unique features of the solar roofpod are:
1).smart engineering systems that allow a relatively high percentage of glazing in the curtain wall cladding of the building envelope,
2. a rooftop-mounted solar trellis that shades and protects the building from heat gain from the photovoltaic panels,
3. a solar trellis that is easy to upgrade with new pv technologies as they become available,
4. a modular dwelling unit design with components that can easily be arranged in multiple high-performance configurations,
5. a water use indicator to assist inhabitants in monitoring their daily water consumption,
6. the highly efficient and unique solar thermal storage system (described below),
7. the symbiotic relationship with the host building below, and
8. the potential to be installed on hundreds of thousands of rooftops around the world. in this last regard, roofpod installation can be considered a land conservation infrastructure; each new unit added to already developed land equals one fewer newly-developed greenfield parcel.

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the roofpod is engineered as a “smart house” rather than a “passive house.” accordingly, it features a number of sophisticated, innovative active systems to regulate and control the lighting, hvac, water systems, and appliances. to ensure optimal performance, the photovoltaic design uses micro-inverters in each individual panel, rather than regular inverters, to prevent shadows that might fall on only a portion of the array from decreasing the total output—as might happen in the city from neighboring building shadows or from leaves and snow. the hvac system is driven by the sun’s thermal energy, using much less electricity from the pv array than would a vapor-compression system.

solar thermal collectors on the solar trellis gather the sun’s heat, making direct use of this often-neglected abundant energy source. the thermal energy runs the adsorption system as well as the radiant floor system for cooling and heating. however, this system has a drawback: thermal energy from the sun cannot be collected when it is dark. therefore, we have designed a unique and innovative thermal storage system using a phase change material (pcm) tank composed of a paraffin and graphite composite. the use of pcm rather than a more typical water-based thermal storage system reduces the space requirement of the tank by half. the pcm tank will also supply thermal energy to the hydronic system, to supply hot water. black water will be collected into a septic tank (though in an actual rooftop installation the black water would be tied into the host building’s system), while graywater will be stored separately. stormwater will also be collected and used for irrigation, along with the graywater.

to integrate all the active systems of the roofpod, the energy management and control system is designed to ensure seamless levels of comfort quality and to regulate energy consumption for maximum efficiency. the integrated monitoring system senses and responds to weather conditions by regulating artificial light levels and controlling exterior shading. sensors collect lighting, heating, and cooling performance data and assemble it in a logger system. a next-generation graphic digital display allows the inhabitants to be aware of the roofpod’s minute-to-minute performance and encourages active energy-conscientiousness and may assist the city with peak load management.

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rooftops of buildings in cities are largely underutilized, yet they offer true potential as living spaces because of their direct access to sun, wind and water. designed for flat rooftops of existing mid-rise residential or commercial buildings, team new york’s solar roofpod enables eco-conscious urban dwellers to live sustainably, as stewards of a more resilient urban environment: cost-effectively collecting and providing solar power, cultivating roof gardens, and recycling stormwater. our modular, flexible penthouse design uses lightweight, durable, renewable materials, smartly incorporating photovoltaic technologies and high-efficiency lighting. innovative solar thermal collectors supply clean energy for hot water, heating and cooling.
we have conceived a way of contributing power to urban environments in a distributed manner, with sophisticated control systems. collectively, solar roofpods, green roofs, and rooftop pv arrays can form a new layer of resilient urban infrastructure, with multiple benefits, many specifically addressing the challenges laid out in planyc 2030, new york city’s comprehensive sustainability plan. city residents already have a much lower carbon footprint than suburbanites; our roofpod will make the cities we value perform even better. we hope to demonstrate the technical feasibility and many environmental benefits of individual “smart system” roofpods and gardens as well as the new infrastructural system they would form. as architecture and engineering students, we are the future custodians of new york city. many of us in team new york came here as immigrants from all over the world; we see tremendous potential to enhance our diverse and vibrant global city through innovative design.

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while residential density is known to reduce carbon footprints (especially when, as in new york, automobile use is low), even more gains in energy efficiency can be achieved with innovative designs. team new york examined the claritas prizm marketing analysis tool to identify a target market profile. the particular segment we selected is “bohemian mix,” comprised of urbane, ethnically diverse and progressive singles, couples and young families. other urban market segments that could find the roofpod lifestyle and the considerable utility savings appealing are empty-nester “cosmopolitans” and “american dreams” immigrant families. the “bohemian mix” couple we envision living in the prototype roofpod are motivated to live an eco-conscious lifestyle, committed to urban revitalization and sustainability; we imagine their professions as building manager and urban gardener. while the engineer husband manages the host building, including energy flow, his biologist spouse tends the green space. together, they are engaged with emerging green technologies and are proactive in upkeep of the pod, the garden, and the host building.

the roofpod design accommodates this market segment’s needs foremost by adding new, live-work dwelling units to vibrant urban neighborhoods. the benefits that the host building and the municipality would realize could subsidize construction costs and rent. the opportunity to perform a stewardship role, in exchange for reduced rent, would be highly appealing to the target market of educated, eco-conscious urban professionals. the open unit plan, spacious roof garden, amazing views, and the elaborate system of smart controls are all aspects of the roofpod’s design that would accommodate the needs and desires of these clients, and would provide them opportunities to productively apply their skills and knowledge to “give back” and form bonds in their neighborhood.

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