Since 2002 our company has successfully designed and installed over 10 green home projects involving solar electric and solar thermal systems.  Quixotic Systems recently installed a solar thermal system at Pomona, NY consisting of a large vacuum tube collector system tied in to the home’s main hydronic system, providing a high percentage of the domestic hot water throughout the year, pool heating, and radiant space heating in winter. This system not only reduces the hot water and heating bills considerably, but also prevents the generation of tonnes of Carbon dioxide (a major greenhouse gas) and reduces the reliance on conventional fuels. This system is one of the first solar hot water-space heating systems in New York state and one of the largest residential systems employing vacuum tubes("Heat pipes").  We are affiliated with New York state Solar Energy Association, ASHRAE, ASME, SunSeeker Solar Car.

Solar Energy Systems has installed over 60 solar electric systems on residential and commercial buildings since the company started in 1998. We are eligible installers with NYSERDA, NJCEP, and CCEF. We have a NABCEP certified installer on staff. We are members of NYSEIA, NESEA and ASES.

One of our key projects is on NYSERDA’s Headquarters in Albany, NY. This two-tiered photovoltaic awning system powers about half of NYSERDA’s computer load. The system will also be used to test new inverters when they come onto the market. The awning system is both active and passive, meaning that it generates electricity while also producing shade for the building’s lobby and second floor meeting room, reducing cooling requirements for those areas. In addition, the system includes a Data Acquisition System that displays real time performance data in the lobby of the NYSERDA building and on their website at www.PowerNaturally.org.

I am a qualified permaculture teacher and run the Hancock Permaculture Center (http://www.hancockpermaculture.org). We specialize in natural stone and environmentally friendly garden installation and design. All of our projects are “green” and we employ permaculture principles in our design.

I have completed two official permaculture courses and teach.

Susan’s goal for every project is to combine excellent design with a deep respect for the environment.  She has worked on a number of projects that have become models of sustainable design including People’s Mutual Housing Association, the first green low income housing complex in Manhattan.  Susan has also taught at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and presented on sustainable design topics at numerous conferences and symposiums.

Some ecological aspects of Susan’s work are:
* indigenous plantings
* use of local building materials
* on site storm water management
* preserving existing vegetation
* limiting earthwork and site grading
* greenroof design
* maintaining watershed and wildlife corridors.

Sustainable design is a priority and is consciously integrated in the design process at every level.  Thread Collective has completed a 4,500sf renovation in Brooklyn—a green conversion of a warehouse to residential and commercial art studios.  Green design was considered throughout, from thermal sealing to non-toxic materials to energy efficiency and solar panels.

Current work further investigates sustainable design principles with the introduction of BIODRIVE, an educational portable greenhouse powered on 100% biodeisel, to be made available to various learning institutions; a seven condo unit building designed to meet LEED certification; the development of sustainable housing units, and a committed relationship with GreenHomeNYC. 

Our firm is fully licensed and insured in the state of New York, and is in the process of attaining LEED accredation.

Ergonomic and eco design approaches form the basis of our design solutions. Color, pattern, material experimentation as well as quality and longevity of finishes and construction are an integral part of Erika’s design style.  Erika is a professor specializing in eco design at Parsons School of Product Design - the New School - NYC.  She has co-developed and presented a full day seminar on “Educating the Educators: Crash Course on Eco Design” which she inaugurated at Parsons September 2003.  A long standing member of O2NY, she co-produced the successful “Assigment: Green” at the Municipal Art Society, an exhibition of the state of eco design education in six prominent NYC area design schools.  She is co-founder of The Association of Women Industrial Designers (AWID) where she co-produced “Goddess in the Details: Industrial Design by Women.”

At Square Indigo, we have worked closely with sustainable designers and “Green” suppliers to find non-toxic alternatives to standard building materials. We have found sources to re-use and recycle materials removed during demolition and we are always searching for innovative ways to use “scrap” and non-conventional building materials. Our Green jobs have generally been for clients concerned about health issues. Our Green practices are being incorporated into all our jobs in recognition of the health of all our clients and crew. We are currently building out an apartment for one of the company principals that is going to be ALL sustainable and non-toxic.