Sustainable Mixed-Use Building Nearly Complete in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach Neighborhood

By Joshua Ayers, Senior Editor

New York—Construction is nearly complete on Bright ‘n Green’s fully-sustainable mixed-use community in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach neighborhood.

The community, located at 67 Brighton First Lane, is expected to meet LEED Platinum standards, and is likely to garner Living Building Certification from the prestigious International Living Building Institute (ILBI).

Bright ‘n Green has made an effort to utilize products from American companies for the construction of the community, including structurally insulated panels from New Orleans-based Oceansafe, Infinity series windows from Minnesota’s Marvin Windows and Doors, countertops from Brooklyn’s Icestone, cabinetry from Pennsylvania-based Roburn and low-flow plumbing fittings by Symmons, which makes its products in Massachusetts.

The community has already been framed and outfitted with solar panels, which are now exceeding the energy demands for the remaining construction tasks. Bright ‘n Green is reimbursed for the excess electricity that it is contributing to the power grid.

When completed later this year, the community will feature six residential units and one ground-level commercial space. The structure’s geothermal-based heating and air conditioning systems will help keep temperatures ambient with a relative humidity of about 50 percent. Although the community will be connected to a municipal water source, the building will also include a water catchment system that will utilize storm water for toilet flushing and irrigation and maintenance needs.

Bright ‘n Green has already received a Brownfield Partnership Green Building Award, Net Zero Energy Status, Green Globes certification, EPA Water and Air Sense recognition and Passive House Certification, as well as a NYSERDA Multifamily and Energy Star Rating.