renewable energy, and study renewable energy systems in-depth.

This summer, the SunBike will be a visible presence on the streets of Flatbush, at block parties, community gardens, solar-powered film screenings, outdoor dance parties and much more, showing that we don’t have to wait to meet our need for energy with clean, renewable resources.

To find out how to bring the SunBike to your event or learn more about our Solar Team educational opportunities, write to the SF Energy Solutions Initiative.

Until Sunday, check out this video of me and our technical advisor Gregory Rodlico, showing a little bit of how the SunBike works.

Video Credits:
Camera & Editing: Jocelyn Cohen
Sound Mix: Anne Pope
Titles: Keka Marzagão
Music: Free Royalty Free Music by DanoSongs.com
SunBike Builders: Jocelyn Cohen and Gregory Rodlico
Solar Team: Kimberly White and Joel Acosta

The SunBike is made possible with the generous support of ConEd

SF SunBike to Bring Power to the Streets

Jocelyn — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:28:08 +0000

Solar Power That Is!

Sustainable Flatbush is proud to announce a partnership with Con Edison to build the SunBike, a mobile solar electric system that gets around in a retrofitted cargo bike. The SunBike will be able to provide enough energy to power a small sound system and lighting for up to two hours without access to sunlight, and do so much more.

Making Clean Energy A Reality

A rendering of the Sustainable Flatbush SunBike

I’ve dreamed about creating a mobile solar electric system since I started advocating for clean energy at New York City Public Schools five years ago. With all those beautiful, unshaded flat roofs soaking up the sun’s rays, schools seemed the perfect place to show communities the benefits of clean energy and prepare our students for the green economy at the same time. But when I discovered that New York City public schools aren’t eligible for New York State’s renewable energy incentives, I resolved that solar would have to get some wheels to reach our city’s 1200 school buildings and over one million students. And now, with support from ConEd, Sustainable Flatbush can solar-empower school kids, community residents and local businesses alike.

A Vital Learning Tool

SF Intern Mark Miretsky and Energy Solutions Project Manager Jocelyn Cohen with our 10-watt charger at Park(ing) Day 2009

The SunBike (which we used to call the PowerBike) will become the centerpiece of the Sustainable Flatbush Solar Team, a group of local youth who will learn about solar power by studying the SunBike and analyzing all power and energy data collected while the SunBike is in action. The Solar Team gets in-depth knowledge and leadership skills as they share what they’ve learned with the public when they take the SunBike to the streets. They will help community residents charge their cell phones, laptops and mp3 players, provide power for events, and anything else they can imagine. The SunBike will show that renewable energy is not a dream but a reality right now.

The SunBike and You

The SunBike will be a visible presence on the streets of Flatbush starting next summer, at schools, street fairs, on sidewalks at “charging events” under the sponsorship of local businesses, and beyond. So if you’re walking down the street and you hear a little jingle, it just might be the SunBike coming your way, offering you clean and free power to fuel your day, and showing the way to our clean energy future.

Thanks to ConEd for their generous support of this project!

On the Path to Energy Efficiency and Affordability

Jocelyn — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:42:40 +0000

Join us for the Neighborhood Energy Forum on March 20

About a year ago, Sustainable Flatbush’s Executive Director Anne Pope and I sat at Sycamore Bar and Flower Shop on Cortelyou Road.

I had just become the Director of Energy Solutions at SF, and we were strategizing about the best ways to meet the urgent need for energy efficiency upgrades in our neighborhood, to bring down soaring energy costs and reduce our carbon emissions. With new incentive programs from government and utilities, Anne and I realized the time was right to leverage funds that would bring major energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to Flatbush.

So we conceived the Neighborhood Energy Forum. For the past year, SF’s Energy Solutions Initiative has been working diligently to bring the Neighborhood Energy Forum to fruition. We’ve been fortunate to join forces with a fantastic group of sponsors and partners, the Flatbush Development Corporation, the Energy Smart Communities program of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), ConEd, and National Grid.

Join us on March 20 at the Brooklyn College Student Center, from 9:30 to 2:00.
Admission is free! Here’s what it’s about:

Multi-Family and 1-4 Family Tracks

We understand that large buildings face different challenges than smaller homes, so depending on the size of your residence, we have information tailored to your needs. Representatives from NYSERDA, National Grid, and ConEd will highlight low- and middle-income incentive programs to help building owners, co-op boards, tenant groups and other stakeholders understand what needs to be done and how to take the first steps.

Meet Contractors Who Can Do the Work at Our Energy Fair

Energy auditors, building engineers, renewable energy installers—basically anyone you need to talk to—will be on hand offering their services. You will gain important knowledge about how to move forward by talking to the experts, and may even find someone to work with on your project.

A Perfect Storm for Renewables in NYC

With federal, state, and local tax credits and abatements, plus a solar-electric (photovoltaic, or PV) incentive rebate program, 2010 is the year for solar–not just PV but solar heat and hot water too. So if you’re one of those people who have asked us, “How can I get solar for my home,” come to the Neighborhood Energy Forum and catch up with renewable energy vendors at the Energy Fair.

Check-in with Your Elected Officials

Members of the New York State Assembly and Senate as well as New York City Council will be on hand to let you know what they’re doing to support energy efficiency and renewables in our city. See the Neighborhood Energy Forum page to get the story on who will be there.

To find out more, visit our Energy Forum page, or jump right to our registration form. Send me an email if you have any questions. See you there!