“Solar Journey” Photovoltaic Array-on-Wheels Provided Power to Rockaways After Hurricane Sandy

“Solar Journey” Photovoltaic Array-on-Wheels Provided Power to Rockaways After Hurricane Sandy

Garrett Fitzgerald and Rob van Haaren aren’t on a typical road trip. The Columbia University engineering students have embarked on what they're calling Solar Journey USA, a mission to bring their portable solar array to different communities across the nation. The most recent stop on their expedition was hurricane-ravaged Rockaway Beach, where they brought their renewable energy source on wheels to power-deprived residents in the area.
 

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New York’s Next Top Makers Competition Could Get Your Idea or Product Funded and Prototyped

New York’s Next Top Makers Competition Could Get Your Idea or Product Funded and Prototyped

We wrote about the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s “New York’s Next Top Makers” competition back in October, and we’re excited to say that the contest is now open to submissions. The call challenges NYC designers and inventors to enter their product designs for a chance to win cash prizes and an opportunity to prototype their products. If you have a great idea but aren’t sure where to begin or how to raise money to produce it, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.


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NYC Swapping Wooden Boardwalks with Concrete Version That Could Stand Up Better to Hurricanes

NYC Swapping Wooden Boardwalks with Concrete Version That Could Stand Up Better to Hurricanes

When Hurricane Sandy hit the New York region last month, some of the most heart-wrenching images to surface were those of the mangled boardwalks that had characterized beautiful beachfront communities like Coney Island for the past century. Discussions about rebuilding these waterfront pathways in the New York and New Jersey area are picking up, and, as predicted, the big questions are all about new materials. After the storm passed and sanitation workers began to clear wood-strewn streets, it became clear that polymer-based and concrete sections of the boardwalks had held up better to the elements than their wooden counterparts. Now, in light of that observation, Mayor Bloomberg has decided that going forward, New York will rebuild with these new plastic and concrete boardwalk materials. It seems that the days of the wooden boardwalk are over in NYC.
 

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Evergreen Uprooted by Hurricane Sandy Reborn as Long Beach’s Holiday Christmas Tree

Evergreen Uprooted by Hurricane Sandy Reborn as Long Beach’s Holiday Christmas Tree

Image: Skip Van Wert

Perhaps symbolic of how many New Yorkers are picking up the pieces after Hurricane Sandy, a spruce tree that was also toppled by the storm has been given new life as a beautiful holiday tree for Long Beach Township. Raised by the Van

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Global Rainbow Laser Light Show Lights Up NYC Sky for Hurricane Sandy Victims

Global Rainbow Laser Light Show Lights Up NYC Sky for Hurricane Sandy Victims

If you were looking up at the NYC night sky on Tuesday, you might have seen a rainbow. Called Global Rainbow, After the Storm, the huge laser light show stretched over the city skyline as a shining symbol of hope and a call to support to the victims of Hurricane

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MTA Exploring Subway Plug Balloons and Lockdown System as Preventative Measures for Future Storms

MTA Exploring Subway Plug Balloons and Lockdown System as Preventative Measures for Future Storms

MTA equipment that was damaged in Hurricane Sandy, Photo by Jill Colvin

After superstorm Sandy left the NYC subway system in shambles, the MTA has been considering a number of options to prevent mass transit damage in future storms. So far, innovations like flood gates that seal subway entrances and giant balloons that inflate to block underground tunnels are at the top of their list. In a recent press conference, New York City Transit president Thomas Prendergast informed New Yorkers that the MTA is weighing several measures - from better sand bagging to adding more pump trains and protective gear - to create a viable plan for the future.

 

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Bulldozers to Demolish 200 Hurricane Sandy-Damaged Homes in New York

Bulldozers to Demolish 200 Hurricane Sandy-Damaged Homes in New York

Despite the tireless efforts of volunteers in the Rockaways and other areas hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, some homes simply could not be salvaged. Over the weekend, The NY Times reported that the city Department of Buildings has slated over 200 of these homes

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Reports Suggest Hurricane Sandy Victims in Rockaways Could Remain Powerless Until Mid-December

Reports Suggest Hurricane Sandy Victims in Rockaways Could Remain Powerless Until Mid-December

(cc) Randy Le Moyne Photography

Since Hurricane Sandy tore through the East Coast two weeks ago, many parts of the Rockaways and Hamilton Beach – which are home to around 80,000 people – have remained without power, and the latest reports suggest that it

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Hurricane Sandy Damaged Hundreds of Artworks at the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City

Hurricane Sandy Damaged Hundreds of Artworks at the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City

We've all seen how Hurricane Sandy wrecked homes and neighborhoods, but now another casualty has recently come to light - hundreds of precious works of art. The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City, Queens is facing the aftermath of the storm by surveying the damage to some of its most beloved pieces of art by Isamu Noguchi. The historic sculptures were waterlogged after the hurricane flooded the museum’s storage area.
 

