Solar-Powered Rooftop Home to Be Raised Atop CCNY’s Spitzer School of Architecture

The students at the City College of New York's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/help-these-handicapped-cats-by-building-them-a-meowhaus-to-live-in/">Spitzer School of Architecture</a> are elevating their work to a new level - all the way atop the building where their classes take place. The school will be installing a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/andrew-maynard-extends-15-foot-wide-solar-powered-moor-house-in-victoria/">solar-powered house</a> called the <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bring-back-the-roofpod-to-ccny">Solar Roofpod</a> on the roof of the school of architecture and when complete, the lofty perch will serve as a multi-purpose facility dedicated to sustainability. If the Roofpod looks familiar to you, it's probably because it was originally conceived as <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/ccnys-sun-powered-solar-roofpod-to-be-installed-on-spitzer-school-of-architectures-roof/">CCNY’s student-designed entry</a> in the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/2011-solar-decathlon/">2011 Solar Decathlon</a>.

The Solar Roofpod is an 800-square-foot, modular one-story structure built with sustainable materials.

CCNY designed the building to take advantage of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/arkhenspaces-wind-wing-taichung-cultural-center-design-features-a-wind-power-generating-green-wall/">underutilized</a> buildings rooftops in high-density urban areas such as New York. Team New York Roof Pod design by CUNY students for the Solar Decathlon Competition in New York City on September 9, 2011.

It can use <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/solar-power/">pure solar energy</a> to support all its utility needs including heat, cooling and electricity while producing enough <a href="http://inhabitat.com/germany-quadruples-energy-surplus-over-the-last-two-years/">surplus energy</a> that’s added back to the city grid.

Once installed atop the Spitzer School building, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-building-labels-101-an-inhabitat-guide-to-third%C2%AD-party-environmental-certifications/">net-zero energy</a> structure will be used as a classroom, exhibit space for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/sustainable-materials/">sustainable materials</a> and systems, and a living learning lab.

The CCNY professors are also planning to use it to host lunchtime lectures by sustainability and design as well as construction professionals, and New York City policymakers.

But <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/ccnys-sun-powered-solar-roofpod-to-be-installed-on-spitzer-school-of-architectures-roof/">before all of this can happen</a> the CCNY needs your help to fund the project. The City College architecture alumni have launched an Indiegogo campaign called <a href="http://citycollegeofnewyork.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d%3c13%2f8%26JDG%3c%3a0%3d%2f858%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=3955678&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=3254&amp;Action=Follow+Link">Bring Back The Roofpod To CCNY!</a> The donated funds will help the CUNY school in the construction and transportation of the Solar Roofpod modules from a storage site in New Jersey.