Timon Singh | Inhabitat New York City

New Study Shows How New York Could Be Powered by Sun, Water and Wind Power by 2050

Photo from Shutterstock

Despite the current controversy about hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in New York, a group of scientists from Stanford believe that even a city as large as the Big Apple could be powered by alternative means by the year 2050.

University of Buffalo Will Simulate Earthquake to Test How NYC Homes Stand Up

A team from the University of Buffalo is planning to conduct a never-before attempted experiment – setting off a large-scale earthquake simulation to determine how vulnerable New York’s un-reinforced masonry buildings (row houses) are to tremors. It is hoped

30 Woolly Sheep Invade NYC’s Bryant Park Lawn

New York’s Bryant Park is popular with picnickers all year long, but today the green area has been invaded by a different kind grazer – a herd of 30 sheep. The woolly visitors were brought into the city from an upstate farm as part of a Campaign for Wool event.

Get Your Own 3D-Printing Machine at MakerBot’s New Retail Store In Manhattan

Many people have heard about 3D-printing, but most have no idea of what it entails or how to do it themselves. Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries is trying to change that with a new 3D printing store in Manhattan that will demonstrate this amazing technology

9/11 Museum Dispute Over Funding Resolved, Project Now Back On Track

Last week, we reported on how the city’s long-awaited September 11th Memorial Museum had been delayed due to a feud between Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Andrew Cuomo over funding and day-to-day control. Now it is being reported that an agreement

9/11 Museum Delayed Again Due to Feud Between Bloomberg And Cuomo

If ever there was a reason for New York politicians to put their differences aside and join together for the greater good, we think bringing the city’s long-awaited September 11th Memorial Museum to fruition is it. Unfortunately, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and

Oyster-tecture: Scape Studio Plans to Build a Park Filled with Millions of Oysters to Clean the Gowanus Canal

NYC has some great oyster bars, but its most in-demand shellfish yet may soon be coming to the Gowanus Canal instead of to your favorite seafood restaurant. Scape Studio has received funding for its ambitious Oyster-tecture project – an oyster park for millions

World’s Largest Ultraviolet Water-Cleaning Plant Coming to NY

New York is set to open the world’s largest ultraviolet (UV) drinking water disinfection plant in two months in order to rid the city’s drinking water of cryptosporidium, giardia and other harmful pathogens. The Catskill–Delaware Ultraviolet Disinfection

Proposed Long Island Wind Farm Could Supply 350,000 kWh of Electricity to NY

A coalition consisting of the LIPA (Long Island Power Authority), ConEd and NYPA (New York Power Authority) is working to construct a wind farm 12 miles off the coast of Long Island within the next five years. If successful, the wind project will be capable

NYC’s CitiBike Share Program Now Delayed Until Spring 2013

Some disappointing news for New York bikers today – the highly-anticipated CitiBike bike share program that was supposed to be opening this month has now officially been delayed until next year. Mayor Bloomberg made the announcement this morning, stating

One World Trade Center Construction Update: 105th Floor Reached!

A few months ago, One World Trade Center became the tallest building in New York when it surpassed the Empire State Building’s height of 1,250 feet – and now a construction update reveals that the tower has officially reached 105 stories. When finished, the

Thunderstorms Result in Heavy Flooding in Brooklyn and Queens

You may have survived the storms this week, but certain areas of Brooklyn and Queens aren’t doing as well. Wednesday’s intense rain pummeled the tri-state area and caused some roads in the two boroughs to become rivers. According to local news reports, the

Manhattan’s 5th and 6th Avenues to Get Protected Bike Lanes!

In the past, New York wasn’t exactly been known as a bike-friendly city, but Transportation Alternatives is trying to change that. The organization is planning to install protected cycle lanes on Fifth and Sixth avenues, which would allow two-wheeled New

Former Brooklyn Container Terminal To Be Transformed Into State-Of-The-Art Sims Recycling Center

A massive 88-acre container terminal in Brooklyn is being transformed into the state-of-the-art Sims Municipal Recycling Facility as part of the Mayor’s PlaNYC2030 initiative to tackle waste management in the city. The facility will be overseen by the Axis

East Village’s Molecule Cafe Serves Nothing But Filtered NYC Tap Water!

Glass of water photo via Shutterstock

A new watering hole called the Molecule Cafe has opened up in New York’s East Village, and it serves only one thing – NYC tap water. Considering that the cafe gets the water for free, filters it and then sells for

ConEd Cuts Down Voltage As Heatwave Puts Stress On NYC Electrical Grid

Is it hot enough for ya yet? Struggling to keep up as New York City’s heatwave intensifies, Con Ed has announced that it is reducing power voltage by 5% in some Manhattan neighborhoods due to the stresses put on the city’s electric grid by the rising temperatures. The

The Incredible Hulk Throws His Green Weight Behind the New York Solar Jobs Act

Everyone knows that The Incredible Hulk is green, but did you know that he supports green jobs in New York too? Mark Ruffalo, the actor who plays the brawny superhero recently threw his weight behind solar power by encouraging the New York state legislature

NYC Plan to Suck Manhattan Garbage Through Vacuum-Powered Trash Tubes May Not Be a “Pipe” Dream

In the popular cartoon Futurama, a maze of vacuum-powered suction tubes is used to transport people around the city of New New York – but did you know that a similar system is currently in use under Roosevelt Island in present-day NYC? OK, so it’s far less

Scorching Heat Wave Hits NYC, New Yorkers Warned to Stay Cool

New Yorkers are being warned to stay cool today as a scorching heat wave hits the city. According to weather prediction site AccuWeather, temperatures in The Big Apple are expected to hit 100 degrees over the next few days, raising concerns about the effects

International Rescue Committee Opens the New Roots Community Farm in the Bronx

The International Rescue Committee, an organization that provides opportunities for refugees to thrive in America, recently inaugurated a new farm in the Bronx on a lot previously owned by the city’s Department of Transportation. Located at the Grand

Mayor Bloomberg Announces $100M For NY Landlords To Find Cleaner Alternatives To Heavy Heating Oils

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg announced last week that the city’s landlords will be receiving more than $100 million in financing to help them switch from heavy heating oils to cleaner, greener alternatives. The move comes after new rules were passed last

IBM and CUNY Ventures Team Up To Turn NYC into an Urban Solar Power Leader

Tech giant IBM and CUNY Ventures of New York have teamed up to form the Smart New York project, which aims to make the Big Apple a global leader in urban solar energy production, market analysis and sustainability. The scheme, which is supported in part