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NYC Restore: Mayor Bloomberg Launches New One-Stop Hurricane Sandy Recovery Locations in Hardest Hit Neighborhoods

NYC Restore: Mayor Bloomberg Launches New One-Stop Hurricane Sandy Recovery Locations in Hardest Hit Neighborhoods

Earlier today, Mayor Bloomberg announced NYC Restore, a new initiative to create one-stop locations that connect residents and businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy with the services and supplies they need most. Seven NYC Restoration centers in total will

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New Temporary Ferry Between Rockaways and Manhattan Announced by Mayor Bloomberg and Seastreak

New Temporary Ferry Between Rockaways and Manhattan Announced by Mayor Bloomberg and Seastreak

On Friday, Mayor Bloomberg and Seastreak announced some great news for everyone who has been struggling to travel between the Rockaways and Manhattan after Hurricane Sandy – a new, temporary ferry service between the two locations. The service will begin on

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FEMA Creates “Check Your Home” App That Lets Sandy Evacuees Keep an Eye on Their Houses from Above

FEMA Creates “Check Your Home” App That Lets Sandy Evacuees Keep an Eye on Their Houses from Above

Hurricane Sandy destroyed and endangered hundreds of homes and many residents throughout the East Coast were forced to leave their neighborhoods due to the rising safety and health concerns during and after the surge. It’s a scary thing to be away from home

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Greenpeace’s Rolling Sunlight is a Mobile Solar-Powered Energy Station Helping Hurricane Sandy Victims

Greenpeace’s Rolling Sunlight is a Mobile Solar-Powered Energy Station Helping Hurricane Sandy Victims

Rolling Sunlight is a mobile solar power array strapped to a truck that Greenpeace built over 10 years ago that has been touring the streets of the Rockaways this week. This massive emergency energy provider is able to store 50 kilowatt-hours of power in a set of batteries housed within the truck. For residents of one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy, the truck truly is like a ray of sunlight coming through to allow them to charge their phones and other devices to stay in touch with loved ones.
 

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A Free Pop-up Ski Slope May Be Coming to Astoria This Winter

A Free Pop-up Ski Slope May Be Coming to Astoria This Winter

New Yorkers may soon liken Astoria to the Alps! Sugarbush, one of Vermont’s most popular ski resorts, has proposed building a temporary slope covered in artificial snow at Astoria Park this winter. If approved by area community boards, the attraction could

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New Yorkers Displaced By Hurricane Sandy Can Vote Anywhere Today

New Yorkers Displaced By Hurricane Sandy Can Vote Anywhere Today

Vote photo from Shutterstock

If you’re one of more than 140,000 New Yorkers whose polling sites are closed today because of Hurricane Sandy, you might be wondering where you can vote. Thanks to Governor Cuomo, the answer to that question is anywhere you

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How to Volunteer to Help Hurricane Sandy Victims in the Rockaways and Other Areas That Are Still in Need

How to Volunteer to Help Hurricane Sandy Victims in the Rockaways and Other Areas That Are Still in Need

Even though much of Manhattan's power is now restored after Hurricane Sandy, there are still many displaced people that need help. If you've seen photos of the destruction in areas like the Rockaways, Staten Island and Breezy Point and want to lend a hand with the cleanup, giving out blankets or just comforting the victims, there are many groups out there that you can sign up with. Read on to see our tips for teaming up with relief efforts and see how you can volunteer today.
 

