History

In 2001, the Community Environmental Center (CEC), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, was designated by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to develop and manage an environmental learning center in the recently constructed Stuyvesant Cove Park. Located along the East River between 18th and 23rd Streets in Manhattan on a brownfield site, the Park opened to the public in January 2002. Under a 40-year lease with the EDC, CEC gained responsibility for the design and construction of SOLAR 2, educational programming, and park maintenance.

In May 2003, CEC opened Solar 1, a solar-powered building, where students and residents from the City and the greater Metro area learn first hand the principles about energy conservation in their urban neighborhood. Solar 1 is a prototype for Solar 2, a much larger facility designed to meet the ever-growing demand for environmental education. The SOLAR 2 Green Energy Arts and Education Center will be a new 8000 sq. ft. Platinum LEED certified “net-zero” building that will replace Solar 1 and will be the only one of its kind in New York City.

In 2003, CEC created a new 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization called CEC Stuyvesant Cove, Inc. (a/k/a Solar One) to manage and guide the project forward.

CEC is also the founder of Build It Green! NYC. Build It Green! is New York City’s only non-profit retail outlet for salvaged and surplus building materials. Build It Green! NYC sells these products at half or below their new price. This helps keep perfectly useful material out of the landfill! Revenues from Build It Green! NYC support Solar One’s programs.

 
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