Up on the roof

Students from City College believe new sustainable and modular apartments should be created on the flat roofs of current low-rise urban buildings.

The 100 students, dubbed Team New York, are entering their 746-square-foot Solar Roof Pod in a nationwide competition known as the US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon.

Each solar-powered penthouse pod will be able to collect and use solar power for hot water, heating and cooling, while residents can create roof gardens and recycle storm water.

The modular design uses durable, renewable materials and integrates photovoltaic technologies and high-efficiency lighting into its design.

The Solar Roof Pod is the brainchild of Team New York from the City College of New York.

Because it is a flexible and lightweight design comprised of various modules, each pod can be brought up and installed on the rooftops through staircases, freight elevators or cranes.

The students are currently assembling their pod at CUNY but will soon bring it to the National Mall in Washington, DC, where it will be judged against 19 other entries from around the country. The entries will be at the National Mall from September 23 to October 2.

To take a look at the design and cheer them on, visit ccnysolardecathlon.com.