Quixotic Systems builds rooftop solar for two NYC affordable housing communities

As the solar industry continues its expansion to serve lower income communities, a New York solar leader, Quixotic Systems Inc. (QSI), has partnered with affordable housing developer Arker Companies to design and install rooftop solar energy systems for two low-income communities in the New York City area.

The Bay Street Senior Housing solar project, designed and installed by Quixotic Systems Inc. for the Arker Companies, will offset the building’s electricity use for shared areas by 87{0b7da518931e2dc7f5435818fa9adcc81ac764ac1dff918ce2cdfc05099e9974}.

The first project, Bay Street Senior Housing, is a six-story building offering apartments for low-income senior citizens located along Staten Island’s Stapleton waterfront. QSI designed and installed a 35.3-kW rooftop system that includes 108 high-performance SunPower 327-watt solar panels. The system offsets 87{0b7da518931e2dc7f5435818fa9adcc81ac764ac1dff918ce2cdfc05099e9974} of the building’s energy use for shared-use areas that include computer facilities, a social services office and a fitness center.

Bay Street Senior Housing was partially financed with a grant from New York’s Low-Income Housing Credit Program (LIHC), which was established to promote private sector involvement in the retention and production of rental housing reserved for low-income households. The solar system helps reduce operational expenses and keep rents at an affordable level.

“QSI delivered a custom-designed, robust, aesthetically pleasing solar energy system that has performed extremely well and exactly as expected,” said Alex Aker, principal of Arker Companies. “We are always looking for subcontractors who can do high-quality work conforming to our own rigorous building schedule. QSI met that standard.”

The second project, also developed by Arker Companies, is currently under construction in Queens. Both projects will benefit from rebates from NYSERDA’s NY Sun – Residential/Small Commercial program as well as the federal Investment Tax Credit for commercial solar energy systems.

New York State’s low-income population includes nearly 2.3 million households earning less than 60{0b7da518931e2dc7f5435818fa9adcc81ac764ac1dff918ce2cdfc05099e9974} of the Area Median Income ($53,000 for a family of four), according to NYSERDA. Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision is a comprehensive strategy to build a resilient, clean and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers, with specific initiatives to address low-income citizens. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, solar energy in New York State has increased almost 800{0b7da518931e2dc7f5435818fa9adcc81ac764ac1dff918ce2cdfc05099e9974} from 2012 to 2017.

News item from Quixotic Systems