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See Which NYC Subway Lines Are Running Today

See Which NYC Subway Lines Are Running Today

New York City is still a long way off from full recovery post-Hurricane Sandy, but at least some of our subway lines will be running today. They MTA has restored service on some trains and released this map of limited service last night, so if you’re about

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Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Cuomo Admit to Relationship Between Sandy and Climate Change

Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Cuomo Admit to Relationship Between Sandy and Climate Change

©NYCMayorsOffice

After the wreckage that Hurricane Sandy brought to the New York City area on Monday, both Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Andrew Cuomo are admitting that the storm was directly related to climate change. On Tuesday, the two discussed the

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How to Find the Hurricane Sandy Shelter Closest to You

How to Find the Hurricane Sandy Shelter Closest to You

Hurricane Sandy has already started to rage, and water levels have been rising around New York. If you’re stuck in an evacuation zone with nowhere to go (or no way to get there with the subways being closed), you may want to head to one of the city appointed

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Mayor Bloomberg Announces New York’s Next Top Makers 3D-Printing Competition to Find Promising NYC Designers and Inventors

Mayor Bloomberg Announces New York’s Next Top Makers 3D-Printing Competition to Find Promising NYC Designers and Inventors

This morning, Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Economic Development Corporation launched a new 3D-printing competition called “New York’s Next Top Makers” to invite promising NYC designers and inventors to submit their designs for a chance to win cash prizes and an opportunity to prototype their products. The announcement was made at the ribbon-cutting of the new 25,000-square-foot Shapeways 3D-printing “Factory of the Future” in Long Island City, Queens, which when complete, will have the potential to be the biggest consumer-facing 3D-printing manufacturing facility in the world. The mayor and the city are hoping that the contest will act as a catalyst for NYC entrepreneurs and makers and boost creativity and small business in the city. The cash prizes have still not been announced but the top six makers will win studio space from NYDesigns, a chance to bring their designs to life, and mentorships from Shapeways, Adafruit Industries, and Honeybee Robotics.


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PHOTOS: Super Tiny Whittled-Down Wagon Home Comes with a Cat Observation Deck

PHOTOS: Super Tiny Whittled-Down Wagon Home Comes with a Cat Observation Deck

We saw an array of amazing home-made things at this year's Maker Faire NYC, but one of the most impressive by far was the Whittled Down Caravan, a super tiny home on wheels. Built from scratch on top of a 4' x 8' utility trailer by Libby Reinish and Tristan Chambers, the diminutive dwelling features a kitchen, a living area and a bed, and even incorporates solar power. We were lucky enough to take a full tour of this miniature but effective abode (as you can imagine, it only took about 2 minutes), so click through our gallery to see everything from the neat hidden storage to a dutch-door to an observation deck for the couple's cat, Lionshead.
 

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6 Can’t-Miss Green Activities to Do This Fall in NYC

6 Can’t-Miss Green Activities to Do This Fall in NYC

We're not exactly sure where summer went, but there are so many fun fall activities to do in NYC that we hardly miss the muggy weather. This autumn, there's a cornucopia of green things to do in all five boroughs, from a spooky haunted pumpkin garden to Oktoberfest on a mountaintop to a labyrinth of corn. Read on to see all of our top picks!
 

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Queens Residents Can Scoop Up a Free Tree for Their Community Today!

Queens Residents Can Scoop Up a Free Tree for Their Community Today!

This weekend, Queens residents can help make their borough a little more green. On October 14, Build it Green!NYC and the Western Queens Compost Initiative will give away 100 trees, thanks to NYRP’s MillionTreesNYC! Community members can sign up and snag

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Airbnb Lets You Stay in Real New York Apartments Starting at Just $17 a Night

Airbnb Lets You Stay in Real New York Apartments Starting at Just $17 a Night

Looking for a place to stay in NYC? There are some lovely hotels to choose from, but if you really want to experience the Big Apple, why not spend the night at an actual New Yorker's pad? That's exactly what home rental service Airbnb offers by matching NYC homeowners with vacationers looking for accommodations of the non-cookie cutter variety. There are designer lofts, one-bedroom homestays, tony penthouses and everything in between to peruse on their site, and prices start from around $17 a night. We recently had the chance to ask Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia some important questions about how the service works, so if you're interested in making some extra bank by renting out your place or booking one of these NY apartments for a stay, read on for his answers.
 

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NY Department of Health Finds Lead Contamination in Locally-Sourced Eggs

NY Department of Health Finds Lead Contamination in Locally-Sourced Eggs

New Yorkers may have more to worry about than their cholesterol when sitting down to their next plate of eggs. After testing eggs sourced from chickens in NYC neighborhood gardens, the New York State Department of Health found that many from Brooklyn, the

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